Eradicating Poverty in 300 Days: The Tech Revolution for the Vulnerable

“Earlier, we were just surviving. Barely managing to eat, it was a daily struggle, and we had no money left for our kids’ clothes” Chandra Kumari, a specially abled mother once told us. After joining the 300 Day Program¹, within 3 months, she started a local convenience store and could save money, eat lentils, and buy milk for her kids. This year, her kids are going to private school, which was once unimaginable”

At Patthana Technologies, we’ve always believed that technology can drive meaningful change. That’s why we have partnered with a poverty alleviation NGO to implement a 300 Day Transformation Program in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in India. Our mission is to empower the most vulnerable—those facing the toughest barriers to escaping poverty, through innovative technology and operational excellence.

These are people for whom poverty is not just about low wages but about deeply rooted disadvantages. Our beneficiaries are 12X more likely to be disabled, 4X more likely to be single women, and 3X more likely to be landless than the rural UP average. Without the 300-day program, they remain trapped in a cycle of survival, unable to build a better future for themselves or their children.

A New Approach to Breaking Generational Poverty

Most poverty-alleviation programs rely on manual processes and subjective decision-making, which can be slow and ineffective. We wanted to change that.

The statistically validated¹ 300 Day Program is built on technology, data, and structured learning, creating a scalable, bias-free, and results-driven model that gives the most vulnerable a real shot at economic independence.

Instead of traditional paper surveys, we use a fully digital operations app and a 7-minute income questionnaire to objectively identify those in greatest need. A data-driven algorithm ensures that selection is free from human bias.

Once selected, each entrepreneur receives a ₹60,000 unconditional grant on a milestone basis to start a high-potential business. Through extensive research, we identified five business types that offer the highest chance of success in rural areas: local convenience stores, skilled services (e.g. stitching), food stalls, hawkers, and animal husbandry.

But funding alone isn’t enough. That’s why we are implementing the 300 Day Program that provides personalized training tailored to each business type. A first-of-its-kind voice-assisted LMS makes learning accessible even for those who are illiterate, while in-person village workshops ensure hands-on mentorship. This combination of capital, structured training, and lifetime support means that beneficiaries don’t just start businesses—they sustain them.

And the impact speaks for itself.

Real Change That Goes Beyond Income Growth

The 300 Day program is not just about income generation—it’s about long-term economic and human capital outcomes.

• Economic outcomes
  • 91% of our beneficiaries double their income, compared to just 25% in traditional cash-transfer programs.
  • 87% sustain both their business and income long after completing the program.
• Human capital outcomes
  • 50% improvement in protein rich nutrition vs pre-program levels, leading to healthier families.
  • 60% improvement in health and wellness, allowing them to work more consistently.
  • 20% improvement in school attendance, as families finally have enough stability to prioritize education.

This isn’t just an intervention; it’s a pathway out of poverty.

What’s Next? Scaling Success

With The 300 Day program’s success in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, we are ready to expand into new regions, ensuring that more of India’s and world’s most vulnerable get access to the resources they need to thrive.

If you’re an ecosystem partner, impact investor, or changemaker, let’s connect. Together, we can eradicate poverty further and transform lives at scale.

Let’s build a future where every vulnerable individual has the tools to escape poverty for good.

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1. The 300 Day Poverty Alleviation Program is validated by BITS Pilani RCT and data from multiple pilots and post pilot beneficiaries

About the Author

Akash Bansal is the Director of Program & New Initiatives at Patthana. He is passionate about leveraging technology to tackle large-scale social challenges in India. He drives program innovation, strengthens the Patthana brand, and spearheads institutional fundraising efforts.

He holds an MBA and an engineering degree from top-tier Indian institutes. He brings over 7 years of management consulting experience from Bain & Company and Mastercard, where he led growth strategies, cost optimization, and talent transformation programs for Fortune 500 companies. 

You can reach out to him at akash.b@patthanaco.com