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Welcome to MITTRA

A non-profit development organization promoted by BAIF, implements multi-pronged comprehensive rural development programmes in different parts of Maharashtra. MITTRA, which is an acronym for "Maharashtra Institute of Technology Transfer for Rural Areas", also means 'Friend' in Marathi MITTRA is also the ancient Sanskrit name of the Rising Sun, which brings new life to the world.

Our Mission

MITTRA's Vision

About MITTRA Logo

Our mission is to create opportunities of gainful self-employment for rural families, especially disadvantaged sections, ensuring sustainable livelihood, enriched environment, improved quality of life and human values.This will be achieved through development research, effective use of local resources, extension of appropriate technologies and upgrading of skills and capabilities with community participation.

MITTRA is a non-political, secular and professionally managed organisation.
  1. A self-reliant and vibrant rural economy
  2. Sustainable development of Rural India, free from poverty and hunger
  3. A literate and enlightened Rural Community who care for the conservation of natural resources and a clean environment
  4. Rural Society, with a priority to
    • Reduce child mortality
    • Ensure safe potable water in all villages
    • Promote community health, family welfare and better quality of life
    • Gender equity and social equality
    • High moral values free from drugs and narcotic addiction
  5. Empowered Society especially of the weaker sections, capable of self governance
The MITTRA Logo is a symbolic representation of its Mission. It is a visual portrayal of the four important natural resources - land, livestock, water and vegetation. It signifies MITTRA's commitment to the conservation of these precious natural resources and to promote abundant agricultural production from land for the betterment of the "the family", which is the basic unit of development.

The word "MITTRA in Marathi means "friend", a true friend of the farmer's family, in Sanskrit it means "the rising Sun", that bestows the family with hope, light and warmth.

History and Genesis

Program Approach

Registration

BAIF Development Research Foundation was founded in 1967 by Dr. Manibhai Desai, an associate of Mahatma Gandhi. BAIF worked on developing various approaches and instruments for providing gainful self-employment to the rural communities through sustainable use of natural resources. As BAIF programmes spread to different parts of the country, various development organisations were promoted by BAIF to intensively continue the work in specific geographical regions. MIITRA was founded in February 1992 to take up development programs in Maharashtra. Presently MITTRA programs are currently implemented in 25 districts in Maharashtra. The head quarter is located at Nasik. MITTRA is a non-political, secular and professionally managed Organisation.

Click here to Visit our parent Organisation site www.baif.org.in
To address the problems of the poor families who live in a heterogeneous society, MITTRA has developed the following strategy:
  • Consider each Poor family as the unit of development
  • Multi-disciplinary village cluster development approach for socio economic development
  • Blend development with applied research and training
  • Promotion of people's organisations for programme implementation and sustainability
  • Ensure empowerment of women, education and community health for better quality of life
  • Integrate environmental protection with livelihood programmes
  • Societies Registration Act (1860)
    Reg. No. MAH/6941-93/Pune.
    Date: 9.2.1993
  • Bombay Public Trust Act (1950)
    Reg. No.F-8056/Pune.
    Date:16.3.1993