Centre for Integral Rural Welfare (CIRW), Anekal is a Jesuit social development institution committed to the empowerment of marginalized communities through education, social awareness, women’s empowerment, health initiatives, and rural development. Managed by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) under the Anekal Jesuit Mission, CIRW continues the Jesuit mission of promoting justice, dignity, and holistic human development among the poor and vulnerable.

The roots of the Jesuit mission in Anekal go back to the early missionary presence in the Mysore Mission during the 17th century. Historical records mention Jesuit missionary Fr. Manuel de Cunha, who worked in the Anekal region during the late 1600s and is remembered as one of the early Jesuit missionaries associated with the area.

The modern Jesuit mission in Anekal began to take shape in the early 1970s, when the Karnataka Jesuit Province identified Anekal as a rural mission area requiring focused educational, pastoral, and social outreach. During the first Province Sammelan in 1973, the Jesuits decided to expand their missionary activities closer to Bengaluru, and the Archdiocese entrusted the Anekal region to the Jesuits for developmental and pastoral work.

Historically, several pioneering Jesuits contributed to the growth of the mission. In 1975, Fr. Deepak Nayak initiated the “Nayaka Granthalaya” movement, a rural library and literacy initiative that spread across dozens of villages in and around Anekal. The programme promoted reading habits, adult education, cultural activities, and social awareness among rural communities.

In 1978, the Jesuits inaugurated Divya Jyothi Ashrama at Chandapura, which became a centre for various educational, pastoral, and developmental programmes. Around the same period, the groundwork for organized rural welfare initiatives began through what later evolved into the Centre for Integral Rural Welfare (CIRW).

CIRW gradually emerged as a structured social action centre focused on the empowerment of Dalits, women, children, and rural youth. From the year 1998 onwards, the institution intensified its work among marginalized communities, especially Dalit women, shifting its focus from charity-based assistance to people’s empowerment, social organization, and rights-based development.

Over the years, CIRW has become a significant rural development initiative in Anekal Taluk. The centre works in numerous villages through:

• Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
• Village small savings groups
• Children’s clubs and study centres
• Tailoring and vocational training centres
• Youth formation programmes
• Health and hygiene awareness campaigns
• Educational support initiatives
• Leadership and rights-awareness programmes

The institution has consistently focused on helping marginalized communities become active agents of social transformation by promoting education, self-reliance, social awareness, and participation in democratic processes. CIRW has also collaborated with healthcare institutions to conduct medical camps and awareness programmes for rural women and children.

The history of CIRW is closely connected with the broader development of the Anekal Jesuit Mission, which today includes educational institutions, hostels, social outreach centres, and pastoral ministries serving rural and underprivileged communities. In 2025, the Anekal Jesuit Mission celebrated its Golden Jubilee, recognizing fifty years of Jesuit service in the fields of education, social upliftment, and community empowerment in the region.

Rooted in the Jesuit vision of forming a just and humane society, CIRW believes in holistic and people-centred development. Guided by the Jesuit ideal of walking with the poor and marginalized, the institution promotes:

• Human dignity and social justice
• Women and youth empowerment
• Education and awareness
• Health and hygiene
• Leadership and community participation
• Sustainable rural development

Today, the Centre for Integral Rural Welfare (CIRW), Anekal continues to be a beacon of hope and empowerment for marginalized rural communities, carrying forward the enduring Jesuit legacy of compassion, justice, and transformative social action.