Where There is a Mission

This paper spells out the strategy of an Indian NGO, MYRADA, in its various programmes. It describes the origins of MYRADA's emphasis on community participation, which led them to implement a process of staff re-orientation and skills upgrading. The resulting strategy is discussed in three sections: (i) how to target the system to bring about long-run structural change in favour of the poor (discussing the rationale, strategy of research with action, and developing change agents); (ii) supporting components of the system and responsive officials involved in poverty eradication programmes (discussing cooperation with government and donors); and (iii) developing a system in which people can develop alternate systems based on traditional patterns and values together with institutional changes which address the needs of the poor.