The Dwaraknath Reddy Ramanarpanam Trust (DRRT) was established by Mr.Dwaraknath Reddy, Chairman of the Nutrine Group of Companies, dedicating his lifetime personal earnings and wealth toward charitable and developmental activities for the poor. More than 50 years ago, Dwaraknath Reddy founded the Nutrine Confectionary Company with a modest capital. Over many years the company grew into national prominence as one of India’s largest confectionary units. Even while functioning diligently as the Corporate Head, Dwaraknath Reddy felt a deeper demand and desire within himself to submit fully to the pursuit of spiritual enquiry. He settled down near Ramanashram in Tiruvannamalai to live a life of a seeker pursuing the teachings of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, the leading light of Dwaraknath Reddy’s self enquiry. The Ramanarpanam Trust was an offering or an “arpanam” of a devoted “sadhaka” to his spiritual master Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. Dwaraknath Reddy also helped set up the Ranjini Dwaraknath Reddy Trust (RDRT), dedicating it to the memory of his late wife.

These two Trusts, are managed by his daughter Ms. Anita Reddy—a social activist with many years of experience working with the poor. DRRT and RDRT, have not only contributed funds towards various projects for the upliftment and development of the downtrodden, but have also been more deeply involved in the process of empowering poor communities towards self-reliance and enabling them to live with a sense of identity and dignity.

The guiding light and inspiration for these Trusts and their various projects has been Mr. Dwaraknath Reddy – a humble, simple, caring and giving person.

To promote the following objectives and to implement developmental activities for the poor, the Ramanarpanam Trust has launched two initiatives – DRIK (Dwaraknath Reddy Institutes for Knowledge) and DRUVA (Dwaraknath Reddy centers for Upliftment of Village Artisans).

Over the years the effort has been:

To work with the poor to realize their basic rights—to access better shelter, negotiate and get water rights and implement infrastructure support by building community centres, toilet blocks, schools etc.

To enable, enhance, and empower poor families and communities in urban slums and rural villages to lead a life of security and dignity.

To protect the rights of children and women, especially through focus on development activities that empower and capacitate them to live independently with self-belief, self-reliance and self-identity.

To capacitate the poor through education programs, and through training and awareness-building.

To strive for the emergence of leadership from within poor communities by promoting programs that enhance thinking and decision making powers.

To enhance the credit eligibility of the poor and further access them to loans through banks and housing finance institutions, by encouraging economic saving programs, formation of self-help groups etc.

To promote the development of rural artisans and strive for socio-economic empowerment of villages, particularly through DWARAKA (Development of Weavers and Rural Artisans in Kalamkari Art).