TEAM 3

CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

EDITORIAL TEAM

Catalyst
FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy
Chief Editor
chiefeditor@afhd.org

Ms. Bharati Kalasapudi

An insight into complex Ms. Sandhya Rawal
Mr. Lakshman Kalasapudi
problems of development and an Ms. Padmaja Ayyagari
Mr. Rajesh Satyavolu
attempt to provide solutions
Dr. Srinivasa Rao
Editor
MISSION editor@afhd.org

ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Thomas Abraham
To present people, ideas, news and views periodically to
Dr. Nirupam Bajpai
readers to promote networking among NGOs;
Dr. Suri Sehgal
Mr. M. Chittaranjan
To publish peer reviewed professional articles on the NGO movement
Dr. Rao V.B.J. Chelikani
that can promote sustainable development and best practices;
EDITORIAL BOARD
To disseminate information on the NGO movement to improve
Dr. Abraham M. George
communication that can, in turn, catalyze human development;
george@optonline.net
To provide a platform for all concerned with sustainable
Dr. Ratnam Chitturi
development to catalyze the process of human development.
chitturi@mail.org

Mr. Ram Krishnan

rkrishnan46@yahoo.com

Published by: Mr. Balbir Mathur

Balbir@TreesforLife.org
Dr. Vasundhara D. Kalasapudi
Bharati Seva Sadan Mr. Yogi Patel
Srinivasanagar Colony yogi@prathamusa.org
Saluru- 535 591
Vizianagaram District, AP, India Dr. Raj Rajaram
raj2468@comcast.net

Dr. Viral Acharya

Contact: vacharya@london.edu

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FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

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 TITLE PAGES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF FIRST SIX ISSUES OF
HIGHLIGHTS OF JANUARY '06 ISSUE
Scaling up Primary Education
Services in Rural India
Healthcare in India
Water Management in 21st
Century - Policy and Planning
Food and Nutrition Through
Value Addition to Agri
Resources
Scaling up Primary Health
Services in Rural India
Cross-Fertilization Needed
Between Universities &
Scientific Labs
Balasakhi - A Village Voice
Need for a Catalyst
HIGHLIGHTS OF APRIL '06 ISSUE
Agenda For the Nation: An
Approach
Economic Reforms in
India - The Unfinished Agenda
A Villager's Agenda For a
Healthy India
Consumer Movement -
An Agenda
India's Development -
Agenda for NRIs
Stop Child Poverty
Could Our Classrooms Shape
India's Destiny
Leaders Wanted!
HIGHLIGHTS OF OCTOBER '06 ISSUE
The Evolving Role of NGOs in
Poverty Alleviation
Mann Deshi Sahakari Bank -
A boon for Women
Catalyst Salutes Ashoka
Fellows
Highway Rescue Project
Magsaysay Award for Arvind
Kejriwal
Best Visionaries Moving into
Citizen Sector
SKOLL Foundation
Awards 2006
Why Do We Need Social Entrepreneurs ?
Catalyst
FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HIGHLIGHTS OF JANUARY '07 ISSUE
Non-Resident Indians'
contributions - Answering
a Call to Action
Eliminating Elephantiasis
and Waterborne Diseases
Association for India's
Development - Improving
Literacy in Rural India
Leading India toward Millen-
nium Development Goals
How NRIs Can Help in
Poverty Alleviation
Is Mega Philanthropy Going to Make a Difference?
Nobel Peace Prize 2006 - Muhammad Yunus
Indian National Development Congress
HIGHLIGHTS OF MARCH '07 ISSUE
Safe Drinking water in
Villages
Water Wars: National
Problems from a
Regional Perspective
Rain Centre in Chennai,
India
Get Real, Coke: Water
Rights Protest
Promoting Effective Waste
Management: The Clean
Himalaya Initiative
Water Bond For Safe
Drinking Water
HIGHLIGHTS OF JUNE '07 ISSUE
Better Understanding of
Corporate Social Responsiblity
CSR to Society’s
Advantage or Corporates’?
2007 CSR: Interesting
Revelations from a Survey
Corporate Social
Responsibility: Two
Exemplary Corporations
PM’s Advice to Corporates
Fall of an NGO Titan
Biodiversity for
Development
6 CONTENTS
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Share and Care Foundation: A Saga
of “Giving Back” to Our Society
— Kishor Mistry & Varsha Mistry ...8
Preface — Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy ...7
Excellence in Education
— Ajit Kothari...11
Sohail, Sukhum and Saguna
Living Examples of Youth
Development — Jayant Shroff ...12
School on Wheels, A Unique
Experiment
— Gulabbhai & Ushaben Jani...15
An Experiment in Social
Entrepreneurship
—Rohan Siddhanti ...16
Swanirvar: A High Quality Primary
School within the Government
System — Sujit Sinha...17
Anubandh Shala: Education
through Correlation — Raju-Deepti...19
AT&T Technology Park & Institute:
— Anant K. Shah...22
Ela Bhatt: Synonym for Community
Leadership ...23
NGOs as a Futuristic Religion
— Kishor Mistry...24
Investment in Rural Healthcare
— Dr Shirish C. Patrawalla... 28
Post-Disaster Management:
Gyan Shala: Quality Education Share and Care Ever Ready
for Slum Children ...20 — Dilip Parikh... 26
Shabana Azmi: Star Campaigner Sangopita: A Shelter for the Care
against AIDS ...27 of Special Children ... 46
Vandana Shiva: An Ecologist par Community Policing: An Alternative
Excellence ...29 Strategy for Public - Police
Partnership — Prateep V. Philip...47
Value of In-Kind Grants
— Bipin Gandhi ...32
Innovative Farm Methods:
IITian’s Experiments in Chennai
Sunita Narain: A Down to Earth
— Ram Krishnan... 50
Environmentalist ...33
Need for a New Development
Anjali: The Healthcare NGO
— Dr. Lalit Shah...34 Paradigm — Sunanda Mane... 51
Sainath: The Journalist-Investigator ...35 The Tele.gram ... 52
MACARTHUR Award to SEWA Rural ... 36 Choosing the Type of NPOs:
Trust, Society or Sec. 25 Company ?
Transparency and Accountability: — Noshir H. Dadrawala...53
Share and Care’s Hallmark ... 37
Learning Journey-Dec 15-22, 2007
Anuradha Foundation ...40 — Ram Krishnan...55
Seva Sadan Society ...41 The Citizen Sector in India: Will it
Cope with New Responsibility ?
National Policy on Voluntary — Venkatesh Raghavendra &
Sector-2007 ...44 Malini Sekhar...56
Who Can “Fix” Poverty ? NGOs for Development
— Abraham M. George...45 — Dr. Srinivasa Rao...58
One Acre Wonder for True Education: A Practical Way to
Sustainable Agriculture Ignite Thinking among Students
— Prof M. Rudraradhya... 42 — Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy...49
 PREFACE 7
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

C
ATALYST is taking great pleasure in saluting one of the well known NGOs managed
by NRIs in the US on its 25th year. That NGO is Share and Care. We are carrying var-
ious articles on different aspects of Share and Care written by their members. Readers
can learn many things about NGO movement from them. From a humble beginning in 1982
with a simple idea of the need to "give back" to the mother land, Share and Care has made a
difference in the lives of thousands of people during the last 25 years. Concepts which are
critical for the success of any NGO such as accountability, transparency, and great efficiency
in collecting funds are built into the DNA of Share and Care.

