Deccan Development Society (DDS), initiated in 1983, is a grassroots organization working with nearly 5000 dalit and indigenous small women farmer sanghams (village level voluntary associations) in Zaheerabad region of Telangana, India. It strives for just and sustainable development and to assert sanghams’ autonomy in multiple spheres like food, nutrition, seeds, market, media etc.  DDS promotes and works to revive  traditional knowledge in farming and seeds; demonstrates its efficacy through wide experimentation and advocates for the inclusion of this knowledge in the public food policy systems.