Leap 300 revolutionising poverty eradication in India | Fusion - WeRIndia

In a bold and innovative push to end extreme poverty in India, nonprofit Leap 300 is pioneering a tech-driven model that could redefine development.

Their mission is to lift 5 million lives out of poverty by 2027-28, and do it in just 300 days per household.

Founded by Karan Bajaj, Leap 300 is an initiative that combines technology, data, and on-the-ground involvement to create meaningful impact in rural India.

The focus extends beyond income generation, aiming to foster healthier, better-educated, and self-reliant communities.

At the heart of Leap 300’s approach is a 7–10-minute mobile app survey that uses visual inspections and local context to identify the most economically vulnerable families.

The app doesn’t just look at income; it also evaluates assets, vulnerabilities, and entrepreneurial potential.

Once selected, families go through a digital KYC and receive a direct grant of ₹60,000. But the support doesn’t stop there.

Each beneficiary is equipped with voice-assisted, visual-first training tools, available in local languages, and a simple accounting system to help them launch micro-businesses.

The entire journey is tracked digitally, ensuring transparency and measurable outcomes.

The objective is to achieve a high graduation rate, meaning that most participants move out of extreme poverty within 300 days.

Launched in March 2023, the initiative has already reached 350 families across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh by mid-2025.

Initial results are encouraging, with over 90% of participants moving out of extreme poverty within 300 days and a majority maintaining their increased incomes over the long term.

Leap 300 is on track to reach 10,000 lives across 40 villages by 2025. By 2026-27, it plans to operate in 1,000 villages across several states, scaling to 100,000 villages pan-India by 2027-28.

Beyond economics, the program is seeing positive ripple effects, such as higher school attendance and better nutrition, which are transforming family well-being.

With Leap 300, India may have found its most scalable and data-smart poverty solution yet.

Image Credit: Leapindia Website Screenshot

Image Reference: https://www.leapindia.org/