About Us
The Problem
At TMI, we look at the health of ecosystems through their ability to be aspirational and be resilient. However, we find that almost all regions in India are neither.
A deep dive into India’s local ecosystems’ dysfunction indicates that while decentralization through the 73rd and the 74th Constitutional Amendments established local governance, this third tier of governance – the local governments – control only ~7% of public expenditure mostly due to capacity gaps, lack of technical expertise, and administrative inefficiencies.
Furthermore, despite increased philanthropy, the social impact ecosystem and civil society face capacity shortages and fragmented resources, hindering their ability to support systemic change.
Lastly, the booming Indian markets continue to find a few incentives to co-create & solve with the State.
This has led to a suboptimal service delivery equilibrium, especially at the district and municipal levels.
The Solution
To build thriving regions, we must first cultivate aspirational and resilient ecosystems:
- Resilient livelihoods depend on broader resilient systems, especially governance, climate adaptation, and economic stability.
- Factors like skill training, infrastructure, and economic diversification significantly enhance livelihood resilience.
- Resilience is deeply tied to socio-ecological systems, meaning that environmental sustainability and regional development directly impact economic stability.
Thus, we at TMI have identified four key verticals where we are applying our framework to help build into our regions:
- Governance Capacity
- An Ecosystem of Safety
- Learning Systems
- Climate Resilience
The Approach
At TMI, we collaborate with the Ecosystem – not just a single System.
As a think-and-do tank, we focus on closing three critical gaps – Capacity, Knowledge, & Resources – to ensure solutions that are efficient, sustainable, & long-term.
- We go deep, blending:
- Cutting-edge, intersectional, & interdisciplinary research
- On-ground, contextual experience
- This helps us design interventions that are both innovative & rooted in reality
While the social contract defines the State’s role, building aspirational & resilient regions requires going beyond it. That’s why we engage strategically with Samaaj, Sarkaar, & Bazaar — unlocking the full potential of the Ecosystem.
Our Team
