Projects by AID DC

Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers Rights Region: Andhra Pradesh

NGO: AID Hyderabad

Funding: Rs. 5,00,000

Coordinator: Gaurav Bansal

This project supports AID Hyderabad activities and two full-time volunteers, Suresh Deepala

and Mohan Kadimpalli, working on farmers’ rights and sustainable agriculture in Andhra

Pradesh.

There are two core components of this program, though there are a variety of issues being

tackled. One is to promote organic and sustainable agriculture in Andhra Pradesh. This is done

in coordination with the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) in Kurnool district. Research

and promotion of organic and sustainable agriculture is also taking place, and efforts are being

made to educate consumers on the benefits of organic food.

The second component of the program concerns human rights issues for farmers. It seeks to

point out that the number of official farmer suicides reported by the Andhra Pradesh

government is grossly underestimated. Through organizations such as the Alliance for

Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA), Kisan Swaraj Yatra, and Raitu Swarajya Vedika, AID

seeks to publicize the issue and redirect government policy to address the problem. On a

related note, AID is also working to oppose genetically modified seeds currently being

promoted by MNCs. These seeds have hurt productivity for many farmers in recent years and

have been a cause of their suffering.

A Cultural Fest for Marginalized Children Region: Bihar

NGO: AID Patna

Funding: Rs. 50,000

Coordinator: Somu Kumar

Reva is an annual cultural fest aiming to nurture and showcase the talents of children from

marginalized sections of the society. Started in 2010 by the Patna chapter of AID India (AID-

Patna), this event saw participation from over 100 children from the slums of Patna. In

subsequent years, REVA was expanded into an inter-school competition covering a wide range

of skills, such as dance, drama, painting, clay modeling, and sports, for a larger number of

children from marginalized sections of society in and around the city of Patna. “Reva” provides

an avenue for children, who otherwise have limited means to do so, to develop and showcase

their talents.

Sustainable Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh Region: Andhra Pradesh

NGO: AID India and CSA


Coordinator: Radhika Nookala

AID India and the Center for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) have been working in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh since 2009, when the villages situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River were hit by floods, causing large scale destruction of crops, lands, houses, stored grains, and more. Together they helped restore 156 acres of damaged agricultural land in these areas.

The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is widely practiced in this region. Their use increases input costs for famers, which putts many small farmers in debt. Pests and diseases are a continuing problem even with the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. An initial awareness session organized by AID India and CSA saw many farmers expressing an interest in sustainable and organic farming. As a result, 150 farmers from five villages are currently being trained in sustainable farming methods.

Support for Displaced People of Chhattisgarh Region: Andhra Pradesh

NGO: ASDS


Coordinator: Shyamala Gopalan

Caught in a vicious, unrelenting war between Maoist insurgents and state-sponsored Salwa

Judum militias, tribal refugees fleeing Chattisgarh find themselves struggling to secure basic

human rights in Andhra Pradesh. Entirely dispossessed of the land they have tended for

generations, the Gothikoya and Koya tribes are denied relief by the state governments of

Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, and they are condemned to live in abject poverty. They have

no access to clean water, food, shelter, employment, or education, and their children suffer

from severe malnutrition. The Agriculture and Social Development Society (ASDS) works in

Khammam District to rehabilitate internally displaced tribals by providing immediate food

relief, helping them secure NREGA and ration cards, instituting feeding centers and building

wells to promote access to clean water. ASDS also engages in political advocacy on the behalf of

tribal refugees, raising awareness of their plight and demanding government commitment to

their rehabilitation.

Sustainable Agriculture in Maharashtra Region: Maharashtra

NGO: Chetana Vikas


Coordinator: Arun Gopalan

The approach of “farming for self-reliance” has been taken up by Chetana Vikas to introduce sustainable agriculture methods to tackle the present agricultural crisis in Wardha District. The farmers that Chetana Vikas works with mostly live in dry land areas. They are dependent on monsoon for their crops. But due to global warming and changing weather patterns, it has become difficult to combat dry periods during the monsoon periods. In this regard, Chetana Vikas helps farmers construct low cost earthen structures to converse and harvest rain water.

Chetana Vikas also works to propagate hardy alternative high yield seeds that are pest and disease resistance. Emphasis is placed on proper storage methods and also cultivation practices to maintain the purity of the seeds and to avoid mixing of varieties. This saves farmers money and maintains agro-biodiversity.

People’s Empowerment through MNREGA Region: Andhra Pradesh

NGO: RDSS


Coordinator: Lakshmi Gorrepati

Rural Development Services Society (RDSS) facilitates National Rural Employment Guarantee

Act (NREGA) implementation in five mandals of Vishakhapatnam and eight mandals in

Srikakulam. Many of these mandals are populated by tribals, who are the primary drivers and

beneficiaries of this work. One major obstacle for effective implementation of NREGA is the lack

of knowledge among rural people on the various provisions of this act. RDSS strives to tackle

this issue through avenues such as village level meetings, training programs, awareness camps,

protests and petitions.

Women’s Empowerment Region: Uttar Pradesh

NGO: SKMS


Coordinator: Madhu Bhaskar

Richa singh is the cofounder of Sangtin Kisan Mazdoor Sanghatana (SKMS), which works to

organize villagers on a variety of issues, the primary one being demanding NREGA rights.

This fund supports Richa in her ongoing endeavors with SKMS and other work.

