aid annual report 2008

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Association for Indias Development

ANNUAL REPORT 2008


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Association for Indias Development Annual Report 2008

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................................................2

Chapter I: Introduction ............................................................................................................5

1.1 AID and its Vision ..............................................................................................................5

1.2 Introduction to the Report ..................................................................................................5

Chapter II: AID Projects ..........................................................................................................6

2.1 Summary of Projects ..........................................................................................................6

Chapter III: Focus Area AID Agricultural Cell ................................................................. 15

3.1 Motivation ........................................................................................................................ 15

3.1.1. Background ................................................................................................................................... 15

3.2 Current Agricultural Cell Activities .................................................................................. 16

3.3 Sustainable Agriculture Projects and Campaigns ............................................................. 17

3.3.1 I am no Lab Rat Campaign...................................................................................................... 17

3.3.2 Chetna Vikas .................................................................................................................................. 17

3.3.3 Mozda, Gujarat .............................................................................................................................. 18

3.3.4 Rupantar, Chhattisgarh ................................................................................................................. 18

3.3.5 Organic Farming, Srikakulum...................................................................................................... 19

IV. AID Saathis and Jeevansathis .......................................................................................... 21

4.1 AID Jeevan Saathi Program ............................................................................................. 21

4.1.1 KiranKumar Vissa ......................................................................................................................... 21

4.2 Saathi Program ................................................................................................................ 21

Chapter V: Supporting Struggles, Activism, and Relief ....................................................... 24


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5.1 Understanding Our Role in Struggle for Justice ............................................................... 24

5.1.1. Human Rights Activism in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh ............................................. 24

5.1.2. Justice for Narmada Valley ......................................................................................................... 25

5.1.3 Anti-Corruption and NREGA Campaign ................................................................................. 27

5.1.4 Justice for Bhopal Campaign ....................................................................................................... 28

5.2 Future of AID Campaigns in 2009 .................................................................................... 28

Chapter VI: Volunteering with AID ...................................................................................... 29

6.1 Join Us: Be the Change You Wish to See .......................................................................... 29

6.2 Support our work ............................................................................................................. 29

6.3 Other Ways to Support Us ................................................................................................ 29

6.4 AID Organizational Structure .......................................................................................... 30

6.5 Board of Directors for the Year 2008 ............................................................................... 31

6.6 Executive Board Members for the Year 2008 .................................................................... 31

6.7 Introducing our latest AID Chapter in US - Seattle .......................................................... 32

6.8 Chapter contacts .............................................................................................................. 33

VII. Financial Statement of Activities .................................................................................... 35

7.1 Financial Statement ......................................................................................................... 35


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THANK YOU

We thank our donors, volunteers, and supporters for their continued encouragement. Weare proud and thankful of all the wonderful people of India who inspire us all the timethrough their commitment, clarity of thinking and strength to change social conditions.

Visit: www.aidindia.org

2008 ANNUAL REPORT CREDITS

Editors : Sonika Sethi, Subhasree , Santha Mani, Srinadh MadhavapeddiContributors : Aravinda Pillalamarri, Sunita Mani, Somu Kumar, Kiran Vissa, Ramesh Ramani, Free

Binayak Sen Team, Selva Ganapathy, Sunitha Gorthy,Cover design : Sonika Sethi

Cover Photo : Peter Bakos


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Chapter I: Introduction

Learning humility, purity and simple-living from those who don't take too

much from the earth Targeting the problems of hunger, disease andoppression that sadden their lives Inspiring in each other trust, confidence,and support for one another.

1.1 AID and its Vision

SarvE bhavantu sukhinaH, sarvE santu nirAmayaH .

AIDs vision of working with the marginalized and underprivileged is nothing new to Indian

culture. Through our interactions with our partners and our own experiences, and with our

understanding of lasting change, three aspects of development that must go hand in hand are:

Seva (service), Nirman (constructive efforts) and Sangharsh (struggle). Our constant interactionswith the people who are affected by injustice have helped us understand that development is

not a commodity that can be traded with other rights. Furthermore, development cannot be

provided by some authority; rather, communities themselves are responsible for their

development and need to struggle if necessary towards this end, to the extent that larger state,

national and international policies affect local communities development, the civil society at

large also has a responsibility to struggle along with local communities to ensure social justice

and equitable, sustainable development.

1.2 Introduction to the Report

In this report, we present a summary of our work during the year 2008. To get an in-depth idea of

the ongoing activities during the year 2008, please visit http://publications.aidindia.org . Thisreport is organized as follows:

Section II summarizes different projects that AID has undertaken on different developmental

issues in various parts of India.

Section III summarizes work of our Anti-Corruption Team and the projects they are working on.

Section IV summarizes the work of our new JeevanSaathis and Saathis.

Section V summarizes some of our campaigns for justice.

Section VI summarizes our organizational structure.

Section VII presents our financial statement for the year 2008.
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Chapter II: AID Projects

2.1 Summary of Projects

AID primarily focuses on long-term sustainable development projects. Below is a summary of

work that AID undertook in the year 2008 which ranged from projects that provided primary

education and healthcare to others that addressed issues such as empowerment of women

and the local community.

Himmat, Resource Center for Training and Development; Ahmedabad, Gujarat ($2,000; SanDiego): Run by women survivors of Naroda-Patiya carnage, Himmat empowers women withsewing, stitching skills; provide training in art and theatre to tell their stories and engage civic

society in questions

Jackfruit Project; Snehibhavan ($4,483; Lewisburg): Sajni and her husband Matthew provide

shelter to children who were sexually abused, abandoned children, children whose parentswere unable to feed and clothe them, and children of non-professional sex workers

Community Empowerment in Gumala District; AID-India; Ranchi, Jharkhand ($9,013; CollegePark): Led by AID-Saathi Dayamani Barla, help the tribal community to find foothold in thesociety and share information to strengthen mass uprising/resistance

Promote livelihood rights through NREGA; Nisarga Trust; Visakha, Andhra Pradesh ($4,051;Tempe): To ensure that there is demand for work by getting local people to apply for job cards,identify work, get unemployment allowance and special benefits for the disabled and pregnant

women

Saathiship for Sridhar R. ($3,646; Austin and Berkeley): Sridhar, a full time activist with Thanal, isinvolved in the political advocacy, research and policy related campaigning work related to

sustainable agriculture in Kerala and Tamilnadu

LSS Education Phase III; Prayas ($3,599; Austin): To act as a "Transition Period" and help kids getover homesickness and prevent drop-outs from schools

RTI Campaign in UP and Bihar; Asha Parivar ($14,177; College Park and Penn State): Awarenesscamps through out the city to make public aware of their right to information, Mobile camps for

appointment of PIOs in all departments, Regular camps at each government department

Saathiship for Richa Singh; Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh ($1,300; Common pool): Richa is a member of

Sangtin, (an organization set up to continue after Mahila Samakhya withdrew from the area)which works for women's empowerment issues.

Adivasi Academy, Bhasha; Vadodara, Gujarat ($17,000; Dallas, Ann Arbor and Boston): Apremier institute in India for tribal development builds a resource center.

Womens' Progress towards Socio-economic empowerment, KNUC ($7,595; Duke): Mobilizingwomen from backward classes into Self help groups and providing awareness and


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vocational training to a select few

RTI Clearing House, Kalpavriksh ($6,489; Bay Area): To investigate the Joint Forest Managementand study the implementation of the Forest Rights Act in the Bheemashankar Preserve

Geeta Ashram, Agrahara Chowdappa Charities; Bangalore, Karnataka ($4,837; Portland): Tosupport young destitute/orphaned boys and girls, regardless of caste, creed, religion, language

or socio-economic background through their basic education, and in some cases, even up to

college.

Gundya-Campaign for Human and Environment Justice-Phase 2, Samvada; Hassan, Karnataka($7,273; Bay Area): To support the struggle for human and environment angles that will gethugely impacted if the KPCL proposed Gundya Hydro Electric Project in the Western Ghats rain

forests; which starts preliminary survey work with police support; goes through

Education project in Purulia, Nutanhat Development Society ($5,182; Penn State): A ims at

increasing education level among the less privileged tribal and backward children

Community Development-2008, Nanritam; Purulia, West Bengal ($5,000; Baltimore and Commonpool): Electrification of the hospital being built and also house an eye microscope for surgery

Voluntary Health Association of Tripura (VHAT); Mohanpur block, West Tripura district ($10,318;Boise): VHAT is a state level federation of VOs, NGOs and CBOs working with marginalizedfarmers for adapting eco-friendly sustainable agricultural practices.