For NRIs living in the US since 80s, reading the history of Share and Care is to reminisce var-
ious major natural disasters that have hit India and how they willingly came forward to assist
during the hours of need. Share and Care was able to quickly galvanize its enormous strength
to tap the goodwill and pockets of NRIs and assist the dedicated NGOs in India to help the
needy. These disasters are: 1993 Maharastra's Latur earthquake, 1998 Kutch cyclone, 2001
Gujarat earthquake, Tsunami in 2004, and Gujarat floods in 2007.

We hear all the time how donations sent by NRIs have been misused. Share and Care has
shown all through these years how to send funds to get the maximum impact with no leak-
age of funds.

During the last 25 years, Share and Care has raised more than seven million in cash and kind
to rehabilitate about five million victims of disaster. This is a formidable achievement for any
NGO to be proud of.

As we applaud the efforts of an NGO such as Share and Care, we also need to reflect on
what more could have been achieved given the enormous talents of Indians. Have we suc-
ceeded in tapping all those talents? What is surprising and even sad to some extent is the
failure on the part of some of the well known management NRI gurus to study NRI managed
NGOs and get involved with them in an active way.

These management gurus are ever ready to offer their recommendations to India based
MNCs on how to manage their Corporate Social Responsibility programs or to advice the
Government of India on development strategies and fight poverty. American India Founda-
tion has made a good beginning to get the involvement of well known industrialists. NRI man-
aged NGOs have yet to develop some strategies to get the active involvement of these lead-
ing management gurus. Some of them do come and give erudite speeches during the confer-
ences organized by NGOs. NGO movement does need good ideas which they generate.
Equally we need their active involvement.

During the first 25 years, Share and Care has laid a good foundation to tap the resources of
NRIs and to transfer them efficiently to those India based NGOs in need of them. When we
look at the enormity of the problem facing India, either we need thousands of Share and Care
type of NGOs or few tens of mega Share and Care which can compare with international
giants like Red Cross or Greenpeace or Oxfam etc. Let us hope that Share and Care will aim
high and leverage their experience and knowledge base to transform itself into a large NGO
in the next 25 years. We wish all the best to Share and Care to serve India even more in years
to come.

Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy

8 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Share and Care Foundation

A Saga of "Giving Back" to Our Society
KISHOR MISTRY AND VARSHA MISTRY

Birth of Share and Care Foundation (SCF)

"May all be happy, may all be free from disease, may all realize
what is good; may none be subject to misery"
— Upanishad.

One Sunday, in the summer of 1982, three professional couples

gathered for a casual dinner in New Jersey, USA, and the topic of
carrying out charitable work for their homeland India resurfaced.
One of them said, "Many of us have immigrated to USA and, now
that we have established well, why not do something for India?"
Another pushed the idea further "We talk a lot, now we should
act". After evaluating various names for the future foundation, all
those present instantly agreed to christening it "Share and Care
Foundation", since it conveys the ideals of sharing what we have
and caring for people in need. Finally, eleven members came
together and officially got recognition for the Share and Care Foun-
dation on December 20, 1982. The first charitable work was start-
ed with the collection of used clothes from USA and each member
contributing $500, and sponsoring the students in India.
KISHOR MISTRY
Kishor has experience in varieties of fields
including biomedical research, medical
technology industry, teaching at the
university level, and medical practice.
Currently he is practising Family Medicine
in NJ, USA. In spare time he reads history of
religion. He is a volunteer at Share and Care
Foundation, Baroda Biochemistry-MSU
Alumni, and Vishwakarma
Association of America.

First public appeal for the charity

"As one lamp lights another, nor grows less, so nobleness enkindles
nobleness
We are far away from our motherland, but our hearts are there
with our brethren,
Who get lesser opportunities for a better living?
We who have a good life are bound to think of them, the help-
less.
Let us share a little of what we have with those who have hopes
in us." VARSHA MISTRY

There were many inspiring answers to the question, "What
made you to get involved in such a noble activity? Many peo-
ple talk the problems of India; but a few think of what they can
do? " The answers were:
"We have benefited from subsidized education in India; now we
are well off; it is our duty to give back something."
"We believe that God has given us enough, we want to help
others."
Varsha has her PhD in Biochemistry. After
20 years of research and university teaching
career she decided to become a special
education teacher in a primary school to
inspire children and make the world a better
place. She is also a Braille transcriber.
Varsha has been an active volunteer
member of Share and Care Foundation and
participates in project review committee.

