6A AKASH GANGA Film Screening
In 1956, Annapurna Devi left public performance to preserve her marriage with Ravi Shankar. Her disciple, Nityanand Haldipur, cuts through the myths to tell the story of a matchless guru in a documentary film.
Mission
We empower vulnerable communities in India through education, training, income generation, health care, and agricultural support.
Vision
We develop sustainable and innovative projects, primarily in rural India, through activist support, seed funding, networking, and information support.
Our Story
Empowering change in India since 1974
India Development Service (IDS) was founded in 1974 by a small group of Indians in Chicago who were deeply concerned about the struggles of people in their home country. Their mission: to support economic and social development in India.
In 1976, inspired by economist Dr. E.F. Schumacher, IDS shifted focus — from economic theories to people-centric change, empowering individuals to transform their communities from within.
Since then, IDS has funded over 200 impactful projects across 22 Indian states — reaching more than 200,000 people. From education and job training to micro-finance, health care, and agriculture, IDS uplifts lives through grassroots action.
We believe progress has many paths — but the goal remains the same: empowering those in need. Four decades later, our mission lives on, thanks to our generous donors and passionate volunteers.
Thank you to all our supporters for believing in the IDS mission.
1974
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1975
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1977
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1978
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1979
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1982
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1983
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1984
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1985
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1987
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1988
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1990
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