Community Environment Monitoring; The Other Media; Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu ($5,143; CollegePark): The Other Media supports Peoples struggles at the grass-roots level on several issuesincluding environmental justice. Community Environment Monitoring furthers their goal in

ensuring corporate accountability and justice in matters of environmental pollution and the

resulting problems in health and creation of toxic waste.

Sustainable Agriculture Development; Surul Centre for Services in Rural Area (CSRA); Birbhum,West Bengal ($4,000; Los Angeles): Surul works with primitive tribal group Santhal. In this projectthey intends to promote knowledge, skills and attitudes in farmers and existing women self help

groups to manage their wastelands into fertile lands, suitable for the agricultural progress to

increase employment and livelihood options.

Yr3-Honorarium for Health Auxiliaries; Tribal Health Initiative (THI); Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu($5,765; Pittsburgh and Princeton): THI works with 21 hamlets around Sittilingi towards protectionand promotion of health along with economic, social and cultural growth for the tribal people in

this region. This funding will assist health auxiliaries in improvement of all health parameters

especially the Infant Mortality Rate along with ongoing Field Health Programs and Curative

Health services.

Engaging TN SIC and improving RTI implementation; AID India ($2,590; Los Angeles): This projectwill primarily support the efforts of an AID-Chennai full timer to work with the Tamil Nadu State

Information Commission. He/She will help in reviewing their rulings, ensuring they are made in

the right spirit of RTI act and also with raising awareness about the act.

Tracking Forest Rights Act in Bhimashankar; Kalpavriksh; Pune, Maharashtra ($5,143; Bay


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Area): Kalpavriksh intends to investigate the Joint Forest management and study theimplementation of the Forest Rights Act in the Bhimashankar Preserve.

NFEs in Patna slums; Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK); Patna, Bihar ($5,099, Portland): NBJK works

in holistic development of disadvantaged children, including adolescents, in 10 slums of Patnathrough education, primary health services, vocational skill development and social,

economical, political and organizational upliftment of mothers and women. This project will fund

10 Non Formal Education (NFE) centers.

Aranyika Core Support 2008 (Part 1); Aranyika; Vizag, Andhra Pradesh ($2,381, College Park): This project will support Aranyikas ongoing work in strengthening womens desk activities, youth

associations, Water User Association and Drinking water User Association, RTI implementation,

and local development planning initiatives.

Taaraji's Saathiship; Bhilwada, Rajasthan ($5,714, Austin and Seattle): The Saathiship will supporther current efforts with all facets of women's issues-awareness, empowerment, prevention,

rehabilitation and policy.

RTI Janpath; MAGP; Ahmedabad, Gujarat ($3,870, Duke):This project supports Janpaths effortsto spread awareness of RTI via its RTI on wheels Program. They will specifically emphasize on

groups like daily earners, migrant workers, people from slums and working class areas.

Study Local Self-Governance in India; Kabir, Delhi ($7,143, College Park): The project is aimed atmaking a detailed study of existing state and best practices followed in local self-governance in

panchayats/municipalities in India. This will result in proposing a model Panchayat Raj system for

rural areas and model municipal system for urban areas.

Prerna Resource Center, Livelihood generation; Bangalore, Karnataka ($2631; Los Angeles): Tofinancial support to enable secure living and working conditions for the orthopedically

handicapped and visually challenged women at the Prerana Resource Centre.

Community Development-2008, Nanritam; Purulia, West Bengal ($5,000; Baltimore and Commonpool): Electrification of the hospital being built and also house an eye microscope for surgery

NREGA, Rural Development and Environment; Visakha, Andhra Pradesh (Rs. 40,000; Berkeley,$4040; Columbus): Implementation of NREGA in Visakha and Srikakulam districts of AP; thatguarantees 100 day minimum work in one year for every family who registers in this program.

Flood relief for Orissa; MayurBhanj, Orissa ($10,000; EB): Unnayan [An NGO] is working to providerelief in the districts of Balasore and Mayurbhanj of Orissa, to address the issues of safe drinking

water, basic food supplies, essential medicines, and veterinary care.

Flood relief for West Bengal; Midnapur, West Bengal ($10,000; EB):Kajla Janakalyan Samiti [KJKS;an NGO] provide relief efforts in the flood affected areas of West Bengal for more than 21 lakh

people have lost their homes and livelihood.

Siksana, Sivarasi Charitable Trust; Child Education; Bangalore, Karnataka (Rs. 517000;Columbus and Penn State): To enhance the learning levels of the kids in schools through
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various innovative approaches with plans to make the program sustainable and replicable.

Environment Capacity Building, Environment Support Group; Community Empowerment;Karnataka (Rs. 180000, College Park): To train and develop local communities, Panchayat and

Nagarpalika networks, all local associations and institutions in appreciating the framework ofpublic involvement in decision making of matters affecting environmental and social justice

issues.

LSS Education phase III, Prayas; Child education; Chittorgarh, Rajasthan (Rs. 142160, Tamu): Toact as a "Transition Period" and help kids get over homesickness and prevent drop-outs from

schools

JMS 2008, Navnirman Trust; Community Empowerment; Raichur, Karnataka (Rs. 325800, PennState): To help Jagrutha Mahila Sanghatan (JMS) come to the forefront of the communitydevelopment efforts

AR PHC, Karuna State; Adult health care; Karung-kumey, Andhra Pradesh (Rs. 146850, LosAngeles): To support the NGO contribution for maintenance and management of PrimaryHealth Care Centers (PHCs)

Phase II JSS (Year 2008), Jan Swasthya Sahyog, Chattisgarh ($14,286, Bay Area): Subsidizesmedicines and pays health workers for improving conditions in leprosy prevalent areas.

Shikhamitra 2008, Swanirvar, Kolkata (Rs. 153500, Houston, San Diego): Develops an alternateeducational system and vocational training system for mainstream dropouts

LEISAYr2-Coordinator and Labor Salaries, AID India, Karnataka (Rs. 373200, Pittsburgh ): LowExternal Input Sustainable Agriculture project trains landless laborers, primarily women, in

methods of natural and organic farming and encourages land owners to follow self-sustaining

agricultural practices.

RTI campaign in Bihar and Up- Phase 2, Asha, UP and Bihar (Rs. 835000, Portland, Princeton, PennState, Philadelphia): To hold awareness campaigns throughout the city to educate thecommunity about their right to information, to campaign for the appointment of Public

Information Officers in all departments, and to hold regular campaigns at each government

agency.

NREGA Consortium 2008, Samaj Parivartana Samudaya, Karnataka (Rs. 240000, Houston): Selfhelp groups strengthen their livelihood generation activities and Panchayat Raj institutions.

LSS Education Phase III; Prayas (Rs. 142160; TAMU): To help children get over homesickness andto prevent drop-outs from schools.

THI - Seed money for womens group enterprise, Tribal Health Initiative, Tamil Nadu (Rs. 100000,Clemson): Continuing support for the SEED school for the socio-economically disadvantaged, inSriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The school provides all of the basic necessities for students,

including food, clothing, books, medicines, etc.

THI-Yr3-Honorarium for Health Auxiliaries, Tribal Health Initiative, Tamil Nadu (Rs. 227700,


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Pittsburgh, Princeton): Health program in villages is done in Tamil Nadu with AID support.

Jackfruit 2008, AID India, Kerala ($ 5965, Lewisburg, College Park): Support for rehabilitationcenter which provides health & education services to women and their children in prostitution

areas. It also provides awareness against HIV/AIDS, trafficking activities and help inestablishment of self help groups & other empowering activities.

Kanakkil Kondattam 2008, AID India, Tamilnadu (Rs. 200000, Austin): Support for a project thataims at improving the quality of math education in TN middle schools through increased student

participation and student-teacher interaction. A variety of activity materials and assessment

techniques will be developed within the framework of the project.

Bhalaswa Lok Shakti Manch, Sanchal Foundation, New Delhi (Rs. 250000, Austin): Working withthe urban poor to build awareness and demand their rights with regard to water, electricity and

rations.

RTI Janpath, Ahmedabad, Gujarat ($3,870, Duke): Daily wage and migrant laborers, slumdwellers and people in working class areas to be made aware of the Right to Information Act,via the RTI on wheels program.

