ASSIST is a secular NGO founded in 1985, inspired by the ideology of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. He once said that “there is no freedom for India unless its villages are free” and that “independence must begin at the bottom”. ASSIST acts as an intermediary between disadvantaged communities and local government, ensuring that villages are empowered to take the lead in a 'Comprehensive Community Development' process. ASSIST’s work strongly reflects this ideology. We are convinced that development in India can only take place when its most underprivileged members are able to fight with strength, courage and confidence for their own political, economic and social needs. We believe that rural communities, when given a chance, can find solutions for their problems and bring positive change to their own lives, and to those of the future generations. Our mission is to promote comprehensive community development through community action and participation. Our overall objective is to turn the communities we embrace into viable units for their own development.