About Us
Introduction
VIOR Foundation is committed to advancing inclusive growth, sustainable livelihoods, and community wellbeing across India. Our work is anchored in grassroots engagement, institutional partnerships and evidence-based development practices.
Vision
To build resilient, empowered, and self-reliant communities where every individual has equitable access to education, livelihoods, health and sustainable development.
Mission
To design and implement inclusive, scalable, and sustainable development programmes that strengthen human capital, promote economic independence, protect natural resources and enhance community wellbeing.
Core Values
- Equity & Inclusion – Prioritising marginalised communities
- Sustainability – Ensuring long-term impact and local ownership
- Integrity & Accountability – Ethical governance and transparency
- Community Partnership – Participatory, grassroots-led development
- Innovation & Evidence – Data-driven and context-sensitive solutions
Our Approach
VIOR Foundation focuses on long-term capacity building rather than short-term relief. We work closely with government bodies, CSR partners, local institutions, community-based organisations and subject-matter experts.
Leadership Experience & Institutional Capability
VIOR Foundation’s Board of Directors brings over 45+ years of collective experience in executing large-scale development programmes across India.
VIOR Foundation is guided by a highly experienced Board of Directors with over four decades of collective experience in planning, executing and scaling large-scale development programmes across India. The Board’s leadership spans education, skill development, livelihoods, agriculture, renewable energy, women empowerment, health, youth development and governance.
This collective expertise strengthens VIOR Foundation’s ability to manage complex, multi-state initiatives, deliver measurable outcomes and partner effectively with government bodies, CSR organisations, academic institutions, and grassroots stakeholders.
Collective Areas of Programme Execution
Government-Led National & State Programmes
The Board has extensive experience in executing and managing flagship government initiatives, ensuring compliance, scale and impact, including:
- Digital literacy and Digital India initiatives under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY)
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
- Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs supported education and livelihood programmes
- State-wide youth and education programmes in collaboration with state governments
Skill Development, Livelihoods & Employment Generation
Collectively, the Board has led skill development and livelihood programmes reaching over 5,00,000 beneficiaries across several districts in 15 states and union territories.
Key execution strengths include:
- Establishment and operation of 150+ skill development centres, including ITI-based centres
- Delivery of training across 48+ job roles aligned with market demand
- Apprenticeship-linked and job-guaranteed skill programmes
- Career counselling, placement-readiness, and employability training for ITI, college, and school students
The Board also oversees VIOR Foundation’s role as exclusive Programme Management Unit (PMU) with the Retail Association Skill Council of India (RASCI), implementing job-linked and apprenticeship-embedded degree programmes under the “earn while you learn” model.
Apprenticeship-Embedded Degree & Institutional Partnerships
The leadership team currently oversees apprenticeship-embedded degree programmes across 150+ educational institutions nationwide, enabling students to gain industry exposure, stipends and hands-on learning alongside formal education.
In addition, the Board has led:
- Upgradation of 29 ITIs across multiple Indian states
- Establishment of skill laboratories in India and neighbouring countries
- Institutional capacity-building for long-term employability outcomes
Women Empowerment & Economic Reintegration
The Board has collectively designed and implemented women-centric livelihood and entrepreneurship programmes, including:
- Support to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and women-led enterprises
- Livelihood models such as cold-pressed oil manufacturing and sanitary napkin production
- Re-skilling programmes for women re-entering the workforce after extended career breaks
These initiatives have enabled economic independence, leadership development, and income stability for thousands of women across urban and rural India.
Agriculture, Natural Resource Management & Climate Resilience
The Board’s experience includes large-scale farmer training initiatives across multiple states, focusing on:
- Organic and natural farming practices
- Soil health management and input optimisation
- Climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable livelihoods
These programmes have strengthened farm productivity, environmental sustainability and rural economic resilience.
