For more than two decades, CNRI has strengthened India’s public policy ecosystem by connecting grassroots realities with national decision-making. As India’s apex confederation of rural voluntary organisations, CNRI works with a nationwide network of member NGOs across states and districts to ensure the voices of rural communities are represented in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation.

CNRI believes effective public policy cannot be built in government offices alone — it must emerge from the experiences, aspirations and innovations of people at the grassroots. Through advocacy, stakeholder consultations, institutional partnerships and community mobilisation, CNRI bridges the gap between institutions and citizens.

An Institutional Bridge Between Government and Society

Rather than functioning only as an advocacy body, CNRI actively supports implementation. Initiatives such as the Bharat Vikas Yatra connected rural citizens with welfare schemes and government services through awareness and community mobilisation, improving both outreach and efficiency.

Landmark Policy Contributions

• Financial inclusion — from LIC’s Jeevan Madhur Micro Insurance and the Swavalamban pension scheme to alignment with the JAM Trinity and Direct Benefit Transfers.
• Agriculture — the Right to Technology for Farmers, farmer-centric value chains, FPOs and the pioneering concept of Cooperative Commodity Zones.
• Governance and legal literacy — the National Legal Literacy Campaign and platforms for transparency and accountability.
• The Cooperative Economic Framework (CEF) — a people-first alternative development model advocated since 2020.
• Localising the SDGs — the G-Local SDG Roadshow, translating global goals into village-level action.

Representing Rural India Globally

With Special Consultative Status at UN ECOSOC (2022) and affiliation with OECD-INFE, CNRI carries the experiences of rural India to global policy platforms and brings international best practices back to communities — strengthening India’s role in global development dialogue.

Public Policy for National Integration

By connecting remote villages with national institutions, promoting equitable access to programmes, strengthening constitutional values and encouraging cooperative federalism, CNRI’s policy work contributes to a more inclusive and cohesive India — reducing developmental disparities and building trust between citizens and public institutions.

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