About Ibtada

Ibtada is a not for profit, non-governmental development organisation working in the Mewat region of Rajasthan. It is a small endeavor to mainstream the deprived women of this region by organizing, educating and empowering them.

Ibtada is an Urdu word that means ‘the beginning’. It evolved in the year 1997 when the founder Director Rajesh Singhi conducted the Benchmark Survey of Mewat for Government of Rajasthan that unveiled the scale of backwardness in this area.

Ibtada works in 550 villages across 8 blocks of Alwar, 1 block of Bharatpur and 1 block of Dausa districts of Rajasthan along with 2 blocks of Jhansi and 1 block of Chitrakoot of Uttar Pradesh in Bundelkhand region. Ibtada recently started its interventions in Dausa and Bundelkhand regions as part of its upscaling plans.

The work area in Alwar and Bharatpur districts is the most backward region of Mewat and is dominated by Meo-Muslims, the traditional peasantry class. Though converted to Islam 14th century onwards, the Meos still practice many Hindu customs and traditions. The area in Jhansi and Chitrakoot are among the most backward and resource-poor areas of Bundelkhand. It is a semi-arid, hilly terrain region where agriculture is largely rainfed.

Both regions suffer extreme social and economic backwardness due to a lack of resources, awareness, education, health and on account of poor gender status.

Vision and Mission

Ibtada envisions a society where poor and deprived social groups are economically, socially and politically empowered to take part in development processes and have equal rights and access to resources that abridges poverty, deprivation and discrimination.

Our mission is to strengthen communities especially women to play an influential role to reduce social and economic poverty and inequality.

About

Our Philosophy

Here at Ibtada, we are driven by a single goal; to do our part in making the world a better place for all. Rural poverty and deprivation continues to be a major challenge to the planners and policy makers in India and worldwide. It is also on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. The problems are boundless and diverse, the resources are limited. Programs designed with limited manpower and finite financial resources fail to deliver the desired results, leaving planners to contemplate better designed and implemented programs to address the numerous issues of development. We strive to build productive relationships and make a positive impact with all of our pursuits. Apart from the government machinery, we also engage and collaborate with other voluntary or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) trying to make a dent on rural poverty and find solutions to the problems attached to it.