"As physicians, we feel guilty of leaving India after get-
ting medical education, so we want to pay back."
Growth of SCF
"Doing good to others is not a duty. It is a joy, for it
increases your health and happiness" —Zoroaster
The membership of the foundation has grown from
eleven to about fifty including youths. New members
have brought in novel ideas and experiences. The main
focus has always remained to reach the maximum num-
ber of people in need, and to make them self-sufficient.
There are three main thrusts of activities supported in
India. The first is primary education; the second primary
health and finally, youth development including women's
empowerment.
Highlights of currently
sponsored activities
Improving the Quality of Education: Support to edu-
cation is like making a long-term investment in blue chip
stocks. Currently students from primary and secondary
schools have been sponsored for their education. Other
educational projects include "mobile school" van
equipped with modern educational materials and trained
teachers. It goes to multiple schools to improve the qual-
ity of education. Under another program, the foundation
sponsored education and rehabilitation of mentally hand-
icapped students. The beneficiaries include rural area stu-
dents from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
Helping to strengthen Primary Health &
Nutritional Status
Adequate physical health and nutrition are pre-requi-
sites for a stronger future generation. For this the foun-
dation has extended support in various forms including,
medicines, instruments, hospital beds, dental chairs, polio
rehab, cataract camps, leprosy rehab, artificial limbs, dial-
NGO 9
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
ysis units, construction of hospital buildings, milk powder,
etc. Supporting the primary health care programs of the
SEWA-Rural Hospital, Jhagadia, in Gujarat has dropped
the infant mortality significantly (from 36% to 22%) and
improved the vaccination (from 10 to 91%). In India only
22% of schools have basic sanitary facilities. This not
only increases the mortality of children, but also affects
attendance at the schools. Recently, support was given to
provide basic sanitary facility to the school children of
Bhimora, Gujarat.
Empowering Women
To make cooking easier, the foundation has distributed
portable Chulas (stoves used in village), which are more
efficient and less polluting. With the support from this
foundation, women at Swanirvar, West Bengal are able to
process and sell ground spices, collect and process honey,
and manage savings and loan cooperatives. Recently, a
grant from Share and Care Foundation was approved for
the organization of Anjali in the rural areas of Sabarkan-
tha to enhance basic skills in finance/business.
Youth Development
Multiple projects are supported to develop youth lead-
ership and to make them empowered. Shaishav project in
Bhavnagar is supported to prevent the child labor by
inspiring leadership, making children aware of their
rights, and reducing school dropouts. Other NGOs are
supported to provide vocational training including com-
puter literacy.
Help to Natural Disaster Victims
Emergency funds are allocated to reach the victims of
floods, hurricanes, and earthquake devastations. The first
challenge came in 1985 at Bhopal where a poisonous gas
leakage caused havoc. Share and Care Foundation mem-
bers worked hard to co-ordinate rehab work and helped
in distributing medical supplies and other needs. In
1989, the help was rushed to the victims of fire in Passa-
ic, New Jersey, USA. Very recently, help was extended to
the Tsunami victims.
What Some Beneficiaries Say
The greatest satisfaction was experienced by the Share
and Care Foundation members while meeting the bene-
ficiaries in India and knowing from them how little of
our help can make a big impact in others lives. Says
Kanaiyalal after receiving technical training, "At present
I am earning Rs.100 a day. Though I belong to the Har-
ijan community, and come from a small village and have
Share& Care
10 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
not completed even high school education, I rose to
quite a high social and economical position, thanks to
VVTK (a vocational training center in Jhagadia,
Gujarat.). My family is respected more now than ever
before in our society." Prashant Sheth, a scholarship
awardee in USA, "Someday when I return to India, I will
make a difference in the life of Indians, so that we shall
not have to leave our motherland in search of opportu-
nities."
Future of SCF
"Let noble thoughts come from every side"
—Rig Veda
Dedication and honesty of the members of this founda-
tion have earned for it a high reputation and great trust
from the society. Unique features of the Share Care Foun-
dation include:
Largely a voluntary organization, it has only one
employed secretary. Therefore, the overheads are less
than 5%.
Share& Care
There is involvement of spouses as well as children in
its activities. Many children have donated their gift col-
lections from birthday parties and Christmas celebra-
tions.
Members visit the beneficiary organizations in India (at
their own expense!); their experiences provide a first-
hand feedback in prioritizing the funding decisions.
Generosity of members is noticed in financial contribu-
tions to the foundation.
After 25 years of spectacular growth and success, the
members are optimistic about the future of the foun-
dation. Recently Young and Adult Group leadership
was added to the team of the foundation. Also, the
modern technologies of computer and Internet are
being provided in the foundation's functioning. One of
the members of Share and Care Foundation, truly
summarized its goal by saying, "We are match makers,
to help linking those who have the desire to share and
those who need it the most."
varsha_shahmistry@yahoo.com
 NGO 11
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Excellence in Education
AJIT KOTHARI
In this silver jubilee year, new projects are planned to improve the quality of education for
students in the primary and secondary schools in economically challenged areas.

T
HE founding members of Share and Care decided in fiting 50,000 children in
1982 to adopt education as the key theme for the 30 remote villages. (See
foundation in order to improve the quality of educa- article on Sister Nivedita
tion for the underprivileged in India with an emphasis on School- on-wheels).
development of the youth. Education is the best investment Supported creation of a
in humanity, as it produces the highest returns by transform- high quality primary
ing the society. The impact of educating girls and women education model within
has been shown to result in rapid improvements in family the government school AJIT KOTHARI
planning, nutrition, health, and income and is seen as one of system in rural West
the best tools for promoting social and economic develop- Bengal. (See article by Ajit Kothari is a retired
pharmaceutical executive
ment. Our aim is to make a significant impact on the lives Swanirvar). and is involved in a number
of the children by turning them into more productive citi- Supported supplemental of community service
zens of tomorrow. education in 30 schools activities. He has a strong
One of the first educational programs Share and Care start- to provide Gandhian passion to contribute to the
ed was the student sponsorship program which continues to values to poor children social and economic
development of the
be one of its most important and successful initiatives. Stu- by teaching them spe- underprivileged masses in
dents from both primary and secondary schools have been cially designed modules India. He joined the Share
sponsored for their education at a low cost of about $100 on useful skills to and Care Foundation in
per year per student. become a successful cit- 2004 and is presently
izen. (See article by serving as its Secretary.
Key Achievements Anubandh Shala).
Share and Care's key achievements in the area of educa- Supported development of primary education system to
tion are highlighted below and in several articles by our provide quality basic education to poor rural and urban
NGO partners: slum children. (See article by Gyan Shala).
Sponsored over 50,000 students for education since Sponsored education and rehabilitation of mentally
1983. Over 1000-1500 deaf, mute, mentally challenged, handicapped students. The recipients include rural area
blind and students-in-need have been sponsored every students from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra,
year. Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
Awarded five new scholarships for four years to under- Multiple projects are supported to develop youth leadership
graduate college students in the US if they maintained and to make them empowered. Shaishav project in Bhavna-
good records. Over 100 students have benefited since gar is supported to prevent the child labor by inspiring lead-
the inception of the program in 1994. ership, making children aware of their rights, and reducing
Built 500 libraries in rural schools to supplement education. school dropouts. Other NGOs are supported to provide
Youth development has emerged as a key theme for the vocational training including computer literacy.
foundation. The architect of this program, Jayant Shroff,
describes the seven- point Share and Care Value Chain in In the following pages, stories of Share and Care strategic edu-
the accompanying article. It constitutes programs from cational programs are presented through our partners, with a
early childhood to a productive and promising adulthood. hope that it will be emulated elsewhere in a more cost-effec-
Organized several networking meetings to document tive manner since the fundamental planning and implementa-
and propagate best practices used by our partners and tion strategies are already documented and proven.
create a learning environment.
Sponsored India's first school-on-wheels program bene- ajitandila@hotmail.com