Womens' Progress towards Socio-economic empowerment, Khajurdaha Nabnakur United Club,West Bengal (Rs. 786500, Duke, Columbus, Portland): The project was primarily intended toestablish primary school in the coastal areas under Dariapur Gram Panchayat in Contai block II,

Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal. Children in those regions were engaged in fishing, brick

field work and agriculture operation, domestic and others hazardous work in big cities.

Charul and Vinay Fellowship, Janpath, Mutiple States (Rs. 360000, Anti-corruption Team): Supportfor a project that aims to support Charul and Vinay, two activists who raise awareness about

various causes through the medium of songs and music and the ensuing discussion, for raising

awareness about RTI and other people's struggle all over India.

ARTRC 2008-09, AID India, Orissa ($4000, Tempe): Support for a project aimed at ruralempowerment via appropriate rural technology initiatives and education. Different initiatives

have been undertaken in the first year of the project. These include block making techniques,

bamboo work, cane work, pottery, tailoring, village libraries, night schools etc. This project tries

to involve the students of JITM to take part in the project too. For the year 2008-09, ARTRC is

looking to work on the following activities - Coir Unit, Pottery Unit, Italian Bee Cultivation, Vermin

Compost, and ShaalaThe School.

Study of Local Self-Governance in India, Kabir, Mutiple States (Rs. 300000, College Park): Supportfor a project aimed at making a detailed study of existing state of local self-governance in India

and result in compilation of best practices on panchayats/municipalities in India. Based on theanalysis the idea is to propose to draft a model Panchayati Raj system for rural areas and model

municipal system for urban areas and make representations before various constitutional and

statutory bodies. There is also an idea to initiate a public debate on this issue through a series of

conferences.

Institutional Capacity Building, Utthan, Gujarat (Rs. 644000, Austin, Houston, San Diego,Common Pool): To increase women's participatory role in governing bodies, work on


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women's rights issues, and to help in creating a just and equitable society for women.

Convention on Draconian Laws, PEACE, New Delhi (Rs. 15,000, Common Pool): Support for AshaParivar to participate in a 2 day national level convention on 26th -27th July, 2008 in Delhi to address theissue of draconian laws in India, which originated as temporary laws created for certain emergencies, buthave since been transformed into permanent laws that threaten the democratic fabric of the nation.

Health project in Jadugoda, Asha, Jharkhand (Rs. 400000, College Park): Support for a projectaimed at rural empowerment via appropriate rural technology initiatives and education.

Kabir RTI education campaign, Kabir, New Delhi (Rs. 120000, Anti-corruption): Kabir our NGOpartner in India has worked over the years to increase awareness and use of the Right to

Information (RTI) Act by individuals and organizations. The primary goal of Kabir is to encourage

a culture of transparency and accountability in government that allows for meaningful

participation of citizens.

Promotion of alternative health care systems, Sahanivasa, Andhra Pradesh ($13,560, Duke):Rural women get training in alternative health care practices and the use of herbal medicines.

Gothikoya Relief Project, ASDS, Andhra Pradesh (Rs. 400000, Relief and Rehabilitation Funds):Continuing relief work for internally displaced tribal people from the civil war in Chhattisgarh,

which led to nearly 50000 people fleeing their homes and crossing the border into Andhra

Pradesh.

West Bengal Flood Relief 2008, Kajla Jan Kalyan Samiti, West Bengal ($ 10000, Relief andRehabilitation Funds): Support for Short term flood relief for devastating floods.

Bihar Flood Relief, GOONJ, Bihar (Rs. 400000, Relief and Rehabilitation Funds): Madhipura, Sipoul,Khagaria, and Areria districts get flood relief.

Bihar Flood Relief, Aakar Charitable Trust, Dist Bihar (Rs. 400000, Relief and Rehabilitation Funds):Support for Short term flood relief for devastating floods in Bihar in Aug/Sep 2008 due to Kosi

River flooding.

Bihar Flood Relief, CHARM, Bihar (Rs. 200000, Relief and Rehabilitation Funds): Support for Shortterm flood relief for devastating floods in Bihar in Aug/Sep 2008 due to Kosi River flooding.

Bihar Flood Relief, BSFC, Bihar (Rs. 200000, Relief and Rehabilitation Funds): Support for Short termflood relief for devastating floods in Bihar in Aug/Sep 2008 due to Kosi River flooding.

AID India Bihar Flood Relief 2008, AID India, Dist Bihar (Rs. 940000, Bay area, Seattle, Bihar Funds,Relief and Rehabilitation Funds): Areas affected from flooding in Kosi river will get rescue andrelief assistance.

AID India Orissa Flood Relief 2008, AID India, Dist Orissa (Rs. 400000, Relief and RehabilitationFunds): Support for immediate relief and long term rehabilitation for people affected by recent

floods (19 Sep 2008) in 17 districts of Orissa that is reported to be the worst in more than 50

years.

Sikshana 2008-2009, Sivrasi Charitable Trust, Karnataka (Rs. 517000, Penn State, Columbus):


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Support for a two year programme of training and capacity development of local communities,

local community networks, social action groups, Panchayat and Nagarpalika networks, local

academic institutions and student bodies, media networks, residents associations, etc. in

appreciating the frameworks of public involvement in decision making, especially that which

affects environmental and social justice issues of concern.

Education Project in Purulia, Nutanhat Development Society, West Bengal (Rs. 204675, PennState): Support for the electrification of a school and hospital being built to serve the localpopulation of Parulia, in West Bengal.

Geeta Ashram, Agrahara Chowdappa Charities, Karnataka (Rs. 191076, Portland): Support foran orphanage in the outskirts of Bangalore that houses children from all faiths and castes, and

provides mentoring and education, besides boarding and lodging.

Gundya - Campaign for Human and Environment Justice - Phase 2, Samvada, Karnataka (Rs.287280, Bay area): Support for creating an education environment and increasing the level ofvalue based education among the less privileged tribal and backward children.

SNS RTI, AID India, New Delhi (Rs. 300000, College Park): The major goals of the full-timevolunteers include creation of an atmosphere for citizens to question the actions of the

government and help in filing RTI applications for individual needs of the common people.

AP PHC, Karuna Trust, Karnataka (Rs. 148650, LA): Support for a women's empowerment projectthat aims to bring women's status on par with men, through exposure visits to motivate the

community on various issues, right based movements, demonstration of good governance on

disaster mitigation, new agricultural practices, women initiating various income generating

activities, etc

Omashram Trust Bangalore, Omashram Trust, Karnataka (Rs. 75000, Kansas City): Support for anold age home that provides comfortable, clean and hygienic boarding and lodging facilities

with nursing and medical care for residents, in Bangalore, Karnataka.

Karuna Gram - Shelter for Homeless Children, Vishwagram, Gujarat ($15,000, Dallas): Support forthe construction of a home for homeless children who have been mistreated and are shelter

less, in Mahesana, Gujarat.

Awareness Education through Cultural Performances in Village, MERDS, Tamil Nadu (Rs. 218100,Duke): Support for a project to create SHGs for children in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. The objectivesare for the children to encourage each other in their achievements, and develop a team spirit

and sense of cooperation. Nutritional supplements will also be provided to the children.

Nandigram Relief, Asha, West Bengal ($5000, Relief and Rehabilitation Funds): Support for aid tovictims of government violence in Nandigram, West Bengal who are in dire need of food, baby

food, winter garments and proper rehabilitation.

Jan Chetna Kalamanch - Awareness Program, Asha, Uttar Pradesh (Rs. 150000, College Park):Support for a cultural program team working on awareness of rights, NREGA job cards and

resource ownership in the Araji Lines and Rajatalab blocks of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

SEED 2008, SEED, Tamil Nadu ($2750, San Diego): Continuing support for the SEED school for


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the socio-economically disadvantaged, in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The school provides all of

the basic necessities for students, including food, clothing, books, medicines, etc.

Joint urban Green, Kalpvriksh, Mahrashtra, (Rs 285600, San Diego): Support for a project that

aims to continue advocating and creating awareness regarding the issues of urban greens.

Navnirman Trust, JMS, Karnataka (Rs. 325800, Penn State): Community health awarenessprogram run by JMS.

