About Vyakti Vikas Kendra India
A public charitable trust restoring rivers, training farmers, educating children, and building self-reliant communities across India through The Art of Living.
The Operating Arm Behind
Art of Living's Social Mission
Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (VVKI) is a registered public charitable trust under the aegis of The Art of Living. It is the entity through which Art of Living's social transformation work gets designed, funded, and delivered on the ground — across India, in thousands of villages, through a network of trained field coordinators.
The work ranges from rejuvenating over 70 rivers and training lakhs of farmers in chemical-free agriculture, to running over 1,356 free schools in tribal and rural areas and equipping youth with livelihood skills. VVKI also delivers structured wellness and leadership programs for government employees, armed forces personnel, and corporate professionals.
VVKI is compliant under Section 80G (tax-exempt donations) and FCRA (foreign contributions).
Our Inspiration
The Art of Living's programs work at the level of the individual — equipping people with breathing techniques, meditation, and tools for inner well-being. But Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's vision has always extended beyond the individual. He has consistently maintained that personal peace and social responsibility are inseparable — that people who find inner stability naturally turn outward to serve.
VVKI was constituted as the trust that converts that outward turn into structured, scalable action. It is the mechanism through which individual volunteers, CSR partners, government bodies, and donors can direct their resources toward measurable outcomes — a dried river that flows again, a farmer who no longer needs chemical inputs, a tribal child who gets a classroom.
Learn more about Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at gurudev.artofliving.org.
Areas of Work
Social Projects
Ground-level work across nine focus areas: water conservation, river rejuvenation, natural farming, afforestation, free education, skill development, women empowerment, waste management, gaudhan, and rural development. Mobilised through Yuvacharyas working with local panchayats and communities. Funded by CSR partners, DSY, and grants.
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Institutional Programs
Wellness, leadership, and personal development programs for government departments, armed forces, police forces, public sector undertakings, and private sector companies. These programs address stress management, decision-making, and team effectiveness using practical techniques rooted in The Art of Living's methods.
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Dharma Sthambha Yojana (DSY)
DSY is how individuals contribute to VVKI's mission. It lets donors pick the cause they care about — water, farming, education, women empowerment, skill training — and fund it directly. Every rupee is routed to a specific project with a specific outcome.
Learn more →The Work, in Numbers
Awards & Key Partnerships
National Water Awards 2024 — Dual Winner
Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. Recognised for water conservation and river rejuvenation work.
Best NGO of the Year
Global CSR & ESG Awards 2024.
Best CSR Impact Award — JalTara Project
For the flagship groundwater recharge initiative across Maharashtra.
Government of Maharashtra
MoU for natural farming implementation across 13 lakh hectares.
Indian Navy
MoU for officer wellness programs.
Ministry of Defence
MoU for resettlement support for ex-servicemen.
Tax Exemption & Foreign Contributions
VVKI is a registered public charitable trust. All donations to VVKI are exempt under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. The trust holds a valid FCRA registration, enabling it to receive contributions from international donors.