Rural banking will be an attractive business proposition if linkages are made with the participants coming out successful from the RUDSET Institutes. The motivation level and the skills acquired through intense and rigorous training have encouraged bankers to extend credit to them without hesitation.

To mitigate the unemployment problem among the youth, Rural Development and Self Employment Training Institute (RUDSETI) was jointly formed by Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Educational Trust, Syndicate Bank and Canara Bank in 1982. It was established in Dharmasthala in Karnataka under the visionary leadership of D Veerendra Heggade. It has, today, become a replicable model for the benefit of the unemployed youth across the country. RUDSETI's core offering includes its free, unique and intensive short-term residential self-employment training programs with free food and accommodation. A practical orientation and rigorous training with escort service are some of its distinct features.

The Board of Governors which consists of Chairman and Managing Directors of sponsor banks and the top executives of sponsor organizations with D Veerendra Heggade as the President is the apex body which evolves strategies and takes policy decisions. The Governing Council which consists of top executives from the sponsor organizations under the presidentship of D Veerendra Heggade is another apex level body.

It meets periodically to monitor the progress of all the units and advises the units of RUDSETI. The Executive Director, a deputed officer from the sponsor bank looks after the day-to-day functioning of all the units and acts as a link between the sponsors and the units. Each RUDSETI is assisted by Local Advisory Committee (LAC), an advisory body with the representatives of sponsor organizations, government officials and eminent personalities. It periodically reviews and monitors the progress of RUDSETI. Two deputed officers manage each unit, one each from Syndicate Bank and Canara Bank.

Professional Banker Magazine, Rural banking, Rural Development and Self Employment Training Institute, RUDSETI, Local Advisory Committee, LAC, Syndicate Bank, Canara Bank, Entrepreneurship Development Programs, EDPs, Human Resource Development, HRD, Non-Government Organizations, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development , Nabard.