Rural India Supporting Trust

We believe in creating a just & equitable society for all; and we partner with organisations across the globe that share and support our mission.

[Virtual Bharat @virtual_bharat]

Anādiḥ Anantaḥ | Without Beginning. Without End.
Sanskrit was never just a language. It is breath, memory, and the pulse of a civilisation still alive, echoing through everyday life, carrying a rhythm that feels timeless.

Watch the full documentary on YouTube 🔗 https://t.co/LDTNjEkBk4

@the_ristrust
@THF_INDIA

#anadianantah #sanskrit #mattur #karnataka #virtualbharat

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

The Himalaya – where majestic rivers originate and flow without borders, where ancient wisdom breathes and where people live deeply connected to nature – is facing a fragile future. What happens here affects all of us. To address challenges, such as biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, and promote livelihoods that support a sustainable future, @atree_org in partnership with RIST is working across three landscapes – Khangchendzonga (Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills), Arunachal Pradesh, and the Trans-Himalaya (Ladakh).

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

As we step into the new year, we’re grateful for our partners & collaborators who inspire us every day. Thank you for the impact you make and the trust you place in us. Wishing you a year filled with progress, possibility and meaningful change. Happy New Year! ✨

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

We are honored to share that Paul Glick, Executive Director, RIST joined @DrTomFrieden to celebrate the launch of Dr. Frieden's book 'The Formula for Better Health - How to Save Millions of Lives—Including Your Own'. This incredible book chronicles his journey as a former CDC Director, using real-world experiences to share scientific knowledge and life-saving action. Proceeds will support @ResolveTSL , an esteemed partner, that collaborates locally and globally to build health solutions that save millions of lives.

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

Join us in congratulating @SatyaSpecial School as they make global history with their efforts to promote inclusion!

Satya Special School has been recognized with a Best Special School Award (2025-26) from @UNESCO, @TISSpeak and the Global Inclusive Education Network (GIEN) at the @PurpleFestGoa. This recognition strengthens our joint mission to build inclusive spaces where every child learns, belongs, and thrives.

A heartfelt thank you to the Satya Special School team, volunteers, families and supporters for making this possible.

#PurpleFest2025

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

We are proud to announce that the @AdharshilaTrust Renal Care Project, supported by RIST, facilitated the training of 500 Dialysis Technicians during the 5th National Dialysis Therapy Technologists Conference (IADTCON 2025) at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad.

The two-day event held between September 20-21, 2025, was attended by over 600 participants. It brought together technologists, nephrologists, students, and industry partners to advance knowledge and practice in dialysis care.

Adharshila's Founder Trustees, Ms. Neena Jolly and Ms. geeta arora participated in strengthening patient-centered renal care in India.

On this occasion, Ms. Neena Jolly delivered a motivational and heartfelt address to celebrate the true lifelines of renal care.

“Today I stand here with immense pride and gratitude. This day belongs to all dialysis technicians. You don’t just perform a profession-you give life.

A dialysis machine is only a tool. What truly matters are your hands, your patience, and your care. Each time you start a dialysis session, you are not just running a procedure- you are giving a family extra time with their loved one. That gift is priceless.

Technicians are not just operators of machines. You are the ones who check vitals, respond to alarms, reassure patients, and bring empathy into the process. A gentle smile or a few comforting words often heal more than any medicine.

You are both the backbone and the heartbeat of every dialysis centre. Without you, the system cannot function. With you, patients feel dignity, safety, and hope.

So today, not just the machines-but your spirit too must be recharged. For every patient, you remain their true lifeline.

We are proud of you all. Thank you.”

Together, we continue our commitment to patient-centered healthcare and to creating stronger foundations for renal care delivery in India.

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

Register for @TDUPGConnect's Wild Edible Experience - Forage and Feast #Workshop on September 20 at their #Bengaluru campus! The workshop offers a chance to learn fundamental techiques and principles of #Ayurveda culinary, pick seasonal edibles such as Brahmi, colocasia leaves, turmeric leaves, amla, black nightshade and prepare dishes using foraged, seasonal, and local ingredients at the TDU scientific kitchen!

Learn more: https://t.co/5y51z5UuCy

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

Join @Keystone_KHS India for an online workshop on the Foundations of Inclusive Practice: A Glimpse of SRV. This overview event will present the idea of assisting people with disabilities and other devalued conditions to have positive social roles as a productive and helpful response to wounding life experiences. People wishing to understand the life experiences of people they support and the implications of those life experiences, and are committed to the work of making life better are encouraged to attend.