Share& Care
12 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Sohail, Sukhum and Saguna
Living Examples of Youth Development
Share and Care has successfully transformed more than a few hundred thousand Sohials, Sukhums
and Sagunas by funding programs to utilise their energies for progress and prosperity.
S
OHAIL KHAN, a 9-year-old Muslim
boy lives with his parents, Rahimbhai
and Hasinaben, in a modest dwelling
in the village of Fatullapur in West Bengal.
Sohail is the eldest of five children and has
a responsibility to supplement the family
income. Rahimbhai, his father, is a casual
laborer and works with a mason; while
Hasinaben, his mother, raises the children
and looks after their house. Sohail is no
ordinary boy; he is bright and curious and
attends a nearby municipal school. Sohail
finished his 7th grade with support from
the community center in Kumbharwada.
Sohail wanted to study further but his par-
ents forced him to start working full-time.
The social workers from the community
center persuaded Sohail's parents to let
him continue with his high school educa-
tion. He was working part time in a facto-
ry and at a bakery during weekends.
Sohail's motivation and hard work helped
him to do well in high school initially. Yet
Sohail failed in his 10th grade examination
due to pressure of work. He was very dis-
appointed. He left the school and started
full-time work to carry out his "duty". Our
Center again intervened and asked Sohail
to join the center as an office worker with
a condition that he continues with his edu-
cation. Finally, Sohail graduated from high
school and accepted a teacher's job in our
school even as he sharpened his computer
skills. Now, Sohail is not only contributing
to raise the standard of living of the entire
Khan family but he has paved the way for
education of the future generations,
opening many future opportunities !
Sukhum Varia, a 7-year-old boy, is the
Share& Care
JAYANT SHROFF
son of a rickshaw driver, Kanubhai, and a
domestic helper, Kantaben. He goes to a
municipal school on the outskirts of
Rajkot, Gujarat. Sukhum was an average
student. He was able to continue with his
education due to the regular stimulation
from Share and Care supported "School-
on-Wheels" program which provides sup-
plementary educational tools to municipal
school students and teachers. This pro-
gram covers 18,000 students in more than
36 village schools. By the time Sukhum
passed 12th grade his academic standing
was excellent. Sukhum was dreaming to
become a dentist. He secured admission,
on merit, into a government dental school
in Amdavad. His parents wanted their son
to take advantage of this once-in-a life-
time opportunity, but they could not
afford the cost of education. Share and
Care Education Scholarship Program came
to the rescue of Sukhum. His parents
agreed to pay the tuition fee while Share
and Care funded his living expenses of
$40 a month. Sukhum is now working as
a dentist serving 30 surrounding villages.
Kanubhai and Kantaben, with their broad
vision and immense sacrifice, successfully
brightened up the future of their family.
Share and Care scholarship helped.
Saguna Mukherji, a 15-year-old girl is in
the 4th grade at the local municipal school
in the slums outside New Delhi. She is
unable to learn at her normal level due to
mental disabilities. Her parents, Sapan and
Sanjugta are workers in a textile factory.
They could not afford a special school for
her. Saguna stays home and takes care of
JAYANT SHROFF
Jayant Shroff migrated to
USA for higher studies in
1963. His professional
career spaned over 38 years
with ascending and
progressive responsibilities
in the field of
Telecommunication and
Systems Networking. From
early on in his career,
Jayant's passion drew him
to voluntary social work in
USA. In order to give back
to his original motherland,
Jayant got deeply involved
in Share and Care after a
year of its creation in 1982.
Since then, he has actively
participated in various
functions of the foundation.
Jayant has also formed a
network of NGOs in India
with a goal of exchanging
the
best practices, its
documentation and further
propagation. He, along with
a few volunteer physicians
from USA, has also started
programs
and follow-ups of
school- going children
of Municipal Schools
in rural India.

herself while her parents go for work. Saguna's parents
found out about the Share and Care funded rehabilitation
and training facility for the mentally challenged girls. When
she arrived, Saguna was wearing dirty clothes. Her hair
was in a mess and her teeth were tarnished with tobacco.
She had a severe behavioral problem. She was accepted in
the rehabilitation and training center with some apprehen-
sion because of her behavior. Saguna started to learn sim-
ple, repetitive tasks for daily independence. With the pas-
sage of time and a lot of patience she is able to read and
write. She participates in file making, shopping bag making,
and the mid-day office lunch supply program. She also sells
her products and has learned to save money. Saguna walks
to the center by herself and manages simple chores in the
house. This is not an isolated case. The center has trans-
formed hundreds of Saguna's into independent, productive,
and caring citizens, breaking the chain of hopelessness.
Common Attributes
Sohail, Sukhum and Saguna have many common
attributes, such as, parents with a drive to seek a better
future for them and their enthusiasm for hard work. Youth
like them have been an excellent example to show that
they develop fully, contributing to the society at large. It is
heartening to note that these stories are a concrete proof
that our work is making a difference for the future genera-
tions, with a focus on one individual at a time.
We are keenly aware of the fact that India has approxi-
mately 400 million rural youth who can really benefit from
these types of interventions. We are not only continuing
our successful programs in youth development but are
expanding them to fully realize the objective of holistic
development of mind, body and soul. In aggregate, the
following youth development programs constitute a Share
and Care created "Value Chain" starting from the early
NGO 13
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
childhood development to a productive and promising
adulthood for the rural youth of India:
Youth Development Programs
1. Share and Care funds support many balwadis for build-
ing developmental foundation for rural children aged 3
to 6 years before they enter school. The benefits of such
a program are two-fold:
a.The children get better attention and nutrition
through mid-day meal than at home and,
b.They have an opportunity to learn in a stimulating
environment and play with other children.
2. Share and Care supplementary education programs for
youth/children are designed to get them in schools and
retain them and using their experience to improve quali-
ty of education, value education and character building.
We also offer training to teachers and parents. Woven in
to this program is annual "Share and Care Best Teacher "
award for excellence in teaching.
3. For the school dropouts and unemployed children/youth,
Share and Care supports a variety of vocational training
programs lasting 3 months to a couple of years, to acquire
employable and/or enterprising skills. At the end of this
training, all of our youth are either gainfully employed or
pursue their own little business.
4. Share and Care also funds many technology and com-
puter literacy programs to improve the lives of the blind,
deaf and physically as well as mentally challenged chil-
dren/youth. We have proved that these youth have the
same abilities as the normal youth, given proper oppor-
tunities. Such youth have successfully become web
designers, hardware technicians and have started their
own businesses in data management, networking and
outsourcing.
5. To build the character of these youth, Share and Care
started libraries in rural schools. We motivate students to
read books by holding Vanchan Shibirs (reading camps),
Granth Goshti (book club discussions) and Granth Samik-
sha (book reviews).
6. For an all-round education we support lecture series by
eminent educators and promote paryatans (field trips).
7. For the needy youth who excel in education, Share and
Care has funded Loan Scholarship programs for pursuing
higher education; preferably, in professional schools such
Share& Care
14 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
as engineering, medicine and nursing.
8. Finally, our most recent, hands-on program which fulfills
our mission of a holistic approach to youth development
is Share and Care program of holding annual medical
shibirs in the village schools ensuring overall wellbeing of
our youth. We firmly believe that one needs a healthy
mind and a healthy body to learn and earn. Our first such
shibir was held past January in the village of Bhimora. We
took a team of 11 multi-disciplinary physicians from the
United States for a first thorough physical check-up and
follow-up corrective measures for 850 children aged 6 to
20 years.
Transformation Achieved
All Share and Care youth development programs are
administered with an end goal of transforming each and
every youth into a happy, healthy, prosperous and produc-
tive citizen.
Share& Care
In the first 25 years of our existence, we are proud to
have transformed a sizable number of rural youths into
happy, healthy and productive future citizens.
Successful transformation of Sohail, Sukhum and Saguna
symbolizes our vision, plans, and their implementation over
the past 25 years. Our work would have been impossible
without the trust and belief of our donors, well-wishers,
partners and continued hard work by our core team of vol-
unteers.
However, much more remains to be done. Our promise is
not to rest on our past laurels but to accelerate our pace,
sharpen our focus based on past learnings and concentrate
our energies in these and many new programs during the
coming quarter century as our future generations deserve
nothing less than our whole-hearted service and help.
jayantshroff@optonline.net