Renewable Energy & Rural Infrastructure
The leadership team has overseen large-scale renewable energy and rural electrification initiatives, including:
- Solar lamp distribution benefiting 1,65,000+ individuals
- Installation of solar micro-grids enabling electrification of villages and schools
- Training of 25,000+ rural youth in renewable energy and solar technologies
These initiatives have improved quality of life, education outcomes, and livelihood opportunities in remote and border regions.
Youth, Education & Adolescent Development
The Board has led multiple youth-focused programmes covering:
- Soft skills, life skills and leadership development
- School-to-work transition support
- Adolescent girls’ skilling, internships and employment placement
A recent milestone includes the successful implementation of a programme supporting 550 adolescent girls in Ranchi, Jharkhand, enabling education-to-employment pathways.
Health, Mental Wellbeing & Social Inclusion
The collective leadership experience also spans:
- Regular community health camps in rural and urban slum areas
- Autism support initiatives including parent training and access to therapy
- Integration of psychotherapy, emotional wellness, and alternate healing practices
These initiatives reflect a holistic approach to community wellbeing and inclusive development.
Governance, Stakeholder Management & Compliance
Across all programmes, the Board brings strong capabilities in:
- Large-scale, multi-state project governance
- Compliance with government schemes and CSR frameworks
- Monitoring, reporting and impact measurement
- Stakeholder coordination with ministries, state governments, corporates, academic institutions and community organisations.
Leadership Commitment
VIOR Foundation’s Board of Directors provides strategic oversight, implementation discipline and ethical governance—ensuring that every programme delivers credible, scalable and sustainable social impact aligned with national priorities and global development goals.
Our work aligns with the following SDGs:
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed
SDG 1 – No Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
- Job-linked skill development and apprenticeship programmes
- Livelihood creation for women through SHGs and micro-enterprises
- Economic reintegration of homemakers into income-generating professions
- Employment and income pathways for adolescent girls and youth
Impact: Strengthens household incomes and reduces economic vulnerability.
SDG 3 – Good Health & Well-Being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
- Regular health camps in rural and urban slum communities
- Preventive healthcare, early diagnosis, and health awareness
- Mental health education and emotional wellness initiatives
- Autism support programmes including therapy, parent training, and alternate healing practices
Impact: Improves physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of underserved populations.
SDG 4 – Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
- Apprenticeship-embedded degree programmes across 150+ institutions
- Career counselling, employability training, and school-to-work transition support
- Parent training programmes for children with autism
- Lifelong learning pathways for women re-entering the workforce
Impact: Enhances learning outcomes and employability through education linked to real-world skills.
SDG 5 – Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
- Women entrepreneurship initiatives (Dharavi SHG model)
- Skill training and livelihood creation for homemakers
- Adolescent girls’ skilling, internships, and employment placements
- Leadership development through women-led collectives
Impact: Advances women’s economic independence, leadership, and decision-making power.
SDG 8– Decent Work & Economic Growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment
- Exclusive PMU role with RASCI for job-linked and apprenticeship-based skilling
- “Earn while you learn” degree programmes
- Placement-linked training and employment facilitation
- Formalisation of livelihoods and workforce participation
Impact: Creates dignified employment and strengthens workforce readiness.
SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Reduce inequalitBuild resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation
- Strengthening institutional capacity of educational institutions
- Industry-academia collaboration through apprenticeship models
- Skill ecosystems aligned with sector skill councils and industry demand
Impact: Builds robust skill and education infrastructure linked to industry needs.
SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries
- Focus on urban slums, rural areas, and underserved communities
- Inclusion of women, adolescent girls, persons with disabilities, and informal workers
- Equitable access to skills, employment, healthcare, and education
Impact: Bridges opportunity gaps for marginalised populations.
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise global partnerships
- Collaboration with Retail Association Skill Council of India (RASCI)
- Partnerships with 150+ educational institutions
- Engagement with IITs and premier academic institutions
- CSR, government, and multi-stakeholder collaborations
Impact: Enables scale, sustainability, and systems-level impact through partnerships.