Computer Education, Jagriti Bal Vikas Samiti, Uttar Pradesh (Rs. 227000, College Park): Supportfor running a Computer Education Center in Lodhar,Uttar Pradesh; which provides courses in

basic computer literacy enabling students to use computer as a tool for learning in schools and

home and also provides other vocational courses using computers like accounting, desktop

publishing, computer hardware

Higher Education for Children from Red Light Area, Snehalaya, Maharashtra (Rs. 249350,

Philadelphia, Buffalo): Support for rehabilitation center which provides health & educationservices to women and their children in prostitution areas. It also provides awareness againstHIV/AIDS, trafficking activities and help in establishment of self help groups & other empowering

activities.

BLESS and Vocational Training, Matrichaya, Jharkhand (Rs. 94150, Buffalo): Support for a projectto provide education, self-employment, and healthcare to the under-privileged children and

women in Jharkhand.

Adivasi Academy-Bhasha, Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, Gujarat (Rs. 680000, Dallas,Ann Arbor, Boston): Continuing support for the building of the Adivasi Academy, a premierinstitution for tribal development in India.

Eureka Shikshan Abhiyan, AID India, Tamil Nadu (Rs, 290000, Seattle, College Park): Support fora project initiated by AID INDIA to improve learning quality in schools and villages across the

state.

Environment Capacity Building, Environmental Support Group, Karnataka (Rs. 180000, CollegePark): Support for a campaign to use the Right to Information Act to demand transparency inthe Public Distribution System, monitor social security schemes, water supply and sanitation

schemes, and create awareness among the marginalized communities.

Promotion of Alternative Health Care Systems, Sahanivasa, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh ($13,560;Duke): Women in rural areas of Chittoor get trained in alternative health care practices andcultural troupes spread HIV awareness.

Outreach Mobile Health Service, Khajurdaha Nabankur United Club, West Bengal ($4675,Portland): Deeming to a high infant mortality rate the residents of Hoogly get educated aboutprenatal care, health education, and family planning.

Orissa flood relief, AID India, Orissa ($15,000; College Park): Flood affected residents of 17districts in Orissa receive immediate relief and long term rehabilitation

Tamil Nadu RTI Campaign, AID Anti Corruption Team ($1300; College Park): Local people


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and organizations in 15 districts of TN participate in RTI awareness camps and empower

themselves in taking sustainable actions

Hanagal Livelihood Development, Samaj Parivartana Samudaya, Dharwad, karnataka ($7100;Cincinnati): Landless labourers, small and marginal farmers learn about National RuralEmployment Guarantee Act (NGREGA) and utilize its resources to address their livelihood issues.

Nutanhat Development Society, Purulia, West Bengal ($9100; Penn State): Children from lessprivileged communities, dropouts, and non enrolled students get value based education that

focuses on making them good citizens.

Asha Kiran, Samraksha care center, Bangalore, Karnataka ($5000; Blacksburg) : Poor peopleespecially women and children get counselling, social support, and better access to public

health services for HIV prevention

Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture(LEISA), AID Bangalore, Karnataka ($7650; Pittsburgh):Landless labourers, primarily women, get trained in natural organic farming techniques. Land

owners experiment in shifting their focus to organic farming techniques.

Assam Flood relief 2008, Gramya Vikash Mancha, Nalbari, Assam ($3900; College Park):Communities of Rural Kamrup district of Assam get emergency flood relief.

Bihar flood relief 2008, AID India, Bihar ($15,000; Bihar flood relief funds) : Villagers in maroonedManganj purvi & Manganj Uthara Panchayat villages and kariapatti & daharia in Supaul District

get relief materials.


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Chapter III: Focus AreaAID Agricultural Cell

Lord! Give enough that the needs of this family are met,

So that I don't go hungry, and neither does the mendicant.

~ Kabir, 15th century mystic and poet

3.1 Motivation

The importance of agriculture for food security and rural livelihoods cannot be overstated. In

recent decades, agriculture and farmers' welfare have both been thrown into jeopardy in India.

The alarming farmers' suicides have recently acquired some visibility, but these are only

symptoms of the larger crisis - a deep, widespread distress among farmers. Many farmers have

been led into high-input high-risk farming where the increasing prices of fertilizers, pesticides,seeds and water have caused a debt trap. The chemical intensive agriculture has led to

depleted soils leaving crops more vulnerable and prompting farmers to apply even more inputs.

Further, the government has gradually whittled down the support systems for farmers and

neglected the agriculture sector, driving farmers out of agriculture.

While those living by farming and those going hungry have been aware of problems in

agriculture and food security for quite a while, recent events, indicating that these have

worsened have raised alarms amongst concerned groups and organizations such as AID.

The startling statistics on farmers suicides awakened many AID volunteers, particularly those who

were not from farming families, to the crisis.

3.1.1. Background

The farmer in India gets compensated for the cost of growing the food in a variety of ways:

1. Through direct subsidies from the govt. The government pays the farmer either a fixedsum or a subsidy based on the type and amount of farming (acreage under farming,

type of crop, electricity, fuel or even land holding) or provides tax breaks. This is common

in many Western nations.

2. Through indirect subsidies: This is paid to fertilizer, pesticide or seed companies or eventhe entire industry that supplies to the farmer. The subsidies allow these to sell the product

cheaper to the farmer thereby reducing his/her farming cost. Under this category, wecan also include farm mechanization companies such as tractor manufacturers. Many

govts partner with schools and universities which allows the farmer to use the school's

resources (such as labs) for their farming free or at a nominal cost.

3. By setting minimum support prices: this is the most well known way to ensure that farmersrecoups the cost of growing the food. If the farmer sells the produce to the market directly,

then the market price takes place of the support price. 4. In addition, the govt. has to

ensure that technology and tools are available to the farming community to make farming


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efficient. This may also include supporting appropriate research.

If the govt. does not do any of these, it results in farming being a loss-making industry and

eventually resulting in inadequate food production. If the govt. does not provide subsidies, the

capital outlay for farming becomes higher. This requires adequate money supply to the farmingcommunity (through timely and adequate loans). Without the money supply, farming becomes

a loss-making industry (as we see in India now). The govt may also support one group of farmers

(or type of farming) against another through selective subsidies and policies.

If the govt. does not ensure an appropriate minimum fair price, then it leads to farmers

competing against other communities that may have these advantages. It then becomes an

unfair competition (again has happened in India and many other 3rd world nations). In a

globalized marketplace, support should be compared between the source and where the

product is marketed (and equalized for a level playing field).

The price consumers pay at the market may not reflect the actual cost of producing the food.

We pay for govt subsidies through our taxes. The true cost of food can be calculated by adding

transportation costs, subsidies and other benefits to the price at the market. In addition, other

costs such as environmental damage (including deforestation) and unfortunately at present, the

health and lives of farmers also should be factored in over longer term as delayed costs.

In the larger picture, for a sustainable society, there should be no delayed costs.

3.2 Current Agricultural Cell Activities

AID has undertaken several actions and projects through its members and through continued

partnership with grassroots NGOs to strengthen the

On the brighter side, many new initiatives coupled with the traditional wisdom of Indian farmingare showing the way forward. AID and its partners are working in these broad directions:

Low-input Sustainable Agriculture: The aim is two-fold - to make agriculture remunerativeto farmers and to make it sustainable year after year by enhancing the quality of the

farm and the soil. This requires moving away from the Green Revolution paradigm of

dependence on chemical fertilizers, pesticides and seeds from the market. In Vidarbha,

Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttaranchal and elsewhere, farmers are successfully moving to

methods which require very little expenditure on external inputs. What is more, these

methods rejuvenate the soil at the end of the season so that agriculture is sustainable

year after year. Organic farming is being successfully used even for crops like paddy,

sugarcane and cotton.

Reclaiming degraded lands: Using natural methods, large tracts of degraded lands arebeing regenerated. This includes fallow land to which Dalits obtained rights, tsunami-

affected lands, degraded forests, etc. After consistent demand from several

organizations, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is also being used to

support farmers doing soil work on their lands.

Land Rights: A large section of the Dalits and adivasis engaged in agriculture eitherdo not own land or do not have title to the land they cultivate. Our partners are


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helping hundreds of Dalits and adivasis obtain land from the government or illegal

possessors of land. Many campaigns are being organized against unjust displacement of

farmers from their crop lands by SEZs and other projects.

Campaigns on government policies: Much of the crisis is precipitated by wrong-headedgovernment policies and global developments such as WTO, which have underminedthe support systems for farmers such as credit, procurement, and agriculture extension.

