Foundation for Rural Recovery and Development (FORRAD)

12/03/2026

Saristanagar in Nalanda district, is a mahadalit hamlet. The residents belong largely to the Manjhi community. They do not own land and are reliant on casual labour for their income. Most families migrate in search of work. In order to start a more regular conversation with the women and girls, we have begun literacy classes. 15 women have enrolled so far. They say that learning to write their names will be useful for them. On our part, we hope these classes will provide us with a chance to engage in more meaningful ways.

25/02/2026

15th February was SPORTS day at the Kaliyachak Shiksha Setu. Each successive year brings greater preparedness, familiarity and enthusiasm. The girls look like they are ready to train more professionally. This year, we held the three legged race, alphabet matching, slow cycling, lemon and spoon, high jump, the sack race and the 200 metre race. The concept of slow cycling was not fully understood and also not appreciated AT ALL but space constraints prevented speed cycling 🚴🏾‍♀️. We understand we’ll have to rethink this! The day started with exercises for everyone and ended with prize distribution, speeches and freshly prepared samosas. The centre holds two sports days a year. The second will be open to spectators.
learningcentre.

06/02/2026

We fully intended to photograph a lovely , well attended cooking competition in JJ Nagar but then this happened. The competition challenged the contestants to cook using ragi and black rice. The dishes were great. Just so you know.

20/01/2026

We agree 100%. If we are serious about water security, we need to prioritize sewage treatment and water conservation. Do listen

17/11/2025

Our health team in Thiruvallur district have 409 patients of type 2 DM and hypertension on regular follow up. The burden of diabetes mellitus and hypertension in our country is ever growing. A small audit in our MMU spread over a month, showed us the large quantities in which we dispense medications in a few villages in Thiruvallur district. 40,740 tablets to 409 patients for the month.
Over the years, we have tried working with the local population to reduce their dependence on foods with high glycemic index like rice and transition to millets. It has been a difficult and ongoing process. The switch would probably be more feasible if local ration shops start dispensing fair quantities of millets over just rice.

24/09/2025

Jab pyne behti hain. Film dikhati hai ki paramparik Ahar-Pyne system Daksin Bihar mein paani ki suraksha ke liye kitna zaruri hai. Link in Bio

22/08/2025

Planting fruit trees is always a great idea. In an area where land holdings are minuscule, poverty is dire and malnutrition is extremely severe - it gains even more importance. Last year, we planted 1750 trees of predominantly of mango, banana, and guava in and around the pyne embankments in Nalanda, Bihar. Relieved to report that contrary to all doomsday predictions, most of the teees are doing very well and the guava and the banana trees have begun producing fruit. Much to look forward to - fingers crossed.

30/07/2025

You might remember us chatting on about pynes? The age-old flood diversion canals off seasonal rivers in drought-prone South Bihar? Well most years the seasonal rivers do not flood and the water in the pynes is the run-off from the fields. Precious and valuable but not half as much fun as when the rivers do flood. This year, after four years, the river Panchane has gifted us its water in Silao. And we cannot tell you how much joy this has brought. Here’s hoping for a good harvest this year.

11/07/2025

"When the pynes flow" is a film that documents community- based initiatives with small-holder farmers and sharecroppers on the intersecting issues of water, agriculture and nutrition security in drought-prone Southern Bihar. On the ground, this entailed restoring pyne-ahars, promoting low-cost climate resilient agriculture and supplementary nutrition for children using what was locally available. The work has been undertaken collaboratively by Seva Mandal, Bhawani Bigha; Samaj Kalyan Mandal, Kaliyachak; and the Foundation for Rural Recovery and Development, Delhi

Working in Bihar has all the other underlying challenges of rural India magnified several times over – unemployment, casteism, feudalism and misogyny. Parallely, it also has a wealth of history, culture, language, food and what must have once been the richest soil in the country. The learning never stops. The state with the oldest (and most beautiful) university in world continues to educate us.

We hope you will find the time to watch this 19 minute film and we would love to hear what you think.

When the Pynes FlowLocated in Nalanda district, Bihar, this film documents community- based work with small-holder farmers and sharecroppers on the intersect...

05/04/2025

Today’s cooking competition was a joy with the ingredients being simple, locally available (well mostly) and a whole load of imagination being used. The star was the delicious chutney with no oil and no salt and peanuts and moringa leaves added to the mango sambhar. Just wonderful. Always interesting to see what Seenikuppam and JJ Nagar have to offer. Here are the winners. First place
Ragi kali with ragi flour water and salt
Chutney with coconut, peanuts, raw mango, onion, chilli (NO oil and NO salt)
Dal with muringa and peanut

Second place
Ragi puttu- ragi flour : double steamed and coconut with brown sugar
Carrot date shake with coconut milk

Third place
Ragi idli and ragi dosa with raw mango sambar.