GENESIS

CORD traces its beginning in Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda's gratitude
towards the Himalayan people, especially women.

The people of the Himalayas, especially women, have selflessly served the wandering sadhus. This will be our repayment of ṛṣiṛiṅ (debt) to them. I want to serve them.

GURUDEV SWAMI CHINMAYANANDA

In the spirit of universal brotherhood and selfless Sevā (service) as imparted in Vedānta, CORD’s foundation was laid in 1985 in Sidhbari, Himachal Pradesh as Chinmaya Rural Primary Health Care and Training Centre (CRPHC&TC) with a focus on primary, maternal and child healthcare. “Soon enough a well-rounded community-driven and multi-pronged Program based on communities’ needs emerged. It paved the way forward for CORD’s theory of change for harnessing the potential of people to transform rural India,” says Dr. Kshama Metre, National Director of CORD, who has been involved with the Program since its inception.

In 2003, Guruji Swami Tejomayananda made CRPHC&TC a national trust called CORD (Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development). Guruji expounds the spirit of the program,

"CORD is a bond of love and understanding, encouraging a process of sharing which enriches both the giver and the receiver."

THE CORD JOURNEY

Programs

CORD is a pioneer in rural development in India. It involves rural communities – irrespective of their caste, creed and religion – in developmental activities through CORD-nurtured grassroots Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), elected representatives of the Panchayats, various government and other agencies, and interested stakeholders. Some of these CBOs are as follows:

MAHILA MANDALS
(Women’s Groups)
FARMERS CLUB
(Men’s Groups)
YOUTH AND ADOLESCENT
(Girl’s Groups)
BALVIHARS
(Children’s Groups)
VIEW ALL PROGRAMS

HOW IS CORD DIFFERENT?

CORD’s programs in rural development cater to empowering and making communities self-reliant. The uniqueness of the model rests on making the rural communities equal partners in their development, rather than just facilitating developmental projects.

It creates Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) nurtured in each village ward to encourage them to participate at the Gram Panchayat level, a unit of local self-governance.

Further, to ensure the success of its model, CORD puts women at the center stage, and all its programs are facilitated through the Mahila Mandals or Women’s Groups.

CORD facilitates in increasing the capacities of these CBOs to address diverse issues of the community through various thematic programs.

Microfinance through Self-Help Groups

Community-based health, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene

Local self-governance through Panchayati Raj Institutions

Community-based livelihood – farm and non-farm sectors

Community-based inclusion and rehabilitation for persons with disabilities

Literacy, including adult literacy, financial and digital literacy, and computer literacy

Community-based social justice and gender sensitization

Participatory natural resource management

Alcohol abuse awareness and management

VIEW ALL THEMATIC PROGRAMS

CORD IMPACT

CORD offers opportunities for you to learn and grow. You may provide your expertise to the rural community in India through the following programs.

  • VOLUNTEERING

    Anyone from any walks of life may volunteer with CORD at any of its locations, affiliating with any of the programs of CORD on a short-term to a long-term basis.

    Be A Volunteer

  • INTERNSHIP

    College or university students interested in internship programs with CORD to understand rural development in India may apply through their universities or colleges.

    Become An Intern

  • FELLOWSHIP

    Encouraging brilliant young minds to work with CORD and gain experiential and expositional insights for developing rural India through this two-year program.

    Join Fellowship

CHINMAYA VIJAYA: AN ORPHANAGE FOR GIRLS

Chinmaya Vijaya is an integral unique program of CORD in India. Chinmaya Vijaya is a girls’ orphanage at Kaza near Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

The idea for the orphanage germinated after the tsunami of December 2004. It began in a small building with three girls taken in by the founders Dr. Sumathi Mukkamala and Dr. AppaRao Mukkamala.

Later, built on a sprawling five acres of land donated by Sri Lingamaneni Bhaskara’s family, the orphanage became fully functional in early 2007 under the auspices of CORD.

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News & Events

National Annual Param Pujya Shri Guruji Puraskar Award

Dr. Kshama Metre received National Annual Param Pujya Shri Guruji Puraskar Award for Women Empowerment on 12th February 2023 from Jan Kalyan Samiti, Maharashtra, affiliated to R.S.S. in Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad).

Dr. Thomas Cangan Social Leadership Award 2022

Dr. Kshama Metre, National Director – CORD, received “Dr. Thomas Cangan Social Leadership Award 2022” on 14th September 2022 from Society for Indian Institute of Rural Management (SIIRM) Jaipur virtually.

See All News & Events