School on Wheels
School on wheels project is the first of its kind in India providing multi-model system of high quality
education, encouraging girls enrolment in schools and improving teaching standards in rural Gujarat.
S
INCE last 15 years, the economic
growth of India is so fast that
world has to take note of it. It is
believed that within a few more years,
India will be an economic super power.
Even today, stock exchange index is all
time high, corporate world is flourish-
ing. India is shining. At the same time
teeming millions living in rural areas are
struggling for two ends to meet. They
are deprived from benefiting from the
fruits of this progress. This is Bharat.
There is a difference between urban
India and the poor rural Bharat. If we
will not bridge the gap, there is bound
to be revolution.
Education only tool
To eliminate poverty, education is the
only tool by which people can earn
more, know how to raise their standard
of living and have a vision of better life.
But it is a pity that even after 60 years of
independence, no government at the
centre, or in the states of India has been
able to put together a sound package of
elementary and secondary education.
This is despite the constitution of India
providing compulsory education for free
for children since last 40 years !
To bridge the gap between urban
India and rural Bharat, we have imple-
mented a unique idea: introduce School
on Wheels project to supplement the
inadequate educational inputs offered
to pupils in the rural areas. The idea is to
bring school and various other facilities
like audio visual aids, library and labora-
tory closer to rural kids, who otherwise
NGO 15
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
A Unique Experiment
GULABBHAI AND USHABEN JANI
cannot go to schools at long distances.
On October 9th, 1994, with the finan-
cial help of Share and Care Foundation,
USA, the first unit of Sister Nivedita
School on Wheels came into being.
Sister Nivedita School on Wheels
ensures that each of its students
acquires the knowledge, skill and strate-
gies necessary to reach his/her full GULABBHAI JANI
potential and become a productive,
Gulabbhai Jani has 45 years of
responsible citizen. experience in the field of
education. He is Founder and
Goals Director of famous Educational
The three main goals of this Institution of Gujarat — Sister
Nivedita Educational Complex
project are: located at Rajkot, Gujarat.
1. Enrollment: All the eligible children Sister Nivedita School on
of the village must be enrolled in the Wheels that he started for rural
children is a nucleus of
school in 1st standard.
programmes and activities in
2.Retention: Every enrolled child non-formal education.
must complete the Elementary
education up to 7th grade. There
should not be any dropout.
3.Quality Education: Children
should get quality education and
joy of learning.
One of the basic objectives of Sis-
ter Nivedita School on Wheels is to
bring forth the latent talent of the USHABEN JANI
poor and neglected rural children. With four decades of
Second is overall development of the yeomen service in the
rural children. The two units of the field of education and
social work, Ushaben
School on Wheels are serving more
Jani is Founder and
than 17,000 students and 460 Director of Sister Nivedita
teachers in Gujarat in western India. Educational Complex at
Rajkot. She has received
many awards for her
Achievements educational and social
School on Wheels project in services.
Gujarat is unique and the first of its
Share& Care
16 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
kind in India. It provides alternative, multi--model sys-
tem of education. The two units are able to provide,
among other things, quality education to rural students,
and they have been exposed to modern methods of
learning; enroll all eligible children in schools including
rural girls (consequently, the drop out ratio has
decreased considerably); encourage students to partici-
pate in elocution, essay writing, drama and music com-
petitions; science fairs and cultural activities; organize
libraries/mobile libraries, reading workshops and edu-
cational tours; use audio-video aids to make educaion
interesting; and promote environmental development.
Simultaneously, the project is also helping improve the
teaching ability of teachers, organize workshops for
adult education and women literacy. Parents have also
An Experiment
in Social
Entrepreneurship
ROHAN SIDDHANTI
V
ILLAGEHAND.COM, a company started by my
friend and me in the Washington DC area, is
now growing fast to support the Khadi move-
ment in the USA. Emergence Khadi has a hoary tradi-
tion, dating back to the freedom movement during
India's struggle against the British Empire. Mahatma
Gandhi had then urged Indians to make their own cloth
so that their dependence on foreign goods is reduced.
Thus, Khadi was born on the sweat and labor of the
hardworking farmhands, artisans, and weavers across
the country. Now, Khadi is beginning to resurge due to
the increased competition with factory-made clothing
and materials. Villagers in India are loosing their jobs,
skills and trades that have been passed down from gen-
eration to generation and are being lost to powerlooms
and increased globalization.
VillageHand.com is tied up with an organization
called Women Tech, located at Wardha, a small town
near Nagpur. Women Tech seeks the empowerment of
the lower classes by providing cheap, efficient, and
environmentally friendly ways to grow crops, build
Share& Care
increased their participation in the school development
programs.
The school on wheels has built self confidence in
children and improved their written and spoken English
skills. Students have also learnt to respect all religions,
realized dignity of labor and importance of cleanliness.
Financial help of Share and Care Foundation has
also enabled rural students even to pursue university
education in engineering, medical and other courses.
At the time of the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, Share
and Care helped us to renovate five damaged school
buildings.
janigulabbhai@yahoo.com
houses, and manage sanitation.
Part of Women Tech's goal is to
help thousands of unemployed
in India to get employment.
One system that has been
evolved is the Khadi produc-
tion. Women Tech's founder, Dr.
Vibha Gupta, an Ashoka fellow,
has spearheaded the Khadi pro-
duction movement in the surrounding villages of Nag-
pur and convinced farmers to switch over to organic
crop growing methods, employed a hundred or so
weavers from Nagpur, and thus provided over 500 jobs
in the Wardha-Nagpur area. Maghansangralaya sells
Khadi products ranging from men's and women's shirts
to saris and bed sheets. Our company imports the shirts
from India, and sells them through various channels in
the US.
VillageHand.com sells the shirts in local stores, college
campuses, and yoga centers across the country. The
company, in turn, donates 50% of the profits back to
the villages that made the shirts, as well as to Women
Tech. In the process, we are reaching out to people
through channels like television and newspapers. In
essence, we are not just selling shirts, we are spreading
a message. We hope to spread the word of Khadi, and
make a difference, however small. Our motto is - "It's
not the shirts you buy, but the change you help
make."
rohansid@gmail.com

