Srinivasan Services Trust (SST) is a Non-Profit and non-governmental organization, (CSR arm of Sundaram-Clayton Ltd and TVS Motor Company Ltd) carrying out rural development activities since 1996 in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra.

SST’s holistic approach focuses on key areas of Economic Development, Health, Education, Infrastructure, Environment and Social and Cultural Development in the villages. SST works with about 280 field staff live and work in villages.

At SST, they have identified six areas of work. While each community and individual have different needs, progress can only be sustained when the development process touches key aspects of everyone’s life. They nudge communities to embrace better practices and a higher quality of life, and focus their efforts on these broad areas. Their program of inclusive change aims for better health, income, education, infrastructure, environment, and social development.

SST follows an approach of integrated but holistic and sustainable development, focusing on providing financial security and economic well-being, health care, education, infrastructure development, clean and green environment, and social & cultural development to the rural communities. SST works as a conduit between the government and local communities, enabling people to access various government schemes and benefits. SST’s attempt is to make people independent and drivers of change themselves. The idea is to eventually convert individual beneficiaries into community leaders, who in turn motivate and guide others to bring about social and economic transformation of communities.

In the words of Mr Venu Srinivasan, Managing Trustee, SST –

“This development-led model breaks down traditional barriers of income-inequality and creates new kinds of leadership. In SST’s villages, the community takes charge of the change it wants to make and works to make it happen.”

• SST does not work on the donor-recipient model. It seeks community involvement and ownership in all the projects. The community takes responsibility for the continuity of the programs and its sustainability. SST acts only as an enabler.
• SST seeks the active participation of private sector& garnering funds from government aided schemes, partnering in the change. It helps communities avail of the existing government programs for their benefit.
• SST does not stand as a guarantor for any loans extended to the community. It encourages the community to form self-help groups, farmer co-operatives and youth clubs that are responsible for loan repayment.
• SST workers are all field workers. They live, interact and work inside communities. Trust is core to the work they do.
• SST applies best practices such as TQM (Total Quality Management) to its programs, so the change is well thought and ensure sustainability. The programs are mapped scientifically, making it easier to predict outcomes.

SST's continuous presence and frequent interaction at all levels of the village has helped the team to be accepted as transparent, trustworthy and an honest organisation. The Government has large number of development schemes. Many a time, these development schemes fail to achieve the desired objectives. SST dovetails its activities with the government schemes and connect last-mile connectivity. This helps achieve maximum results at least cost. A few things that puts SST in a very unique position in implementing its holistic model for transformation includes nearly 25 years, almost decades of expertise in community development activity; their Hands - On Consultants possess rich knowledge in agriculture, Horticulture, Livestock Management & Water Management, their rich knowledge helps SST in improving the outcomes in the respective areas. SST has a strong presence of an inspired young team of professionals that are passionate about the community's development, they live and work indside communities they serve and trust is core to the work they do alongwith being energetic and bringing up innovative ideas. Their streamlined processes includes being detail oriented, streamlined, efficient and effective, allowing them to get to the finish line and seeing the results faster. Impact of SST's rural development initiatives has resulted in increased unity among women with social status in family and recognition in society, recognition of Government development efforts by community, greater awareness of various welfare schemes of Government, effective implementation of government schemes. Attracted by the reputation for its quality work, several donors have made contributions to SST.