Abstract:

This case discusses the evolution of Yuva Mitra NGO, from a small-scale to a multi-scale development organization, striving to address the key issue of poverty and sustainable development. Although Yuva Mitra has evolved over the last 27 years in terms of its reach and impact, it continued to solely focus on community development, beginning with the Nashik district and subsequently other districts in the State of Maharashtra in India. As of now, Yuva Mitra is working in eight states of India. The organization is unique in its origins, evolution, and approach to development. It brings to the fore important dimensions on what kind of activities could be incorporated in an NGO to make it more competitive and sustainable in the changing development context and increase its impact on community development

The case also discusses the organizational structure of Yuva Mitra and Krushak Mitra Agro Services Private Limited (KMASPL). Yuva Mitra was established in 1993 by a group of young professionals and a working team of two individuals/ promoters. Yuva Mitra, as part of its development strategy, had facilitated the formation of manycommunity-driven organizations with distinct mandates and missions, while sharing a common vision.Yuva Mitra has also established a membership based private organization that is KMASPL to promote and nurture the community-driven organizations which were initially promoted by Yuva Mitra itself. The case raises some very important questions with regards to the sustainability of Yuva Mitra’sinterventions’ particularly its strategic partnership model with KMASPL.

What kind of model is suitable for social enterprises / NGOs like Yuva Mitra who have diverse operations? What are the sustainability issues around such a hybrid form of model (non-profit Yuva Mitra and for-profit commercial work by KMASPL)? What are the advantages and the possible challenges in these hybrid forms? Is this model scalable? Why or why not?What kind of succession planning is required in social enterprises like Yuva Mitra?

Learning Objectives:

1. To discuss and understand the nature of activities of Yuva Mitra and KMASPL
2. To discuss the strategic and legal reasons behind incorporation of a separate for-profit private company by Yuva Mitra.
3. To discuss and analyse the value addition to the company, community drivenorganizations and to society from incorporating for-profit subsidiaries in the NGO
4. To discuss the sustainability issues and futuristic road map of hybrid forms of social organizations