The introduction of Genetically Modified crops without appropriate research and trials

threatens to compound the earlier follies. AID and its partners are involved in

campaigning against wrong policies and advocating for farmer-friendly measures.

3.3 Sustainable Agriculture Projects and Campaigns

3.3.1 I am no Lab Rat Campaign

AID Delhi and AID Hyderabad along with partners like Thanal based in Tamil Nadu and SaathiSridhar worked on the I am no lab rat campaign in conjunction with the Coalition for a GM FreeIndia. Several programs were organized by the coalition across the country to raise awareness aboutthe harmful effects of GM foods and the serious concerns that several scientists and agriculturalresearchers have expressed and highlighted.

3.3.2 Chetna Vikas

In September 2007, AID San Diego approved its first project in the area of low external input

sustainable agriculture (LEISA). The project is spearheaded by Chetna Vikas (CV), an

organization that has worked on propagation of natural farming and issues related to women's

empowerment for the last 20 years in Wardha, Maharashtra.

CV believes in promoting self-reliance of small farmers in tackling the agrarian crisis using natural

farming techniques. They promote this by:

Developing appropriate alternative technologies, models & methodologies;

Demonstrating easy, feasible applications;

Farmer-friendly methods of dissemination of Knowledge-Attitudes-Skills (KAS) and,

Promoting Farmers Organizations/Groups & Self-Help-Groups (SHGs) of women

The project funded by AID SD has the following goals:

Create 50 demonstration farms across 10 villages in Wardha, showcasing the

productivity, profitability and sustainability of LEISA farming through emphasis on

soil fertility, water-management, eco-friendly pest and disease management,

propagation and dissemination of appropriate seeds and planting material

and companion cropping.

Preparatory work for soil & water conservation on 250 acres across 10

villages by providing training and resources to village engineers;


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Pilot project on the Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS) system of certification

for marketing of agro-produce by forming villagers groups from 10 villages,

Starting agro-processing units run by various SHG's in project area villages; and

Equipping SHG's to market agro-produce by purchasing wholesale quantities

from farmers.

The total project budget funding was $24,000. In addition to San Diego the following chaptersalso supported the project, Bay Area, Philadelphia, Berkeley.

So far AID San Diego has conducted two site visits and the volunteers have been very impressed

with the work and reputation of CV. Details of the December 2007 project visit report are

available on our website.

3.3.3 Mozda, Gujarat

Juna Mozda, Gujarat. Vasava adivasis (Bhils) settled in the Satpura ranges of southern Gujarat,

have traditionally lived by farming their own land and collecting forest produce. However,recently population increase and overuse of land have made this more difficult. More people

are migrating away away from agricultural activities towards seasonal employment which pays

in cash. This has led to loss of the local knowledge and commitment to soil and water

conservation and consequently further decline in the land productivity.

Bombay Sarvodaya Friendship Center & Mozda Collective, under leadership of Swati and

Michael, worked to revive the local tradition and knowledge of building small stone and mud

bund-like structures which prevent soil runoff and also harvest rain water. Mobilizing 5 villages in

2001, and 4 more in 2002, the collective introduced a food for work program to support bund

making.

700 farmers from 9 villages took part, built the bunds and saw a dramatic increase in soilproductivity, harvesting 2 crops per year instead of 1 as they had previously. As of 2008 more

than 25 villages have participated. Improved soil, yielding more crops, is helping people move

towards self-sufficiency. Elderly people are not migrating as much.

Seeing these results neighboring villages joined the program, and the collective began reaching

out to 3 new villages per year. In 2008 356 farmers from 6 villages built 586 bunds using 11,800

cubic meters of stone. These bunds will protect 354 acres of land. For this work the farmers

earned 25,520 kg of rice and 8,507 kg of sorghum. 19 volunteers worked 189 person-days over

three months to manage the activity in the 6 villages. They spent Rs. 950 on travel and received

Rs. 15,420 as honorarium. In addition to these food for work programs, the group holds local

youth camps to discuss watershed development, train village health workers and to work

together as needed.

After a village completes the soil bunding, it moves on to live bunding, by planting trees.

Communities participating in these programs have become more aware of health, communal

harmony,alternate energy, sustainable agriculture, forest rights, etc in aholistic perspective.

3.3.4 Rupantar, Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh was traditionally known for a rich heritage of indigenous rice seeds that were

adapted to different micro-eco systems. Rupantar has concentrated in the collection and
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dissemination of knowledge about these seeds, through a network of farmers.

Since 1994, Rupantar has also been working to develop modules of chemical free organic

agriculture. Farmers were trained in many villages on the variety of rice, their yield, and type of

organic farming methodologies and preservation of the bio diversity. Rupantar currently leasesland from a farmer based in Ghotiadadar and uses this to grow numerous indigenous varieties of

rice to get local farmers interested about these rice varieties and their inherent advantages and

relationships to local soil. The bio diversity program is presently being supervised by Nakcheda

ram and Jagram Markam. The specific activities will include seed propagation, technical advice

to farmers and the propagation of some technical inputs like blue green algae as fertilizer etc.

Through this project AID supported the biodiversity program workers.

3.3.5 Organic Farming, Srikakulum

AID supplied seeds of local vegetable varieties to 268 landless and marginal landholding families

to grow vegetables in small spaces of 4' x 20' near their homes and on their rooftops.Biointensive Gardening (BIG) is an intercropping technique designed to optimize yields from

small-space kitchen gardens. AID-India guided the villagers in utilizing the BIG technique on their

garden plots.

Most low income families in the villages have a diet of rice, starch-water, and a dilute rasam

(broth). They eat few legumes or vegetables. Once they make a habit of tending kitchen

gardens, they take an important step in improving their family nutrition.

Before monsoon begins in June, AID Srikakulam workers motivate people to dig out a plot for

planting vegetables. In every village, 8 - 12 families come forward and do the work needed to

prepare the plots. They need to find a space near their homes that receives sunlight. The

families must then loosen the soil and commit to watering and protecting the plants from

animals. AID Srikakulam workers then inspect the preparations made. After inspection, familiesreceive seeds for okra, beans, eggplant, spinach, tomatoes, birakayi, potlakayi, anapakayi,

kakarakayi, etc.

Such a kitchen garden program is worth more than the

few lakh rupees that the produce is worth (see box

above). Since the benefit is in the form of food, it

directly meets a basic need of all family members.

Cash on the other hand can be spent on other things

which may not necessarily enhance family nutrition and

health.

Many families have also started collecting seeds andsaving them for the next year. AID India volunteers also

request families to give back about Rs. 50 worth of

vegetables, which are then given to the old-age home

or to families with malnourished children within the village. This way the families have a sense of

paying back to the community, the price of the seeds that AID India invested on them. In

case a family suffers a crop failure, then no vegetables are collected from them. From 2009

AID India also plans to collect seeds back in a systematic way to develop a seed bank.

Taste of success: Kitchen gardens!

2008: In 30 villages, 268 families

planted vegetables with a yield of 30

100 kg per plot. At the local prices of

Rs. 10-25/ kg, most families realized a

benefit of at least Rs. 500 and up to

Rs. 1500 worth of vegetables per

family. The cost of seeds provided by

AID India is Rs. 30 per family.


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Most people do not use chemical inputs in their kitchen gardens. We plan to build on this by

introducing more local and organic varieties to improve biodiversity and food sovereignty.

Since 2004-2005, AID Srikakulam accepted the offer of Surya's family to use 1.5 acres of land for

demonstrating organic farming. Since 2005-2006, no chemical fertilizers or pesticides have been

used to grow things like ground nuts, kandi (tur dal), minapa (urad dal), jute, corn and other

vegetables. Now that 3 years have passed without using chemical inputs, we plan to

demonstrate organic farming on the plot.

In 2008, we got electricity connection to the farm, and built a pump house so to draw water

from the well. Next year we plan to start nurseries as well as a seed bank aimed towards

conserving local seed diversity as well as supply to the kitchen gardens.


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IV. AID Saathis and Jeevansathis

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can changethe world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.~ Margaret Mead

4.1 Jeevan Saathi Program

One of the central factors in AIDs strength has been the passion of volunteers to move back to

India and engage in efforts at the grassroots directly. When AID volunteers first began expressing

an interest to go back to India (back in 1996-7), discussions with volunteers in the US resulted in

the setup of the Jeevansaathi Program, to enable their work with the underprivileged and

development issues, while guiding AID and partner organizations. Later the Saathi program was

set up to enable collaboration with the experienced social workers in India.

