ABOUT US
Confederation of NGOs of Rural India
Incubating Civil Society
CNRI believes that the contribution of the NGO sector should be accorded the same level of respect and recognition as that enjoyed by the Governmental Executive. While the Government, under the leadership of elected representatives and supported by an extensive administrative and bureaucratic framework, formulates and implements public policies, NGOs complement these efforts by working directly with communities, identifying grassroots challenges, and delivering innovative, people-centric solutions.
The strength of the NGO sector lies in its close engagement with society, its ability to respond quickly to emerging needs, and its commitment to public welfare.
Message from the Desk of the Secretary General
Binod Anand
Secretary General Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI)
A silent battle for India’s future is already underway. The new frontier of power is no longer defined only by territory, armies, or markets; it is increasingly shaped by Artificial Intelligence, data networks, digital platforms, and algorithmic control that can influence behaviour, economies, and societies without a single shot being fired. When the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI) was founded, our frontline was the farmer’s field, the village road, the mandi, the cooperative, and the panchayat — the everyday institutions where the dignity and livelihood of rural Bharat are secured through agriculture, rural credit, financial inclusion, and community empowerment.
[Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2022]
Our Work
CNRI Impact Areas — Where We Create Change
CNRI’s work spans the full spectrum of rural transformation — from agriculture and livelihoods to gender equity, climate resilience and the digital economy. Across every area, our approach is the same: farmer- and community-centric, evidence-based and built on partnership between civil society, government, academia and industry.
Our Twelve Focus Areas
Policy & Research
Confederation of NGOs of Rural India or CNRI, as it is called, is the largest platform of NGOs in the country to enable them to articulate their aspirations or voice their views and suggestions for the progress and welfare of rural India. Over these years CNRI through its mouth piece, Voice of Rural India, has taken up many issues with the Government, the most important once being agriculture loan burden of the farmers, FDI in retail, non-dilution of Agriculture and Rural Livelihood in the WTO negotiations, opposition to the parochial tendencies of one of the leading political parties of Maharashtra, immediate visit to Nandigram (West Bengal) where atrocities had taken place including death of people on the issue pertaining to forcible land acquisition farmers to promote foreign investment zones and revamping of NREGS to provide for employment as well as long-lasting productive assets and so many more other issues.
Leadership & Professional Team
The strength of the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI) lies in its visionary leadership and highly experienced professional team, dedicated to empowering civil society and driving sustainable rural development across India. Guided by a commitment to inclusive growth, transparency, and social justice, the leadership provides strategic direction while ensuring that the voices of grassroots organizations are represented at regional, national, and international platforms.
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Agriculture & Food Systems in India
Health & Nutrition in India
