TENT is an advocate of participatory planning and action by the rural poor. The poor are empowered to organize themselves into a community-based organization so that they are able to strive towards their own development. The participation of the people in their own development helps in the sustainability of the development program and it integrates into an all round development of communities. The paternalistic approach where an NGO is the main doer has not resulted in development of the poor. This only creates dependency in the long term. TENT has initiated the formation of people’s organization in some parts of India.