AID partners with certain outstanding social and environmental activists in India referred to as

"Saathis". Saathis are a source of great inspiration to AID volunteers, and provide insight into

grassroots issues. AID recognizes certain outstanding social and environmental activists in India

with Saathi awards. Since they are highly creative, committed and motivated individuals, we

wish to support them in a manner that allows them freedom to operate without the constraints

of a specific time-bound project. The program creates a mutually enriching relationship

between AID and the Saathi and entails not only support in the form of a stipend, but also non-

monetary involvement and strategic support from AID volunteers. Saathis are a source of great

inspiration to AID volunteers, and provide insight into development dynamics.

AID elected one new Jeevan Saathi, Kirankumar Vissa.

4.1.1 KiranKumar Vissa

Kiran Vissa has been a key AID figure since its formative years and has worn many hats of

leadership and organizational roles in the past 14 years. Since 2008, Kiran is working in Andhra

Pradesh as a full time activist in the role of AID's Jeevansaathi. Kiran's focus interests have been

agriculture and farmers' issues, consumer awareness on food, volunteer mobilization and citizenactivism, and tackling organizational challenges in AID.

Kiran played an important role in setting up many early chapters of AID, and continued to

provide inspirational and organizational support to budding chapters and emerging leadership.

As a member of the board of directors, he has been an important part of many of AID's

initiatives. He has played a key role in promoting the sangharsh aspect in AID through the

Narmada struggle, anti-communalism campaign and other human rights campaigns.Kiran holds a B.Tech. from IIT, Chennai and an M.S. from University of Maryland. He became

active in AID in his very early days at College Park, inspired by the ideas and energy ofvolunteers like Ravi, Balaji and Aravinda, as well as meeting many social activists from India.

4.2 Saathi Program

AID elected 3 new Saathis in 2008 and continued support for its sixteen other Saathis. The 3

new Saathis for 2008 were Arvind Kejriwal (supported by AID Houston and AID College


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Park) and Dhanada Mishra (supported by AID College Park) and Ravindra Sharma (supported

by AID Pittsburgh and AID Princeton). Detailed information below.

4.2.1 Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal is a social activist and crusader for transparency in the Government machinery inIndia. Together with Aruna Roy and other activists, Arvind Kejriwal campaigned for the NationalRight to Information Act, which was passed in 2005.

He is the founder of Parivartan, a Delhi based citizens movement trying to ensure a just,

transparent and accountable governance. Arvind Kejriwal and his team of Parivartan volunteersare working very actively for the following issues:

1. Building a strong people's movement for reinforcement of democratic values.

2. Strengthening of practices and systems which encourage transparency and accountabilityand people's participation.

3. Promoting larger awareness of Right to Information among economically backward section ofthe society and encourage them to use RTI.

In July 2006, he spearheaded a successful awareness campaign, "Drive against Bribe" for

promoting RTI across India. He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for EmergentLeadership as well as Indian of the Year in Public Service in 2006.

4.2.2 Dhanada Mishra

Dhanada Mishra is a Civil Engineer by background and lives and works in Orissa. He has been

with AID for several years now and was instrumental in starting the AID chapter in Sydney. He has

been actively involved in coordinating all the activities of AID-Orissa. Dhanada also started the

AID Rural Technology Resource Centre in Orissa, an institute aimed at training and

demonstrating rural technologies and ideas. He is working actively in spreading awareness

about NREGA in the interior Gajapati district of Orissa and helped in pointing out loopholes in the

implementation of the act. He is also working in concert with the Pratham group in spreadingthe "Learning to read" program in 5 districts around Gajapati in Orissa. Dhanada Mishra visited

the US recently and shared the success of the Learning to read program which is operating inthe Gajapati District.

4.2.3 Ravindra Sharma

For past 2 decades, Ravindra Sharma (fondly referred to by everyone as Guruji) has been

working with artisans in the Adilabad district of AP and is the founder of Kala Ashram. Kala

Ashram is meant to be an ashram for traditional arts, science and technology. Guruji himself isan encyclopedia of information about the traditional rural Indian arts, science, and society.

Four major components of Guruji's work include:

Resource provisioning: Kala Ashram's museum also serves as a resource base for artists and

artisans who do not have access to tools and accessories. For instance, the Dakkalodu or the

community historian of the Maadiga (leather crafting) community in the Adilabad region often

borrows his musical instruments and the scroll from the museum to perform to his local audience.These scrolls, painted by the Naquashi community, are expensive and take years to prepare.

Karigar gurukuls: Every year, Guruji organizes karigar gurukuls, where artisans improve or

innovate techniques, pass them on to younger members of their community, or teach themto groups belonging to other communities.


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Study of traditional social organization: Guruji has been observing and studying the traditional

social organization, and one recent effort is to document/record the dying arts of the Bhikshavruttis, who sing/tell the oral history of other castes, while living off their patronage.

Documentation: Guruji intends to document much of his understanding of traditional arts,

science, technology and social organization in the form of booklets. He also intends todocument many of the activities of Kala Ashram such as the workshops and the performancesof the Bhiksha vruttis.

For more information on all of AIDs Saathis, please visit saathi.aidindia.org


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Chapter V: Supporting Struggles, Activism, and Relief

Sangharsh hi Jivan Hai: To Struggle is to Live

5.1 Understanding Our Role in Struggle for Justice

Sangharsh, the struggle, is the integral part of development. When communities fight for their

rights, the change that ensues is more wide-spread and development more sustainable. For this

reason AID participates in various struggles. AID is in solidarity with the struggles such as by the

people of Narmada valley that raise fundamental questions on development paradigm and

seek land-for-land rehabilitation for the displaced families and struggle of people of Bhopal to

make Dow accountable for cleaning up the Bhopal gas tragedy site.

Activism continued to be a strong element of AIDs work and AID volunteers participated in

various campaigns in different capacities from spreading awareness to their friends and the

wider AID donor community to signing petitions demanding justice on key struggles tosubstantive support to activists and people on the ground in India to some AIDers actually

participating in struggles in the field.

Here is a recap of some of the major campaigns of 2008 in AID:

5.1.1. Human Rights Activism in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh

AID chapters supported two unique projects in interior

forest areas of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, involving

struggle for survival, civil rights and dignity for Koya adivasis

who are living in terror of the state in Chhattisgarh or who

have fled as refugees to Andhra Pradesh.

As Binayak Sen campaign and Dr. I lina Sens talk made

more chapters and volunteers aware of the issues in

Chhattisgarh including Salwa Judum, Black Laws and

overall state of emergency, we sought to support grassroots

organizations working for human rights and just

development in the state. Through the Free Binayak Sen

campaign we came to learn about VCA, a Gandhian

organization working since 1982 for the cause of the

oppressed and marginalized tribal people of Dantewara

and Bijapur Districts. Aravinda spoke with Shalini of Friends

of South Asia, to understand the project, sought opinionsfrom other AID partners in the region, and then obtained

the paperwork to start the review process.

Boston, Philadelphia, JHU and Maryland chapters expressed interest in their work and together

we embarked on the journey of understanding the social context in which VCA worked and

the potential of the proposed legal cell for promoting peace and justice for the people.

Since most volunteers were quite new to the Chhattisgarh issue, we went through several

rounds of questions & answers, correspondence with journalists and other social workers in


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the field, detailed presentations, and 3 conference calls with the NGO coordinator in India, and

one conference call with Prof. Nandini Sundar, an expert on the issue who is visiting Yale in 2008-

09. Aravinda helped answer questions during CSH discussions in two of the chapters, and helped

moderate the 3 conference calls, as well as discussed chapter questions by email in between.

At the same time, AID supported ASDS, an organization providing relief and supporting civil rights

of the refugees who fled Salwa Judum camps and settled in the neighboring forests of

Khammam District in Andhra Pradesh. Through their work they have given the tribal people a

space to survive, stabilize and organize, on the one hand demanding their rights as Internally

Displaced Persons (IDPs) and also with an eye towards returning to their homes and cultivating

their land, resisting the oppressive regime of Salwa Judum. Boise and College Park chapters

supported this project, and volunteers from College Park, Kakinada & Bay Area chapters visited

the site.

