RDT at a Glance
Empowering rural communities in India and supporting them in their struggle to eradicate poverty, suffering and injustice.
RDT at a Glance
Empowering rural communities and partnering with them in their struggle to eradicate poverty, suffering and injustice.
VISION
A caring, just and
equitable society
DHARMA
Where we work
Where we work
Our Story
Vicente Ferrer lands in Mumbai, India for the first time and dedicates himself to the development and progress of the poor farmers of Manmad, Maharashtra
Vicente Ferrer, the journalist Anne Perry and two other local volunteers arrive in Anantapur. They start to work in the chronic drought prone area through the newly founded organization, RDT.
Food-For-Work programme is implemented. Over the next five years, 10,000 wells are dug, 2,500 hourses and 50 nutrition centres built in the villages, and a leprosy centre started.
The integrated development programme is launched in more than 200 villages in Kalyandurg area along with land development programmes that helped labourers to become farmers. The Community Health Sector and the first community-based organisations are established. 
Small rural hospitals are started in Kalyandurg, Kuderu and Venkatampalli to provide basic health assistance to the needy. 
The Education Sector is founded with the goal to ensure the enrollment of children from poor communities. At that time, 90% of them were not even attending primary school.
RDT encourages cultural and sports events in order to foster integration and promote equality among the children and youth in Anantapur district. 
For the first, time RDT starts to work directly with women through self-help groups. Women pool their small monthly savings to increase their collective strength and economic independence. 
RDT starts focusing on the importance and value of education by motivating the parents to retain their children in school up to 10th class. 
RDT partners with the Government and UNICEF for the first universal immunisation programme in the country.
During immunisation, RDT becomes aware of the thousands of persons with disabilities living without access to rehabilitation and a dignified life. The Community-Based Rehabilitation Sector is established for their empowerment and progress and first self-help groups are formed.
After three years of successive droughts, the Ecology Sector is constituted to work towards a sustainable environment and agriculture. In the following years, it worked systematically for soil and water conservation, afforestation and introduction of horticulture. 
First special schools for children with different abilities are started in the rural areas so that all children have access to rehabilitation and formal education.
The first of four orthopedic and prosthetic workshop is opened in Kalyandurg to improve the life of persons with physical disabilities. 
Started awareness campaigns on HIV in villages to explain this new virus, how it is transmitted and how it can be prevented. 
Fundacion Vicente Ferrer (FVF) in Spain is launched to directly support and give sustainability to RDT projects. 
Started Community Habitat sector to support the government’s effort to move people out of huts and facilitate them to have safe and secure housing. 
RDT’s health programmes further help to bring quality healthcare to rural areas by opening two secondary-level care hospitals in Bathalapalli (2000) and Kalyandurg (2006), a primary healthcare center in Kanekal (2004).
First handicrafts workshop for women with disabilities is established in Udegolem. It provides them with professional skills to be independent and recognized members of their family and community. The products are sold locally and in Spain. After few years, four more workshops are opened. 
RDT uses its 30 years of experience in development to help the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the Gujarat earthquake. 
Increasing the focus and importance of sports in development by establishing the Anantapur Sports Village. 
RDT participates in the emergency, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts after the tsunami in Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh. 
To assist farmers and implement sustainable agricultural methods, micro-irrigation methods are implemented along with solar panels to support it. 
A Hospital for Infectious Diseases (HIV and TB) is inaugurated. It soon becomes well-known throughout the state for its quality and empathetic care. 
RDT's founder, Vicente Ferrer, passes away. More than 100,000 people from all across the Anantapur district, India and Spain attend his funeral. 
In coordination with the Government and other organisations, a specific programme to eradicate violence against women and a shelter home for women are started. 
RDT starts working with chenchus, a tribal community in Srisailam to strengthen their individual and collective capacity, protect their cultural heritage, access resources and services under the provision of law. 
For the first time, youth with intellectual disabilities hailing from Anantapur travel abroad to represent India in the Special Olympics. 
