For ages, Dharmasthala has been supporting community initiatives through matching grant support. A focused program, The Community Development Project, was taken up in 1990 to create and develop rural assets. A wing of SKDRDP, it was launched to assist community efforts for the building of infrastructure. Today, the project emphasizes education, rural infrastructure, and the improvement of crematoriums.

The Hindu Rudrabhoomi Project (Crematorium) is one such initiative. This unique program serves to complete the last journey of all human beings in a dignified manner. The program supports the local community in renovating existing crematoriums with silicon cremation chambers. Such chambers require as little as 250 kg of firewood to burn bodies, as compared to the 800 kg necessary for conventional firewood burning.

The project also helps the community in developing the required infrastructure in crematoriums, for instance, water, bathrooms, shelter for the burning chamber, afforestation and fencing of the premises. The project meets the financial requirements of a maximum of Rs. 100,000/-

Together with local initiatives and financial sponsors, upgrading, repair and construction works have been carried out in multiple villages, towns and cities. A total of 291 crematoriums have received financial assistance of Rs. 14.59 crores since the inception of the program in 2004.

Hindu Rudrabhoomi Committee at Belluru, Karnadu, Mulky, Mangalore: The people of Belluru village decided to construct a crematorium in their village and formed a committee for the same. They approached SKDRDP for assistance. The total cost of the project was Rs. 7.50 lakhs which included the construction of burning shed, silicon chamber, a small "Gudi (prayer hall)' for Lord Shiva, a room for stocking wood, leveling of ground, water facility, and plantation and so on.