The setting up of TARAgram Orchha in the Tikamgarh District was a major impetus to the local community for livelihood security.

TARAgram Orchha is entrusted with the tasks of:

• Creating new economic opportunities for communities using local resources
• Demonstrating “value creation” for enterprises using innovative technology solutions
• Intensifying community action through a network of Community Based Organisations (CBO)

TARAgram Orchha is based on a model provided by the centre for sustained low-carbon economic growth amongst rural communities, through the application of clean technology solutions.

The centre has demonstrated enterprise development, using biomass, waste materials and other local raw materials. The enterprise models provide solutions to create wealth, retain it and share it in the larger interests of the community.

A number of models created are housed in TARAgram and have been replicated. They are:

• TARA Nirman Kendra - Produces a range of innovative, affordable building products for house construction, using TARA eco-technologies, which utilise local crushed-stone waste.
• TARA handmade paper recycling unit - An enterprise based on “waste to wealth” technology employing more than 40 women, including Sahraiya tribal women, who earlier had no source of income. TARA paper and products are marketed locally, nationally and globally.
• TARA Livelihood Academy - Provides training and capacity building services to various stakeholders, women and youth for jobs and enterprises.
• DESI Power (local power) - An energy initiative. The power plant converts renewable biomass fuels (mainly local agro-wastes and unusable weeds), generating 100kw of power that powers the TARAgram campus.
• Jal TARA Water Filter - DA’s water purification technology is providing clean drinking water, free of energy and chemical processes, to the TARAgram campus in Orchha. Here the water requirement is more than 100,000 litres per day, in spite of there being no ground-water in this area.
• Women’s literacy - Under the aegis of The Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) Programme, women’s literacy witnessed a tremendous boost, bringing approximately 42,000 illiterate women into their computer-based functional literacy programme TARA Akshar. Today there are more than 60,000 women who have been made literate in Hindi.
• Radio Bundelkhand (FM 90.4) - The first Community Radio in Madhya Pradesh, Radio Bundelkhand, enables and empowers the local communities to use this medium of communication to take charge of their own lives. The community radio is being run and managed by local communities of Bundelkhand and has been supported by Development Alternatives since October 2008. There are 12 local community reporters working at the radio- station.
• Check Dams – Have been constructed near the campus by The DA Group in 1998 to ensure water supply to the enterprise units and for internal consumption. It maintains moisture in an 100 acre area across a three km long trail. The water requirement on the campus of more than 100,000 litres per day is fulfilled, in spite of there being no ground water in this area.