In addition to agriculture, AREDS is also engaged in alternative employment programmes such as hollow block and mosaic units, rural employment programmes like Nursery raising, Modal farming, Offset printing unit and the preparation of herbal soaps and sanitary napkins. More than 40 persons have found employment in these programmes.

The mosaic and hollow block units have been started with the intention of promoting alternative occupations for women and Dalits to break the social traditions that keep them tied to the traditionally given occupation thereby strengthening grassroots leadership in people’s organizations and the collective struggles.

Hollow block unit
The Hollow Block unit provides continuous employment for 20 skilled workers besides the unskilled workers who load and unload the blocks. The market for the blocks is readily available. However, the priority is given to the need of the people and the housing schemes of AREDS' project areas. This initiative has helped in both reducing the cost of construction of houses as well as in making the construction faster.

Mosaic unit
This unit gives both employment as well as training to target groups. 15 youth are trained in the production process and they are employed in the same unit. Various quality stones at the rate INR10 to INR50 are produced and sold. Demand for the mosaic stones is also appreciable and the middle class and sometimes even the poor are benefited, as the cost is low when compared to the cost of the marbles and granite. The labourers are also doing not only the production of stones but also the laying and polishing from which both the labourers and the organization earn profit. Labourers are benefited with the regular income of INR150 per day for polishing, INR200 per day for laying and INR200 per day for stone production.

Nursery Raising and Model Farm
Nursery farms are maintained in three locations – Aravanampettai, SWATE Complex and AREDS Children Theatre School (ACTS). It is being raised with the objective of improving the environment of the district with fruit trees and vegetation. The main seedlings raised in the three nurseries are coconut, mango, papaya, neem and tamarind.

As part of the environment drive and to promote the eco-friendly way of farming, a model farm is being maintained in 10 acres of land. The model farm gives visible experimentation of eco farming. Coconut, mango and drumstick trees are raised and turmeric is cultivated in the farm. Farmers from the district visit the farm frequently.

The outcome of the nursery and model farm has been significant. In order to promote eco-farming practices in AREDS working area, trainings were conducted on organic farming; an eco friendly manure production unit is set up in ACTS i.e., vermi-compost is produced through vermiculture, which is the best eco-friendly manure for crops.

Mud block making
25 Movement members are trained on mud brick making and construction, which is low cost and highly used by the marginalized people who are deprived in the competitive global economy.

AREDS Training Center
AREDS has a residential Training center in Aravanampettai village. It has a hall and 20 residential rooms. AREDS as a facilitating organization gives number of trainings to other NGOs and peoples movements on the concepts such as Micro credit, Theatre workshops, Decentralized peoples plan in relation to Local bodies, Right to information, National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, Budget Analysis, Gender, rights of Unorganised Labour, Organizational Development programmes and Capacity building. Many of AREDS’ staff have become training faculties and have the capacity to conduct trainings on building federations and unions. AREDS is the agency with resources to facilitate the trainings organized by the government. The income through this training center is used for its maintenance.