During this time AID issued a statement defending the rights of the people to remain unaligned

with either the Maoists or with the state-backed Salwa Judum, and the rights of Gandhian

organizations such as VCA to work with people in the democratic space. Chapters supporting

VCA as well as chapters who have been involved in Chhattisgarh campaign voted to endorsethe statement.

As public awareness and momentum to support human rights in Chhattisgarh built, several

volunteers formed a group to continue raising the issue and taking actions when and where

possible. We took one such action when the DGP of Chhattisgarh visited University of California

Berkeley as an invited speaker on Indian Democracy, Justice and Law. Working with other

groups including Students for Bhopal, FoSA, and Berkeley students, we mobilized the academic

community to question the DGP on his human rights record in Chhattisgarh. The group got a slot

in the session, presented a slideshow and organized locally to protest and question the DGP. In

conjunction with the local protest, more than 100 professors from universities across the US, and

several more from India signed a letter to the DGP calling for him to disband Salwa Judum,

release political prisoners and respect human rights and dignity of people in Chhattisgarh.

5.1.2. Justice for Narmada Valley

For more than 22 years now, the people of the Narmada Valley have waged a courageous

battle for life and livelihood, raising the key issues of human rights, environment, development

and cultural survival that the worlds majority faces today.

The struggle over dams and development has impacted policy making and grassroots struggle

around the globe.

Yet Sardar Sarovar dam currently stands at 121 m (planned height is 139 pm) with tens of

thousands of families already facing submergence without rehabilitation. Though the state ofMadhya Pradesh, which faced the brunt of the displacement, had argued in court for a lower

height, stating that it did not have enough land to comply with the legally required land-based

rehabilitation for all the oustees, the Supreme Court ordered the dam to proceed to the full

height, with rehabilitation for all the Project Affected Families.

Instead of offering cultivable land with clear title to the oustees, as the law requires, the

government has time again offered cash compensation - which is tantamount to bribing

the citizens to forgo their legal rights. Yet after years of struggle, and forced to choose


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something rather than nothing,

Yet this Special Rehabilitation Package which has amounted to encashment of rehabilitation

provisions and cash disbursement in lieu of land and house plots has proved to be a source of

corruption.

Narmada Bachao Andolan filed a suit against the Government of Madhya Pradesh as well as

the police, Collectors of 5 districts, and agencies responsible for implementing the Narmada

Award.

Result: In August the High Court found that more than 600 complaints of fake registrations ofsale deeds under the Special Rehabilitation Package [SRP] and also allegations of other

irregularities committed at the time of implementation of R & R measures stipulated in the

Narmada award and these complaints have also been brought to the notice of the Narmada

Control Authority [NCA] and the NCA has asked the Government of MP to look into the

complaints.

The court directed the state government to appoint a one member inquiry commission to probe

allegations of large scale corruption in distribution of compensation to displaced families

affected by Sardar Sarovar Project.

Oustees of Indira Sagar, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Upper Beda, Maan and Bargi dams haveunited and intensified their struggle for their rights. Around 10,000 oustees of these dams

demonstrated at Bhopal in July. Besides, the villagers conducted monsoon- vigils and Jal-

Satyagrahs at three places in the districts of Khandwa, Harda and Khargone all through the

monsoon.

Narmada Bachao Andolan has protested to the Securities and Exchange Board of India when

the Narmada Hydro-Power Corporation announced an IPO without disclosing any details about

the Narmada struggle and court cases.

Result: The auction of the ISP and OSP reservoirs to private parties have been put on hold due tostays from the Court. This is likely to open significant opportunities for landless families for fishing

rights in the reservoir.

Thousands of displaced and affected people of various dams and projects; adivasis, dalits,

farmers, fish workers, farm laborers, unorganized and skilled workers and basti dwellers and

hawkers assembled at Mumbai, raising their demands for justice and rehabilitation and against

the current paradigm of destruction and displacement in the name of development.

The uprooted displaced, combating displacement, deceit and half cooked rehabilitation, if

any, are agitating and raising their demands with the Govt. of Maharashtra, calling the State to

provide concrete and ultimate solutions.

So-called development projects have left them landless and homeless. No government

compensated them with cash or land or any realization of even the limited rights as per the

existing laws and Rehabilitation Policy. Moreover, whenever lands were taken in excess of

what was actually required, were promised to be returned to the original owners, but now


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are instead sold to brokers, stars, and big businessmen.

Results:Responding to the peoples agitation, the government of Maharashtra appointed a

Peoples Commission of Inquiry to Inquire into the land deals, land transfers and displacementdue to dams and Projects in the Sahayadri region.

Terms of Reference:

1) To investigate into the issues and complaints of land acquisition, compensation and the land

lease deals related to the Tata dams (Siravta, Somwadi, Valvan, Bhushi, Thokalewadi and Mulshi)

and also the Pawana, Kasarsai, Malwani, Andhre, Jadhavwadi and other dams and Projects like

the Lavasa City and Sahara City.

2) To review the land acquisition and the extra land acquired, but not used for the Project and

assess the illegalities involved in the transfer of the acquired lands from the Project affected

family to the State or from the State to the statutory agencies; such as the Krishna Khore ValleyDevelopment Corporation.

3) To appraise the use of water and water bodies of the above mentioned dams, their planned

and attained use and the resultant violation of the rights of the dam-affected and suggest the

appropriate ways to use the water in the favor of the Project affected,.

4) To review the situation of the resettlement and rehabilitation of the people affected by all the

above mentioned dams and Projects and recommend appropriate means to defend their

constitutional and human rights.

5) To recommend legal action against all those responsible for the illegality in the land deals and

land transfers related to all the above Projects.

Modus Operandi of the Commission

To study and investigate the data and documents from the official sources, affectedpeople, and non-governmental agencies.

To visit the affected areas of the concerned Projects and hold Public Hearings in small and

large groups and communities.

To hold dialogue with the officials and other concerned parties.

Any other means and media which the Members of the Commission may deemappropriate.

5.1.3 Anti-Corruption and NREGA Campaign

The Right to Information (RTI) campaign was very successful as AID Anti-Corruption Team

(ACT) continued to work with activists in India to strengthen the RTI act at the grassroots level

by advocating stronger implementation with Government and supported many activists

who have taken up this task. RTI act along with National Rural Employment Guarantee Act


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(NREGA) has potential to eliminate corruption and poverty from rural villages of India and AID is

committed to see this change.

5.1.4 Justice for Bhopal Campaign

AID continued its support for the struggles for the survivors of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. AID

volunteers participated in numerous actions including solidarity fast with the survivors of Bhopal

in May 2008 and the 24th anniversary commemorations across the world. AID also participated in

actions and petitions to demand justice including provision of clean water, clean up of the toxic

waste at the factory site,revoking approval given to Reliance for purchase of Union Carbide's

Unipol technology and cancelation of registration for all four pesticides, including Dursban,

obtained by bribing Agriculture Ministry officials. Also in June when the Bhopalis were beaten up

and arrested in the parliament area, AID volunteers helped create awareness and pressure on

the officials to release them.

5.2 Future of AID Campaigns in 2009

With the same energy, passion and thirst for Justice, AID will continue its campaign into 2008 and

back the voices of rural villagers, those voices that are often lost in the new and restless,

developing India.


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Chapter VI: Volunteering with AID

6.1 Join Us: Be the Change You Wish to See

AID is a volunteer-driven organization and we are always looking for volunteers. Find the AID

chapter nearest you from our website (http://www.aidindia.org), find out when their next

Community Service Hour is, and simply attend the meeting. If there is no chapter in your city,

you can still join usbrowse through our website to learn about our activities. Many of our

activities are run by groups of volunteers spread across many cities, working over phone and

email. Send email to [email protected], letting us know where you are, and explain your

interests. Chances are that there are others in your city who would like to work with AID as well...

maybe you can get together and start a chapter! Whatever your level of expertise or

involvement, we would love to see new volunteers join us!

6.2 Support our work

Most of our funds come from individual donors, rather than grants. If you feel that our work is

valuable in bringing about social change in India, please contribute towards our efforts. Even a

small contribution can go a long way. All monetary donations to AID Inc. are tax-deductible in

the U.S.A. Our federal tax ID number is 04-3652609.

We accept donations by check or by credit card. You can also set up a recurring donation with

us either by credit card, or electronic funds transfer (EFT) from your checking account. Please

visit our website (http://www.aidindia.org) and click on the Donate link to learn more about

these options.

