Peoples Science Institute Contact

Development with Nature and People

for Sustainability and Dignity

Dedicated to nation-building, we enable marginalized communities to overcome poverty by the productive, sustainable and equitable use of natural and human resources.

Transformed 29.7 lakh lives across the nation

22

States

5.4 Lakhs

Households

29.7 Lakhs

Beneficiaries

Born in 1988. Built for people.

In 1988, a group of IIT alumni fired by the ideal of nation building came together to establish the People’s Science Institute (PSI), a non-profit organisation committed to applying science and technology to address poverty and development challenges in marginalised regions.

Researching scientific solutions, devising social processes and working with impoverished people to equitably implement them are at the heart of our work.

Our activities encompass Natural Resources Management, Environmental Quality Monitoring, Disaster Mitigation and Response, and Nature Conservation domains.

Headquartered in Dehradun, our activities are pan-India, with a geographical focus on India’s Himalayan states and the poverty-ridden Bundelkhand region straddling Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

About PSI

Progress that respects nature

PSI has come a long way since its inception in 1988.

Where we began

In 1988, PSI started with the mission of focusing on combating ‘poverty’ through collaborative development.

Where we are now

Drawing on decades of experience and the same earnest zeal to community upliftment, now the organisation's mission has grown significantly in scope and ambition.

01

Vision

PSI envisions a society where progress is derived from the ethics of sustainability.

02

Mission

PSI commits to build self reliant communities through democratic, equitable and productive use of resources.

What we stand for

At the heart of PSI’s work is the belief that lasting progress must be rooted in sustainability, equity and democratic participation.

01

Sustainability

We envision a society where development is guided by the responsible use of natural resources.

02

Equity

We recognise the importance of women’s unpaid labour in households and society.

03

Participation

Community participation and inclusion are central to our work.

Stepping stones, 1991 to 2025

Earthquake-safe homes. Drought-proof villages. Cleaner water. Climate-ready panchayats. Fourteen milestones in one scroll.

Walk the timeline

Research first. Local needs first.

01

Research and lived experience

PSI combines deep research and technical expertise together with communities' own lived experiences to address the challenges in socio economic development.

02

Local needs first

Keeping local needs and experiences as the foundation of the work, it helps in strengthening their institutions.

03

Communities own the work

The involvement of communities promotes local ownership, self reliance and the equitable use of resources.

Where research meets the village

Our strength lies in our ability to connect research and technical expertise with community-informed action to deliver development programmes at scale.

What sets PSI apart