SURABI (Strategic Urban Rural Advancement Backing Insitutue) Chennai based Development Office, part and parcel of Don Bosco Institutions, evolves and implements a strategic plan of action for urban, rural and tribal economic and social development It It was started in the year 1994 to function as back up institute for the Salesian Province of Chennai for the needs and problem assessment, resource mobilization, planning, training, monitoring and evaluation using scientific methods. Then in the year 2003 it was registered as Trust under Indian Trust Act. It is also registered under the Home Ministry of Government of India and recognized to receive foreign funds under Foreign Contribution and Regulation Act (FCRA). It has 12AA and 80G exemptions to receive donations.

“Building a just and peaceful civil society towards prosperity through supportive, strategic and socialistic approaches” is the goal of SURABI.

 It focuses its attention on the disadvantaged group of the society, which is economically low, educationally backward and socially marginalized especially the dalits, tribals and the Nomads.  The areas which are covered are the Corporation of Chennai, districts of Kancheepuram, Tiruvellore, Tiruvannamalai, Nilgirirs, Vellore, Vilupuram, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and the Union Territories of Pondicherry and Karaikal and Andaman Islands.