A High Quality Primary School within the Government System
Swanirvar's strategies to promote education in rural West Bengal have so inspired government
teachers that they are advocating for its role as a trainer organisation and are appreciative
of the Quality School concept which encompasses teaching content and methods,
parent involvement, and children's self-management.
W
ITH the aim of creating models
in specific subjects and spread-
ing them as widely as possible,
Swanirvar was set up in 1990 in North 24
Parganas district of West Bengal and it
started three experimental primary
schools in 1995-96, initially funded by the
Government of India under the "Innova-
tive Elementary Education" scheme. For
the last several years, Share and Care
Foundation is funding them. Purpose of
the project: create a "visible model for
quality primary schooling within the gov-
ernment system".
National and State Scenario
All over India the enrolment in Primary
schools has improved in the last 5- 10
years due to DPEP, now called Sarva Shik-
sha Abhiyan. A lot of funds have been
allocated and efforts made for improving
infrastructure, for giving continuous in-
service training to teachers, for improving
content in text books, involving the com-
munity and so on. And yet, the learning
achievements of children, who finish Class
IV, are terrible in all states.
Apart from the pioneering work of
Eklavya within the government school
system in Madhya Pradesh, there were
hardly any interventions by NGOs in the
government system till 1995. Since then,
there have been quite a few govt--NGO
partnerships in several states. West Bengal
was one of the few states where the gov-
NGO 17
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Swanirvar
SUJIT SINHA
ernment did not allow any inputs from
NGOs and even in 2007 there are very
few formal avenues for resourceful NGOs
to try to improve the quality of education
in government schools in the state.
Challenging Task
Our challenge was to find out strategies
to intervene in the government primary SUJIT SINHA
schools at the panchayat, circle (about
Sujit Sinha , was born
60-70 primary schools), and block (2-3
in 1956 in Kolkata ,
circles) levels within the district of North spent his childhood
24 Parganas "unofficially" and without in Dehradun and
antagonizing the state. finished school from
Assam. He did his
B.Sc. with Chemistry
From 1996 to 2001 we were quite busy
Honors from
developing our own model and expertise Presidency College ,
by getting inputs from all possible Kolkata ; M.Sc. from
sources. The various methods in which we IIT Kanpur in 1979;
became good included making children taught for a year in a
school for tribals in
work in groups, doing classroom experi-
Arunachal Pradesh ;
ments and outdoor investigations, sahitya did Ph.D. from
sabhas organized and coordinated by chil- Princeton University
dren, and conducting different kinds of (1980-84) ; worked in
exams testing actual skills. Bell Labs (1985-86) .
From 1987 he has
been a full time rural
Intervention Strategy development activist
In the year 2000 , for the first time we invited in West Bengal and is
17 govt schools of one panchayat to participate the coordinator of
in a joint rakhi celebrations with one of our Swanirvar.
schools and it went off very well. From 2001
onwards we gradually started introducing more
and more of our ideas and methods into inter-
ested govt schools. But all through we kept
up an intensive dialogue with individual
teachers, the teacher union leaders of
Share& Care
18 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
both dominant political parties , the respective school
inspectors (SI) . Whatever decisions we took was taken
jointly with the union leaders and whenever letters were
sent out, they had the signature of the union leaders . As
a result, when there was intense political pressure and
objections from newly transferred SI to stop Swanirvar's
interventions , it was the teachers unions who fought
and won their right to get our inputs.
Achievements Until March 31, 2007
1. Rakhi Celebrations : We started joint rakhi celebrations
with 17 govt schools in 2000 and this is gradually increas-
ing every year. In 2006-07 we expanded this activity to
include 147 govt primary schools involving approxi-
mately 20,000 children.
2. Joint Sahitya Sabha : This programme where children
conduct and perform many items ( some their own cre-
ations) was started in 2002-03 with 12 govt schools. In
2003-04 the number of schools was 30 in 3 places and in
2004-05 it was 57 in 4 different places. In 2005-06 , 207
children from 63 schools participated in 3 events. In 2006-
07 there were 5 joint sahitya sabhas involving 84 schools.
3. Individual Sahitya Sabha : In 2005-06 we assisted 4
schools to do individual sahitya sabha where 154 children
participated. In 2006-07 this has gone up to 10 schools.
4. Workshop with Teachers : A workshop with govt teach-
ers was conducted first in 2003-04 with 25 teachers from
23 schools. In 2005-06, we have conducted two such
workshops with 28 and 30 teachers participating. In
2006-07 there was a two day maths workshop for 43
teachers from 35 schools ; a maths TLM making workshop
for 35 teachers from 12 schools ; an English TLM making
workshop for 11 teachers from 7 schools.
5. Individual School Workshops for Teachers : As per
demand workshops have been held with the teachers in 2
schools separately.
6. Resource Teacher Workshop : A special workshop with
8 very resourceful teachers from 5 schools was held in
December 2005 . These would be future trainers .
7. Parents Meetings : In 2005-06, in 3 schools parents'
meetings have been held with our help. Two schools have
held one meeting and one school has had two such meet-
ings with 180 parents participating. In 2006-07, we assist-
ed 28 schools to hold parents meetings where 954
parents participated.
8. Workshop with Parents : This activity was started in
2005-06 and was held in 3 places with a total of 26
schools participating (2 parents each). In 2006-07, we held
workshop with 180 mothers from 42 schools.
We held individual TLM workshops in 4 schools
Share& Care
with 173 parents .
9. Supply and Use of Work Cards : In 2005-06, during the
workshops with teachers many work cards were designed.
Later these were finalized, printed and pasted on card-
boards. They have been supplied to 9 schools as per their
demand. 6 more schools have made and started using
their own work cards. In 2006-07, work cards were made
and given to 4 schools.
10.Pre-primary Teachers' Inputs : 24 of the Swanirvar pre-
primary teachers have started visiting 17 primary schools
from November, 2005 to give specific teaching and cul-
tural inputs.
11.Children's Committees : In 2005-06, we assisted one
school to form children's committees for cleaning the
premises, cleaning the toilets, and running a library. In
2006-07, this has gone up to 6 schools. In one school
they have also started a vegetable garden.
Outcome
Many govt teachers are charged up and have started apply-
ing what we have taught them. Some of them are showing
the materials they have made with our help and are advo-
cating for Swanirvar's role as trainers with district and state
level authorities. They have understood that there are many
factors which make up a quality school: content, method,
proper teachers training and follow up, parent's involvement,
activating children for self management, giving scope for cre-
ativity etc. Some of the teachers are even outperforming
Swanirvar's own schools !!
Next Steps
We have just started talking to district level authorities and
influential political leaders to give Swanirvar the official sta-
tus of resource organization so that we can create a total
model which would also include administrative rules and
local education planning at panchayat-block-district levels.
We are hoping that very soon the 50 odd govt schools which
are getting more and more involved will be a model for the
whole state where there are 65,000 primary schools.
What Have Been the Costs
Swanirvar's costs for running our own 4 schools come most-
ly from Share and Care Foundation. Essentially, with 20%
extra money we have been able to ensure our intervention
in the govt schools. Along with this we have also given train-
ing to teachers of 12 NGOs in 4 other districts in the last 3
years. We hope to get official recognition so that we can con-
tinue to do this work more effectively.
sujit568@cal3.vsnl.net

