During the period 2003-2007, Akshara gained recognition as ‘The Livelihoods People’ and emerged as the leading Livelihoods Thought Leader. Apart from consulting, most of its ideas took the form of initiatives. And some of them could take off as independent entities. Akshara-Gurukulam, the flagship of Akshara, successfully developed  curriculum for its unique long-term Programs in Livelihoods Management and tested some of them. Akshara Livelihoods Private Limited is beginning to spearhead the livelihoods consulting support activities.

Akshara’s widely appreciated newsletter prompted the launch of a self-supporting livelihoods public print/e-magazine [‘livelihoods’ (English) and ‘Jeevanopdhulu’ (Telugu) – generic livelihoods magazines, first time ever in India]. Livelihoods Orientation Campaigns and Livelihoods Yatras have begun to disseminate Livelihoods Thought widely. Livelihoods books are on the anvil. The book on livelihoods (by Muralidhar and Bhargava; courtesy: SERP, 2002) is still the most read livelihoods book in AP.

More than 100 partners, clients and collaborators [CBOs, NGOs, Networks, Government Projects, LSOs] and a field station at Bhoodan Pochampally provide the platform for praxis. A collective (producers’ company or MACS) is being facilitated in Bhoodan Pochampally. We are now gearing up for an independent unit (a trust/foundation) for field activities.

Akshara itself is transforming to be a true network of these independent units, LSOs and the partners. With mentoring as its main activity, Livelihoods Life Workers and Volunteer Mentors drive the network and the units become autonomous and take over its various other activities fully.

Akshara views the associates as entrepreneurs even within the network. Many alumni of Akshara have taken the entrepreneurial path and are serving the purpose of Akshara in their own ways. Akshara acknowledges their contribution as alumni and feels proud.

Akshara has been shy of soliciting grants so far, and therefore depending mainly on the revenue from its services for fee for taking up its proactive but diverse initiatives to meet the felt needs of the poor, their organizations and the individuals and organizations working for them. The achievements of Akshara, have been modest, nevertheless significant. One needs to reckon with Akshara’s approach of earning and spending, and large quality volunteer time, rather than the way of grants. Akshara’s turnovers were modest but its core associates’ volunteer time was significant – for example in 2006-7, the turnover was Rs.3.5 million as against the volunteer time of core associates was 1000 person-days of Rs.5 million in value.

Akshara pioneered a New Livelihoods Thinking and a more comprehensive Livelihoods Framework; evolved competency-based selection process for project staff;  the celebrated and rigorous induction into development/livelihoods; developed and tested unique long-term programs in livelihoods management; offered short-term livelihoods learning programs (including foundation) to development professionals; supported Livelihoods Support Organizations to emerge; and has taken up felt-need-based initiatives and facilitated them to be independent.

With an outreach of more than 20 million poor families, with more than 10000 individuals inducted into livelihoods thought and practice, working with more than 100 organizations (CBOs, PRIs, Support Organizations at state and national levels) in 12 states, Akshara and its associates have -  supported project design of 10 large multi-lateral/bi-lateral poverty reduction/livelihoods projects of State Governments, with a total outlay exceeding Rs.10000 crore; supported visioning of 25 organizations; provided long-term support to 10 LSOs and 50 partners; acquired in-depth insights into 25 value-chains and subsectors.

Collectively, Akshara acquired expertise spanning eco-fragile, marginalized, tribal, rural and urban areas, in a variety of livelihoods enhancement processes including micro-finance and micro-enterprise promotion, collectives, visioning, planning, projects (design, management, monitoring and learning) and learning processes/programs.