Date: September 19, 2025
Time: 3 PM – 6 PM IST
Venue: Zoom (Online)

For more information, click here: https://t.co/0b9iENK1jZ

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

Our esteemed partner @atree_org is inviting applications for MSc dissertation fellowships through its Action for Mountains and Peoples (AMP) programme in the Himalaya.

This fellowship is open to students enrolled in MSc programmes at universities located in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Supported by RIST, the AMP programme focuses on biodiversity conservation, landscape restoration and enhancing human well-being in the IHR.

Priority will be given to candidates from the IHR, particularly women and individuals from underrepresented groups. For more details, click here: https://t.co/E5uPAWIZkk

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

We're proud to share our partner @banyanbalm collaborated with @Outlookindia magazine for its August 21st issue titled "Everyday I Pray for Love" to take a hard look at the community and care provided to those with mental health disorders in India.

The National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015–16 showed that 10% of Indians have a mental disorder, but within this, only 15% receive any treatment. Treatment gaps range from 90% for common disorders to nearly 70% for severe disorders. Rural areas and marginalized groups are worse off than urban populations, which reflects the inequity in mental health infrastructure.

- In this issue, Md Asghar Khan writes about the inmates of a century-old mental health facility near Ranchi who are desperate to leave but have been deemed too “ill” to live with others in society.

- In Uttar Pradesh, Swati Subhedar looks at the efforts being made In Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, under the District Mental Health Programme to help people with mental illnesses.

- Toufiq Rashid writes a personal account of the toll conflict journalism takes on reporters.

- Avantika Mehta examines the psychological toll that the caste system takes on scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities. The mental health care infrastructure for SC/ST community is nearly non-existent she found, while adding that caste itself is a major cause of psychological disorders and chronic stress.

Cover Artwork: The ‘Infinite Elephant’ is by Usha, who lives with a mental illness. She found her freedom in love. The elephant, she says, represents hope and freedom.

Cover Headline: 'Everyday I Pray For Love', is the title of a book by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama who lives in a mental health facility, and paints her visions.

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

We're excited to key research & critical insights from the panel hosted by @Keystone_KHS with participation from @AIFoundation on the need for disability inclusion across India. We're committed to collaboration & discussion to build accessible solutions across education and employment to develop an inclusive and equitable society.

[American India Foundation @AIFoundation]

Earlier this month, at the #IndiaInternationalCentre in #NewDelhi, the American India Foundation (#AIF) joined a landmark panel on “Moving the Needle on #DisabilityInclusion in Corporate India,” hosted by @Keystone_KHS and supported by @the_ristrust

#PWDempowerment #AIFImpact

[The Good Food Institute India @GoodFoodIndia]

At the Food Systems, Biodiversity and Nutrition Symposium hosted by @TDUUndergradHub, @the_ristrust and @UniofGreenwich, @IshwaryaPadma and @AiyannaMB joined a panel discussion on Alternative Protein and Why They Are Critical for Sustainable Food Systems.

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

We strongly believe that rivers are lifelines for their communities, and are proud to support @TNCAsiaPacific (TNC) in their consistent efforts to restore and protect riparian habitats in India. Recently, TNC hosted a national workshop in Delhi and the event witnessed over 70 experts, policymakers, and civil society leaders united to explore scalable, nature-based strategies for river restoration.

🌱 Together, let’s reimagine river conservation — rooted in nature, powered by policy.

[IWMI @IWMI_]

IWMI’s Gopal Kumar & Shweta Yadav spoke at a national workshop by @TNCAsiaPacific & @the_ristrust, highlighting how Nature-Based Solutions can rejuvenate rivers, restore floodplains & boost biodiversity, with community support & strong policies. 🌿💧

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

We're excited to support the Food Systems, Biodiversity and Nutrition Symposium being hosted by TDU in #Bengaluru on June 24, 2025. In collaboration with the @NRInstitute (@UniofGreenwich), the event will bring together researchers, industry professionals, policy makers and more to build food-first solutions!