The first Professional School for young rural graduates is launched. More than 90% of its students, both boys and girls, find employment after completing the course. 
The India For India programme is initiated, a unique initiative in which the poor, despite their own difficult circumstances, donate part of their savings for a common cause. RDT also starts partnering with Indian companies for different social projects.
Started collaborating with the AP Government for the Swachh Bharat Mission, by constructing bathroom-cum-toilets. 
Launched the Vicente Ferrer Foundation in Washington to support and to expand the work of RDT.
Provided flood assistance in Chennai and Nellore. 
FoRDT is registered as a charity in UK to support RDT’s programmes. 
RDT celebrates its 50th anniversary. Founders
VICENTE FERRER
Barcelona, Spain,
April 9, 1920 –
Ananthapuram, India,
June 19, 2009
ANNE FERRER
Essex, England,
April 10, 1947
Awards
RDT Bathalapalli Hospital receives a double recognition by the Health, Medical & Family Welfare Department of Andhra Pradesh for its commitment against COVID-19 (2020)
RDT wins the YSR Lifetime Achievement Award instituted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh (2021)
RDT Sports for Development Programme, Anantapur Sports Academy (ASA) wins the prestigious Sportstar Aces Award 2021, in the Sport For Good Category (2021)
Anne Ferrer receives honorary doctorate from Girona University (June 2022, Spain)
Recognition in the form of a letter from Honourable Ex-President of India, Sri K R Narayanan, for 30 years of work for the development of the Anantapur district (1998)
Vicente Ferrer receives the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord (Spain, 1998)
St George’s Cross awarded by the Government of Catalonia to Vicente Ferrer (Spain, 2000)
Vicente Ferrer receives the Gold Medal of the City of Barcelona (Spain, 2000)
Andhra Pradesh Preservation and Water Control Award (2003)
Vicente Ferrer receives honorary doctorate degrees from S.K. University (Anantapur, 2007), University of Valencia (Spain, 2000) and University of Huelva (Spain, 2001)
AP Population Control Board awards RDT for meritorious work in the hospitals in the years 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2008
Vicente Ferrer is honored with the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit awarded by the Ministry of External Affairs (Spain, 2009)
The Senate of Spain awards Vicente Ferrer with the Gold Medal posthumously (2009)
Bathalapalli Hospital is recognised for the best management of bio-medical waste (2003, 2010)
Vicente Ferrer is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (2010)
Certificate of Commendation by Andhra Pradesh State Housing Corporation Limited on World Habitat Day for outstanding services in the field of housing (2012)
Ministry of External Affairs of Spain names Anne Ferrer Knight Commander of the Order of the Civil Merit (Spain, 2014)
Government of Andhra Pradesh recognises Anne Ferrer’s contribution to rural development with the Hamsa Award given on the eve of Ugadi Puraskaralu for (Vijayawada, 2015)
Anne Ferrer receives the Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Development & Welfare Of Women and Children (Mumbai, 2015)
Saakshi Excellence Award for its effort in the field of Education (2016)
North American Telugu Association Award in recognition of services rendered to Vulnerable Sections of the Society, USA, 2016
Recognition by the Indian Red Cross Society for the remarkable services of Blood Banks in RDT Hospitals (2016)
APSACS recognises RDT for its services in Anti-Retroviral Therapy and for the best programme for the prevention of the vertical transmission of HIV/AIDS on World AIDS Day (2011, 2016)
Robert Burns Humanitarian Award goes to Anne Ferrer (Scotland, 2018)
RYDT receives ‘Best NGO Promoting Sport’ accolade for the Anantapur Sports Academy at the India Sports Awards part of the Turf 2018
Anne Ferrer presented with the award “Ignacio Ellacuria de cooperación 2019” by the Basque Government (Spain)
TESTIMONIAL
The first step is to identify the needs of people. It’s not about grand constructions, but about buildings that fit the needs of their users.
Rajashekar Reddy
Director of Habitat Sector