With rapid increase in population, rising aspiration and growing inequities, livelihood promotion has become very important. Interventions have been done by different agencies to promote livelihoods in a particular economic sub sector such as in agriculture, animal husbandry, handicraft, tourism; for different vulnerable population segments such as women, tribals, migrants; and in different geographical areas such as in deserts, hilly regions, coastal areas etc. A lot of such innovative efforts have proved to be successful in certain pockets and have elements of replication. However, not much is known about the work done in a particular state outside the confines of that state.

For promoting mutual learning on experiences of livelihood promotion programmes in the country, a knowledge sharing workshop ‘Innovative Approaches in Livelihood Promotion’ was organised by RMoL in December 2008. With participation of 68 people, representing different sectors, from nine states, the event was a great learning opportunity. Taking forward this initiative of knowledge sharing, RMoL is coming out with a compendium of papers on innovative livelihood interventions by different agencies. It is expected that such a compendium will surely lead to better sharing of the ideas.