6.3 Other Ways to Support Us

AID Corpus fund: AID has a corpus fund towards which we welcome bequests, large volumefunding, as well as encourage our benefactors to mention AID as a beneficiary in their last wills

and testaments. Please contact us for further details.

Matching Grants. Several companies match donations by its employees to charitableorganizations. You can find out if your company has such a program and register AID with them.

AID is registered with the IRS as a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization and our federal Tax-ID

number is 04-3652609. If you need more information to register AID with your company or after

you finish registering, please let us know.

Grants from Linguistic and Cultural Associations. Several cultural and linguistic associations havemade donations to AID. You can request your association to do the same - if necessary, the

donation can also be directed to projects in a particular state or region. In addition, some

cultural groups also donate part of their proceeds from programs and events that they

organize.

Grants from companies. Your company may be making grants to projects or organizations.


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In many cases we might have to write proposals for particular project with the details of the

budget to qualify for the grant. If you can investigate into this and get in touch with us, we can

work with you on writing the proposal.

6.4 AID Organizational Structure

The executive structure of AID consists of the Board of Directors, the Executive Board and the

Executive Committees of individual AID chapters.

Whereas for convenience of operation as a multi-chapter organization, AID has an executive

structure, AID has in general, avoided hierarchies as far as possible, ensuring that every

volunteer's voice counts equally.

Officers of AID: Board of Directors

People who have made significant contributions to building or expanding the organization,

have the commitment to spend significant amount of volunteer time to maintain theorganization as a cohesive unit, and who have served in the executive board of AID are

elected to the Board of Directors in a board meeting. The Board of Directors consists of at least

three and at most seven people. The term for each director is determined at the time of his/her

elections by the electing directors. Directors elected for an unspecified term, or for a term

greater than four years, shall seek a vote of continued confidence from the remaining directors

every four years. In the event of less than 50% confidence their term will expire on the date set

by the remaining directors.

The main purpose of the Board of Directors is to ensure that AID meets its main objective of

being able to do the best it can for the betterment of the poor in India.

Officers of AID: Executive Board

Experienced volunteers with motivation, interest and abilities to handle the various over-all tasks

of AID, shall be nominated for specified terms to the Executive Board and empowered by the

Board of Directors (with inputs and recommendations from Headquarters and chapters) to

execute the various tasks of AID. AID-volunteers can also be elected to the Executive Board for

two year terms at AID Special Meetings. The elected members shall form about 25% of the

Executive Board. Duties of the members elected to the Executive Board will be determined by

the Board of Directors and the other Executive Board Members. The Executive Board will consist

of a Secretary and teams dealing with treasury, projects, newsletters and publications,

fundraising, publicity and chapters coordination. These will be considered officers of AID, as

opposed to officers of a chapter of AID, and will have the responsibilities such as auditing of AID

accounts, publications for AID, assisting the Board of Directors in filing annual reports, stateregistrations and federal returns, etc. Other posts and committees can be created by the Board

of Directors within the Executive Board.

Officers of AID-Chapter: Executive Committee

Officers serving on the executive committee of an AID-Chapter are elected by its active

volunteers. Each officer of the executive committee serves for a two year term and does

not receive any emoluments from AID. The executive committee consists of at least five


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officers including the president, vice-president, secretary, and two treasurers. Additional officers

like a Projects Coordinator and Newsletter Editor can also be elected to the executive

committee if the chapter's voting volunteers decided at the AID-Chapter's Community Service

Hour to create additional posts. The elections will take place at the respective AID-Chapter's

General Body Meeting.

6.5 Board of Directors for the Year 2008

The following people constitute the Board of Directors of AID Inc. The Board of Directors can be

reached by email [email protected].

Officers on the Executive Board of AID Inc. are elected for two-year terms by way of a special

AID-wide election and in some cases nominated by the BoD. Each volunteer in each chapter

has a vote in these elections (pursuant to voting eligibility conditions defined by the by-laws of

AID Inc.). In addition to serving as executives of the organization, each member of the Executive

Board is responsible for a functional arm of AID Inc. The current EB is constituted of the following

people. The Executive Board can be reached by email [email protected].

6.6 Executive Board Members for the Year 2008

Chapter and Volunteer Coordinator Nirveek Bhattacharjee [email protected] Treasury Aparna Chidambaram [email protected] and Community RelationsCoordinator

Srinivas Rao Chadaram [email protected]

Publications Coordinator Srinadh Madhavapeddi srinadhm@ gmail.comSaathi Coordinator Sunita Mani [email protected] Coordinator Rashim Singh [email protected]

Your Voice Counts Coordinator Somu Kumar [email protected] Administration secretary Srinivas Krovvidy [email protected] Administration Coordinator Harsha Belludi [email protected] Coordinator Shailabh Nagar [email protected]

Designation Name ContactPresident Mohan Bhagat 301-345-5308, 301-405-6144

[email protected] Financial Officer Kirankumar Vissa 301-984-3929 [email protected]

Shrinaath Chidambaram 508-347-6865 [email protected] Aniruddha Vaidya 650-962-8307 [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:nirveek.aid@gmailmailto:nirveek.aid@gmailmailto:Rao.chadaram@gmailmailto:Rao.chadaram@gmailmailto:srinivas.krovvidy@gmailmailto:srinivas.krovvidy@gmailmailto:srinivas.krovvidy@gmailmailto:Rao.chadaram@gmailmailto:nirveek.aid@gmailmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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6.7 Introducing our latest AID Chapter in US - Seattle

On June 6th 2008, AID Jeevansathis Ravi Kuchimanchi and Aravinda Pillalamari visited Seattle andspoke about their experiences and vision of AID to a group of around 30 people. The SeattleChapter started on the same day by about a dozen enthusiastic volunteers. Since then few volunteershave joined as well. All the volunteers have been meeting every Tuesday for CSH at 7:00 PM eversince.

Events:

1. The first ever event by AID Seattle is India Quiz in August. Audience participation wasvociferous, with an attendance of more than a hundred people.

2. Co-organized AIDs candle light vigil on October 2nd with Asha-Seattle and Sangati. Wemarched from one Indian grocery store to the other in Bellevue-Redmond which is a suburb ofSeattle. Around 85 signatures were gathered with 40 supporters conducting the vigil.

3. Hosted Saathi Dayamani Barlas talk in Seattle with Asha-Seattle and AID-Portland.

The chapter has also raised funds in 2008 and supported two projects alreadyEquip with AIDChennai and Eureka Siksha Abhiyaan.


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6.8 Chapter contacts Ann Arbor, MI Deepa [email protected] (517) 214 0584 Atlanta, GA Rajat (650) 996 1867 Austin, TX Harish [email protected] (512) 466 3920Baltimore, MD Rahul [email protected] (908) 565 6650BatonRouge, LA Phani [email protected] (225) 223 9497Bay Area, CA Sudarshan [email protected] (480) 363 0081Berkeley, CA Ravi [email protected] (443) 858 1074Blacksburg, VA Vedvyas [email protected] (540) 808 8705Bloomington, IN Suresh [email protected] (405) 816 1686

Boise, ID Narayan [email protected] (208) 484 8416Boston, MA Koushik [email protected] (781) 777 2137Buffalo, NY Narasimha [email protected] (716) 228 1866Calgary, Canada Anirban [email protected] (403) 220 0533Chapel Hill, NC Harsha [email protected] (919) 593 3555Chicago, IL Lenin [email protected] (216) 577 8783Cincinnati ,OH Sridhar [email protected] (513) 377 2683Clemson, SC Kameshwar [email protected] (864) 633 8369College Park, MD Arun [email protected] (301) 356 3269College Station, TX Sai [email protected] (979) 422 0040Columbus, OH Meera [email protected] (614) 787 7117

Dallas, TX Sunita [email protected] (214) 986 7864Durham, NC Ravi [email protected] (919) 637 1167Houston, TX Rashim [email protected] (832) 518 9110Kansas City, MO Chakradhar [email protected] (913) 284 9662Lewisburg Paula [email protected] (570) 523 9589Los Angeles, CA Sridhar [email protected] (310) 963 3510Madison, WI Appesh [email protected] (262) 227 1150Milwaukee, WI Prem [email protected] (262) 650 1507Minneapolis, MN Leena [email protected] (612) 824 9812Morgantown,WV Saikat [email protected] (304) 685 6667Penn State, PA

aid annual report 2008

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