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Thus, a conglomerate called Development Alternatives Group was set up, comprising five organisations. The non-profit Societies, such as the flagship entity Development Alternatives and TARA (Technology and Action for Rural Advancement) are responsible for research, innovation, policy, incubation of green businesses and technical support services. The for-profit companies, such as DESI Power, TARA Machines and TARA Enviro are responsible for implementing the work of the DA Group at scale in business mode, all under the overall brand name of TARA.

• Development Alternatives engages in scientific research and innovation, on-the-ground implementation of eco solutions as well as communication and policy influence.

• Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) practices green business incubation and provides technical support services.

• TARA Machines and Tech Services Private Limited promotes sustainable technology solutions for small and medium enterprises. It markets green technology solutions for building construction, waste recycling and hand made paper production, delivering business solutions to a global network of micro, small and medium enterprises, specialising in eco concrete, eco-kilns, fly ash and recycling technology.

• TARAhaat Information and Marketing Services Private Limited creates micro-franchises to deliver IT-enabled education and skill building products to young job seekers.

• TARA Nirman Kendra delivers environmentally friendly habitat products and services through a range of sustainable building technologies and advisory support.

• TARA Enviro markets cutting-edge products designed for safe water and other vital resources.

• DESI Power Private Limited promotes biomass energy-based “EmPower” models for rural electrification and enterprise creation.

This approach and decentralised structure have helped us to enable local entrepreneurial and community energies and generate multipliers far beyond the wildest dreams of any new initiative. It allowed us to draw upon the millennial wisdom of our indigenous culture, whose languages are the only ones in the world that have a causative tense for their verbs – “karwana” and “banwana” – which mean to facilitate rather than do. This resonance with our nation’s deep psychology is one of the strongest ways in which we, as network enablers, can short-circuit the process by which every man, women and child in our country can hope to live a decent and fulfilling life. Most of all it prevents dependency and encourages dignity and ownership.

The DA Group envisions a world where every citizen can live in security, with a dignified job and an assured income. We believe that the key to achieving this is the creation of the means for sustainable livelihoods in large numbers - providing the rural poor with jobs and decent incomes, giving meaning and dignity to life, producing goods and services for local markets and preserving the environment.