The National Centre for Rural Development (NCRD)- The National Centre for Rural Development (NCRD) is a registered Public Charitable Trust, founded in 1991 with the mission of Rural Development. During the course of its various activities aimed at the rural youth, NCRD realized early on, that true rural development is not possible without basic education for the rural folk, and hence NCRD entered the field of education about a decade ago. It is now actively involved in post-graduate education, including Information Technology, Pharmacy ,Education & Management education through the “Sterling Institute of Technology & Management”, “Sterling Institute of Pharmacy”, “Sterling Institute of Management Studies & “Sterling College of Education”.
NCRD started its activity in education in 1993 with the establishment of a school in Ambegaon taluka, Pune district which was a very backward area. In the absence of industry, development was minimal and schools were few and far.
One of NCRD's school, for example, is operating in a then remote area of this taluka from where it was earlier a major task for the children to attend the school which was only across the river but a great distance away by road.
NCRD set up an agricultural school offering courses in agriculture and dairy Industry to help the rural youth to manage their home-steads better. A large population of this taluka has migrated to the wholesale agricultural produce market at Vashi. NCRD set up a Marathi school at Nerul, Navi Mumbai. This was followed by an English medium school and the Sterling Junior & Senior Colleges. to cater to the needs of growing future youngsters.
Vision:
To reach out to the masses and enable them to reap the rich dividends of globalization and liberalization by elevating their lives through improved social and economic conditions and providing equal opportunities to become global citizens like their urban cousins.
Mission:
The NCRD is committed to the mission of reaching out and touching the rural life in various aspects through technological upliftment, corporate involvement and understanding of socio-cultural systems, thereby operating as initiators of change