Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation & Axis Bank Foundation Join Forces to Advance Sustainable and Inclusive Tribal Development

Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF), an independent society set up under the Ministry of Rural Development, in collaboration with Axis Bank Foundation, has launched the first edition of an annual convening “Samanvay: The National Tribal Livelihoods Summit”.  Samanvay aims to nurture a collective space for reflective multi-stakeholder deliberations focused on critical issues and opportunities in India’s rural development landscape.

Derived from the Sanskrit words “Sama” (equal) and “Anvay” (convergence), Samanvay embodies the harmonious integration of diverse perspectives, experiences, expertise, and resources to address systemic challenges and foster equitable development. Samanvay seeks to cultivate the confluence of ideas, experiences, knowledge and learnings of all stakeholders in India's rural development narrative, including civil society organisations, corporate entities, government bodies, people’s institutions, tribal communities, and young leaders.

The landmark annual event brought together government officials, civil society organisations (CSOs), corporate leaders, policymakers, thought leaders and tribal communities to deliberate on innovative solutions for inclusive and sustainable livelihoods in India’s rural and tribal geographies. Some of the delegates include Shri Vibhu Nayar, Honourable Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs; Shri Pramod Boro, CEM, Bodoland Territorial Council, Assam; Smt Anshu Singh, DDG, Ministry of Tribal Affairs; Ms Pi Lalrinpui, Honorable Minister, Government of Mizoram; Ms. Dhruvi Shah, Executive Trustee and CEO, Axis Bank Foundation; Shri Siddharth Tripathi, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Govt of Jharkhand; and Shri Nand Kumar, IAS, Director General - MGNREGA, Government of Maharashtra, ; among others.

Speaking at the launch event, Padam Shri Girish Prabhune, President, BRLF, and Shri Kuldip Singh, CEO, BRLF, highlighted the critical role of multi-sectoral collaboration in transforming rural livelihoods. They said,

“Samanvay is more than a summit—it is a movement dedicated to building resilient and sustainable rural economies. By bringing together diverse voices, we are fostering a collective commitment to ensuring that tribal and rural communities have access to equitable opportunities for growth and prosperity.”

Ms. Dhruvi Shah, Executive Trustee and CEO, Axis Bank Foundation, said, “​Samanvay 2025 celebrates 10 years of BRLF’s journey and brings to the fore the importance of collaborations and partnerships in solving livelihood challenges in rural India, especially in tribal dominant regions.  It is an opportunity by stakeholders to come together, have dialogues and discuss the future possibilities to address our collective purpose of improving lives and livelihoods in rural India."

Shri Pramod Boro, CEM, Bodoland Territorial Council, Assam, highlighted the importance of localised governance and grassroots participation in livelihood programs, stating, “For any sustainable development initiative to succeed, it must be rooted in community-led governance. Bodoland Territorial Council remains committed to enhancing tribal livelihoods through participatory development and policy innovations.”

With a focus on inclusive and sustainable growth, BRLF stands committed to inspiring renewed commitments from all stakeholders through subsequent regional gatherings that will further the explorations made in Samanvay 2025 at the national level. Renewed commitments emerging from these annual and regional gatherings will strengthen GO-NGO collaborations, fostering innovative strategies to address poverty and sustainable livelihoods. The summit paves the way for addressing the significant challenges that India faces in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 through collective action, empowering marginalised communities and shaping a more inclusive future

About Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF)

Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (www.brlf.in) is an autonomous body established in 2013 under the Ministry of Rural Development through a Union Cabinet decision by the Government of India. With a vision to transform the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations across India, BRLF plays a crucial role in fostering and facilitating civil society action in partnership with the government and people’s institutions. Its mandate encompasses a range of objectives, including bridging the gap between program outlays and outcomes, improving implementation of government flagship programs, providing grant support to civil society organisations (CSOs), and promoting partnerships for inclusive, sustainable development. BRLF has a pan-India mandate and focuses on tribal geographies, particularly those in the Central Indian tribal belt and Northeast India. For more information, visit www.brlf.in

About Axis Bank Foundation

Axis Bank Foundation is committed to aiding vulnerable rural communities, aiming to secure stable and sustainable livelihoods. The foundation focuses on creating economic opportunities for small and marginal farmers as well as landless rural citizens. It implements systems to enhance income through agriculture, natural resource management, livestock, and by establishing financial and market linkages. Additionally, it offers vocational skills to unemployed youth, both able and disabled, in urban and rural India. Working with a wide network of NGO-partners, the foundation tailors programmes to meet specific community needs. With a vision to reach the most marginalized communities, Axis Bank Foundation aspires to create lasting socio-economic impact, aiming to affect two million households by 2025.

For further information on Axis Bank Foundation, please refer to the website: https://www.axisbankfoundation.org/  Follow Axis Bank Foundation’s on LinkedIn for more updates

About Axis Bank:

Axis Bank is one of the largest private sector banks in India. Axis Bank offers the entire spectrum of services to customer segments covering Large and Mid-Corporates, SME, Agriculture, and Retail Businesses. With its 5,427 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 15,014 ATMs across the country as on 30th June 2024. The network of Axis Bank spreads across 2,987 centres, enabling the Bank to reach out to a large cross-section

of customers with an array of products and services. The Axis Group includes Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Securities Ltd., Axis Finance, Axis Trustee, Axis Capital, A.TReDS Ltd., Freecharge, Axis Pension Fund and Axis Bank Foundation. For further information on Axis Bank, please refer to the website: https://www.axisbank.com