Anubandh Shala
Education through Correlation
An action-based, Gandhian educational research project, Anubandh Shala is quite cost-effective and
designed to make a lasting impact on the maximum number of children with little or no resources.
I
N the era of Liberalization, Privatization,
and Globalization, on one side there is a
vulgar commercialization of education in
which you will find so called "International
School" at every ten kilometers, and on the
other side the students of the under-privileged
sections of the society, mainly of urban poor
and of the socio, economic, and educationally
backward communities (SCs, STs, OBCs and
others) from rural India, who do not get qual-
ity education in the Government-run schools.
We believe that, though it is Government's
responsibility to provide free and compulsory
quality education to all especially the vulnera-
ble sections of the society, the civil society
should also play its role with constructive
approach and positive intervention. One of
our main concerns was how to reach more
children at less cost.
Gandhian value
Thus emerged the concept of Anubandh
Shala, an humble attempt to inculcate the
Gandhian value of "education through life and
education throughout life" in the students. We
felt that Gandhi's Gujarat is an ideal place to be
a "Laboratory of Innovative Educational Exper-
iments" in order to bring a paradigm shift in
the educational process through Anubandh
Shala. The concept of Anubandh Shala is
being experimented in three different Geo-
Cultural regions of Coastal Saurashtra, Rural
Schools of Central Gujarat, and Urban Schools
with some changes to suit local circumstances.
Special Modules
As a part of the "School Support Program,"
Anubandh Shala project was conceptualized
under which two Facilitators visit ten schools
NGO 19
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
RAJU-DEEPTI
twice a week with specially designed modules
on Life Skill Education, Citizenship Training,
Education for Sustainable Future, Moral Edu-
cation, and Beauty of life in "Diversity and Plu-
ralism." They also help local teachers in Main
Stream Curriculum through innovative learn-
ing techniques and teaching-learning materi-
als. In all, 30 Schools are being covered.
Methodology and Constraints
One Facilitator looks after 5 schools. Each RAJU - DEEPTI
school is visited twice a week. Modules are Raju and Deepti
designed on the concept of Self-Learning, Peer became active in social
Learning, and Experiential Learning on the life since the Total
(above said) five themes. Some regular activi- Revolution movement
ties include Thought for a Week, Song of the initiated by Lok Nayak
Month, Personality of the Month, Festival of Jaiprakash Narayan in
the Month, and Weekly Wall Paper on differ- 1983. After completing
ent subjects. Concept of integral education their studies in
(physical, mental, emotional and spiritual edu- Engineering and
cation) is an integral part of the project. Commerce, Raju worked
as a lecturer and Deepti
Case History and Success Story in a bank for several
The innovative experiment has worked so years. Both left their
well that on the "Teacher's Day" one student lucrative career in 1985
conducted a session on the concept of and decided to devote
Anubandh Shala. Another student did not their life to work for the
agree to go to another so called better school vulnerable sections of
because it was not covered under Anubandh society, especially rural
Shala program. Some teachers are so motivat- children, women and
ed that they have started experimenting the youth, based on
concept in other classes and subjects. Funds Gandhian ideologies.
are being invested in sponsoring Fellowships They mainly work in the
to Facilitators, their travel, module designing areas of Education,
and Wall Paper production, teaching-learning Environment and Rural
materials and consumables. At the end of Development.
three years, we plan to come up with
"Anubandh Shala Manual" which will be path-
breaking in the field of education.
Share& Care
20 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Gyan Shala
Quality Education for Slum Children
Gyan Shala was inspired by the success of examples like AMUL in India and Grameen Bank in
Bangladesh that solved the problems of their respective countries in specific fields. It is hoped that
Gyan Shala will be a major contributor in overcoming problems in school education sector in India.