Register here: https://t.co/NjJ2PrKIkK

For more information: https://t.co/nB42JE0mV8

[TDU Postgrad Connect @TDUPGConnect]

We are pleased to invite you to the Food Systems, Biodiversity and Nutrition Symposium, a collaboration between the Natural Resources Institute (University of Greenwich, UK) and Food Futures Program (TDU)

Details -
https://t.co/hECJTmKasE

https://t.co/RwCP4g5qT8

#tdubengaluru

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

Hypertension (high blood pressure) in pregnant women requires careful monitoring and management due to the significant risks it poses to both the mother and the fetus. Specialized care is essential, and we're proud to support the launch of the Learning Lab for Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy (HDP) in Harda, Madhya Pradesh, India by @ResolveTSL, with implementation by @Jhpiego.
Early detection, strict monitoring and timely intervention are critical; and together, we are building a continuum of care for women at the primary health level.

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

What do 5-star fans, cool roofs, low-carbon cement & steel, and super-efficient ACs have in common? They’re India’s best bet to decarbonize its booming building sector.

The Build Right the First Time report shows how these five measures alone could reduce cumulative emissions by up to 8 Gt by 2050. With continued grid decarbonization, this figure could reach an even more ambitious 17 Gt over the next 25 years.

Infrastructure meets climate action. More here: https://t.co/ICob1blH5F

#GreenBuildings #LowCarbonHousing #IndiaUrban #NetZeroFuture

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

What does it mean to #lead from the grassroots?

For Aarushi Pandey, a member of the 2024-2025 Banyan Impact Fellowship, or BIF, (formerly the William J. Clinton Fellowship) cohort, it means listening before leading. Learning before designing. And building with #communities, not just for them.

Currently working with the @igsindia1987 in Hyderabad, a nonprofit that focuses on sustainable livelihoods for rural and forest-dependent communities in India, Aarushi is crafting five transformative training modules that will ripple across 10 states. These modules range in focus from behavioral change patterns, digital literacy, soil conservation, indigenous knowledge preservation, and gender inclusion and will serve as blueprints for inclusive, climate-friendly development. But her Fellowship journey didn’t just stop at strategy.

With @AIFoundation's Professional Development Grant, she traveled to the forests of Madhya Pradesh to the Professional Assistance for Development Action’s (@PRADAN_India) Kesla campus, located between the cities of Bhopal and Betul and a region home to many tribal communities. There, she met women rewriting rural narratives.

At the Rewa Sankul Mahila Sangh, a federation of over 4,400 self-help group members, Aarushi saw firsthand how local leaders claimed their space not just in their homes, but in the future of their villages. Their demand for a bigger training hall wasn’t about the physical space — it was about visibility, dignity, and ownership.

Thanks to the support of generous BIF partners including RIST, we can continue to nurture leaders who build with empathy, lead with humility, and carry forward the shared spirit of India and the U.S. — forged through community, service, and action.

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

Did you know? India's coral reefs cover an estimated 2,375 sq km! Home to diverse ecosystems, they host a wide range of endangered species like dugongs, sea turtles, and reef sharks. Recently, the @WCSIndia's Marine Program participated and collaborated with global experts to develop sustainable conservation strategies. Supported by RIST, this program aims to preserve marine biodiversity with a multi-disciplinary approach. Without urgent action, these ecosystems — and the communities depending on them — face great endangerment. Protecting them is essential! 🪸

[WCS-India @WCSIndia]

@TheWCS held its Global Coral Reef Strategy meet in Roatan, Honduras (24–28 Mar 2025), bringing together 30 reps to shape its 2025–2030 plan. Karan Deshpande represented WCS-India’s Marine Programme, contributing to global targets and conservation priorities.

#CoralReefs #Marine

[Rural India Supporting Trust @the_ristrust]

Please join us in celebrating the appointment of our Managing Director, Shweta Rawat's appointment to the @Americares Board of Directors! At Americares, the board oversees all aspects of the organization’s life-changing health programs, including its disaster response work and support for 4,000 under-resourced hospitals and health clinics worldwide. We're certain Shweta's expertise will support the Americares mission of helping people and communities around the world access health in times of disaster and every day.

[South Asian Herald @SAHeraldNews]

Americares Appoints Indian American Philanthropy Leader Shweta Rawat to Board of Directors

@Americares @AmericaresCEO @THF_INDIA @the_ristrust #ShwetaRawat #BoardofDirectors

https://t.co/xCFMxyVJm8