RASTA began in 1984 as a branch of a globally reputed institution, the Barefoot College , the Social Work and Research Center of Tilonia, Rajasthan with the belief that solution to rural problems lie within the community.

RASTA address the problems of rural people especially women, indigenous communities, small and marginal farmers related to agriculture deterioration, rural unemployment, food security, technology gaps in rural development, backwardness of women and tribal communities, water and sanitation, conservation of ecosystems, health and decentralized governance.

RASTA promotes decentralized and participatory approach for development aiming direct participation of people in planning, implementation and management of development interventions. It encourages practical knowledge and skills through learning by doing way of education and emergence peoples organizations complementing Panchayathi Raj Institutions.

The campus is situated at Kambalakkad in Wayanad district of Kerala. It spread over 5000 sqfeet area consists of an administrative block, training and meeting halls, 6 twin sharing guest rooms, dinning room, Mushroom spawn production laboratory, Bio-control laboratory, a community seed bank, a village Telecentre, a skill training work center, an audio visual unit, two dormitories of 20 beds each separate for men and women. The campus is fully electrified and having a 70000 litter capacity rainwater harvesting system.

RASTA serves a population over 1,50,000 in Wayanad and other districts of the state.