Sangtin Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (SKMS) or the Sangtin Peasants' and Laborers' Organization is a peoples’ movement based in Sitapur District in Uttar Pradesh. It emerged from Sangtin, a group set up by rural women to enable them to be bigger stakeholders in the processes of development at all levels. By representing the rural poor and the issues that affect them, SKMS has built its strength to over 3000 members in more than 80 villages in just 3 years. Through SKMS, poor men and women, predominantly Dalits, have come together to campaign for access to irrigation water, employment under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), higher wages, and a fair and lawful implementation of state development policies.

Empowering Waste Pickers Region: Delhi

NGO: Chintan



Most waste pickers lack formal recognition, equal rights, secure and safe livelihoods, and dignity. Their work exposes them to higher levels of pollution and dangerous toxins. Chintan is an organization that works with waste pickers in Delhi with an aim to achieve social and environmental justice for this marginalized community. Most often the policies and laws pertaining to changes in waste management and climate change that impact the waste-picker

community (Safai Sena, a registered group of waste pickers in Delhi) are published in English and are technical in nature. This project was started in response to interest expressed by Safai Sena to learn about the policies that impact them. By teaching them about these policies, it aims to empower the waste pickers of Delhi to fight for their right to a decent livelihood.

Leprosy Care

Region: Andhra Pradesh

NGO: JSS


Coordinator: Shyamala Gopalan

Chhattisgarh is a state with a high prevalence of leprosy, a chronic and debilitating disease. The

government attempts to report artificially prevalence of leprosy to purport the myth that it has

been eradicated. Such measures and false claims lead to ignorance, misdiagnosis, and

inadequate treatment for those who suffer from this disease.

Responding to the increasing number of leprosy patients seen at their community clinics, Jan

Swasthya Sahyog (JSS) has taken up the issue of providing care to leprosy patients. This project

aims to provide early diagnosis and treatment of leprosy in an effort to help decrease the

prevalence of the disease.

Biodiversity Conservation

Region: New Delhi

NGO: Kalpavriksh



The loss of biological diversity is a growing area of concern and is of immediate relevance to the

vast majority of India’s population. There are a variety of reasons for this, including

inappropriate development, overexploitation of biological resources, the alienation of

communities from their surrounds, and more. In particular, tribal and traditional communities

such as farmers, fishermen, pastoralists, and hunter-gatherers, are heavily dependent on

biological resources for their survival and livelihood.

Kalpavriksh works to proactively track developments related to biodiversity and related

legislations, and disseminate information through the web and traditional media such as

meetings and consultations. The organization coordinates joint responses and alerts on

biodiversity legislation in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Shelter for Children of Sex Workers Region: West Bengal

NGO: Nishtha


Coordinator: Bhavna Sengupta

Sinchan is a shelter for the children of sex workers in South Parganas, West Bengal. It is one of

many projects of Nishtha, a totally community based grassroots women’s organization started

in the 1970s that works to empower and develop downtrodden women living in rural areas of

West Bengal. Sinchan started out as a night shelter for the children of sex workers in South

Parganas in 2006. With the support of AID, it has been functioning as a day shelter as well since

2010.

Support for Developmentally Challenged Children Region: West Bengal

NGO: Nanritam


Coordinator: Subha Nagasubramanian

This project is targeted at providing early detection and early intervention to developmentally

challenged children from 0-12 years of age. An initial child developmental center was started in

2009 targeting urban slums in and around Kolkata. Operations have since expanded to the rural

district of Puruhlia.

Children are screened in targeted areas by trained workers, who examine and diagnose them,

plan treatments, and counsel parents to make them an integral part of the treatment. Their

interventions involve a multi-pronged approach.

Promoting Primary Healthcare Region: Chhattisgarh

NGO: Rupantar



Rupantar work involves intense engagement with 28 villages, where the organization has village

health workers working on a wide host of medical issues. Rupantar also works to a less extent

with more than 50 other settlements. There is also a more sporadic engagement with

traditional birth attendants, who have been strengthened by midwifery training.

Promoting Peace and Harmony Region: Gujarat

NGO: Janpath



On November, 2011 Janpath had an inspiring performance of Insaan Hain Hum in Alwar,

Rajasthan. More than 2500 people from all walks of life gathered in the city to experience these

songs.

Along the lines of the success in Alwar, Janpath is conducting similar concerts and gatherings in

Gujarat, which is still recovering from violent riots almost a decade ago. Janpath seeks to

promote common bonds among people from different religious and ethnic communities.

Women against Pesticides Region: Punjab

NGO: CSA and KVM



Women Action for Ecology is a forum for women’s participation in agro-ecological revival

movement in Punjab. Women in other parts of the country have worked towards social and

environmental causes, but Punjab is yet to emerge on this front.

The Center for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) and Kheti Viraasat Mission (KVM) work to

strengthen the role of women in providing nutritious, healthy, diverse and safe food to their

family through organic kitchen gardening. They also promote seed saving to lower input costs.

Empowering tribal people and women in Andhra Pradesh

Region: Andhra Pradesh

NGO: Aranyika


Coordinator: Srinivas Krovvidy

The main objective of this project is to build and strengthen the youth associations and women’s legal

cell that Aranyika has been working on during last few years with support from AID. Specifically, this

project aims to support one volunteer at the youth association level who will work on the association’s

activities and their issues. Aranyika also wants to focus on youth in colleges and nurture them to take on

socialresponsibility With AID’s support Aranyika hopes to build on these activities and work towards

strengthening women’s legal cell as well.

Documents

Projects by AID DC