Sustainable Rural Development through empowerment at the Base of Pyramid

Abstract

While examining the several descriptions available for Sustainable Development, the common element is that development of the world resources which satisfy human current needs in different ways without forfeiting the ability to meet the needs of coming generations. Global sustainability has become a multifaceted, operational term elucidating the social and cultural, environmental, economic and governance dimensions in analysis, policy designing and execution throughout the globe. Companies, Government and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are looking for new concepts and methods to operate so that true development happens to the people at the Base of the Pyramid. Aglobal humanitarian and educational non-governmental organisation named International Association for Human Values (IAHV),which was established in 1997 in Geneva by H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, maintains special consultative status with the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and works with its sister organisation, the International Art of Living Foundation in five importantspheres concernedwith sustainable development via empowerment of people. This paper is an exploratory case study on the wide range of activities initiated by IAHV on empowering individuals to attain sustainable development solutions in progressing towards the knowledge economy.