Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Shri Nara Lokesh has successfully secured the renewal of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration for the Rural Development Trust (RDT), a non-profit organization working in the state.
This renewal, obtained from the central government is a big step for the state’s development initiatives as RDT has been instrumental in accessing funds from international donors to support development projects in Andhra Pradesh. The approval, secured on March 23, 2026 after a year-long struggle, allows the organization to resume receiving foreign funds and continue its welfare activities for thousands of beneficiaries and NGOs across Rayalaseema, until March 22, 2031.
Shri Nara Lokesh personally met Union Home Ministry officials in Delhi to advocate for RDT and explained the work RDT has been doing for over five decades in the field of education, health and social service in the state.
RDT has been playing a crucial role in transforming the lives of the people in drought-affected districts like Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh. The organization has been working at the grassroots level to provide healthcare services, rural education, women’s empowerment, disability support, and sustainable livelihood programs. This effort has reached lakhs of people, establishing RDT as one of the region’s most trusted development organizations
Recognizing RDT’s credibility and its decades-long service to society, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, and Nara Lokesh, extended support and engaged in discussions with the Central Government. Officials highlighted that such interventions are critical for NGOs like RDT, which drive rural livelihoods, healthcare, and education, particularly in underserved regions. This highlights the importance of the intervention by the government leadership in the functioning of such Non-Governmental Organizations, like RDT, that are responsible for the livelihoods of the people in the rural areas.
This reflects a wider governance structure in which investments with high visibility are accompanied by support for local institutions in order to maximize impact.
With the FCRA approval restored, RDT can now continue empowering communities, strengthening rural livelihoods, and strengthening the rural economy in Rayalaseema. It exemplifies how sustained service, backed by timely leadership, overcomes major hurdles.