I
NDIA has done well in terms of economic growth
over the last one decade, and is poised to emerge as
one of the World's five largest economies by 2040,
but it continues to have very poor human development
indices. Even though school enrolment is now above 95
per cent, about half of the children drop out of schools
before completing grade-5 education. A large majority
of these cannot read or write independently, and remain
illiterate during their adult life. Half of the adult popu-
lation of India even by 2030-2040 is, thus, likely to
remain functionally illiterate, if the present trend is not
reversed. Such a situation could even arrest India's eco-
nomic growth, and cause a lot of social strife. Gujarat
reflects this all India trend, if only, in a more advanced
way. Gujarat's economy is growing at a faster than
average Indian growth rate, but in education sector, it
barely matches all India average and falls way behind all
other economically advanced states. Urban areas in
Gujarat, specifically Ahmedabad, fall far behind even in
the rural areas of the state in bringing and retaining all
children of 6-14 year age group under the school sys-
tem. A major challenge of the school education sector
in India, therefore, is to raise the quality of basic school
education.
Mission
Gyan Shala aims to evolve, demonstrate and promote
a primary education system that would provide assured
quality basic education to children, specifically to those
from poor rural and urban families, at a unit cost that
can be supported by India on a large scale. Good qual-
ity basic education, large scale replicability, and appro-

Share& Care

priately low unit cost are the three defining features of
Gyan Shala program.
Project and Performance
The project sets up classes in interior villages and
urban slums close the homes of children, so that even
a five-year-old girl can come to the school alone, easi-
ly and regularly. The classrooms are equipped with
good furniture, lighting and ventilation, and such
teachers are chosen who are comfortable in working
with poor children. The children are given ample
amount of high quality learning material that has been
designed by the project team. The teachers are provid-
ed continuous training and classroom support, so they
can help children follow the required learning schedule.
The learning tasks and schedules are so designed that
the Gyan Shala children experience a similar mental
stimuli that is available in excellent schools. In a study
conducted by an internationally reputed research
group, the grade 3 children in Gyan Shala were found
to score 100 % more marks compared to their counter-
parts in government schools, even though the unit cost
of education in Gyan Shala is 1/4th of government
cost.
Started with classes in ten slum locations in 2000,
Gyan Shala has grown to have 307 urban classes in
2007-2008 that cover around 8500 out-of-school chil-
dren in grades 1-3. In between, the model has been
test-implemented in more than 100 rural classes in two
backward districts of Gujarat and is currently the
largest NGO education program in Gujarat. Gyan Shala
was recently invited by the Ahmedabad Municipal
NGO 21
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
School Board to work with them to improve the quali-
ty of education in their schools.
Outcome and Impact
More than 70 % of the Gyan Shala-educated chil-
dren have continued their studies upto grade 7-8,
while the average record for similar children in India is
far worse. The experiment thus shows that the children
from poor families can be brought to attain learning
levels of their counterparts from middle and upper
income groups. An investment of merely Rs. 1500-
2000/- per year per child is adequate to attain the
goal, and hence this goal is attainable even under
India's education budget, if it is spent wisely.
Gyan Shala has been designed to be institutionally
sustainable, easily replicable by using locally available
human resource, and financially affordable in Indian
resource conditions. The program performance over
the last seven years provides ample evidence of attain-
ment of each of these design goals.
Attaining the goal that Gyan Shala has set for itself
has meant solving many technical, managerial and
politico-administrative problems, but the biggest chal-
lenge has been to convince the ‘education experts’ that
these goals can be met.
With a fully demonstrated and credible success of its
children, and cost-effectiveness, Gyan Shala is emerg-
ing as a trendsetter in India's school education sector.
Share and Care Foundation is supporting the middle
school program of Gyan Shala.
Share& Care
22 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

AT&T Technology Park & Institute

ANANT K. SHAH

The AT&T Technology Park & Institute, a wing of the PNR Society, Bhavnagar, is devoted to
imparting intensive IT training to help the disabled population work in the growing IT field. The Institute
project is funded by AT&T Foundation, USA and supported by Share and Care Foundation, USA.

U
NDER one Umbrella, the Parsanben Narandas them about the project and its prospects.
Ramjibhai Shah (PNR) Society is a unique multi-
faceted organisation. Through various projects for Magnitude of the Problem
Relief and Rehabilitation of the Disabled, this Society, the According to a disability survey, 60% of the world's dif-
nation's largest NGO in the field of disabled humans, ferently able people reside in India, of whom 70% live in
serves 1500-2000 disabled persons per day. With humble villages. These villages lack even the most basic facilities
beginnings, the PNR Society has gradually grown now into and not even 1% of these people have access to educa-
a big banyan tree, with a number of institutions working tional or training facilities.
under its shade. The AT&T Technology Park & Institute is
one of its divisions. These 100 million people are deprived of infrastructure,
care, doctors, trained persons, special teachers and social
Mission workers. To meet the basic requirements of these people,
The main mission of the Technology Park & Institute is to the PNR Society for Relief and Rehabilitation of the dis-
bring out the hidden potential of differently able youth and abled has started three different segments: 1) AT&T Tech-
to enable them to earn their livelihood as well as make nology Park & Institute as an academic training center, 2)
them IT literate. It is also intended to merge the lives of dif- Vasant Outsourcing Center for all types of outsourcing
ferently able students with the ever-evolving field of Infor- work tailored to customer's requirements, and 3) Enable IT
mation Technology. Even though modernization and tech- Solutions for the IT-related services.
nology are globalized and spread throughout the world,
one section still remains untouched. People with disabilities Main Objective
have always been left out of the technological world. This The main objective of the institute, the Academic divi-
section has lived in its own world, untouched. In order to sion of the Society, is to strengthen the IT training program
increase the awareness of this program, we have been and provide good quality training in it and place the ben-
contacting various organizations working for the disabled eficiaries in reputed companies. According to the changing
people and have been providing detailed information to market requirements, new courses have been started, such
as Computerized Fash-
ion Designing espe-
cially for Hearing
Impaired Girls, Mobile
Applications, and
Mobile Hardware. This
has bestowed on them
better job opportuni-
ties and/or self-
entrepreneurship
qualities. It is our long-
term vision to replicate
this concept in many
more places across
India.

Share& Care
 NGO 23
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Vasant Outsourcing Center
The Vasant Outsourcing Centre is a service centre,
which provides solutions for all types of hardware, soft-
ware and other IT services. They include Data Entry and
Printing, Document and Photo Scanning, Digital Photo
Editing, and VCD to DVD Conversion.
The PNR Society has developed Hardware Self-Help
Group and Software Self-Help Group under this segment
in order to fulfill the in-house as also local requirements
of Hardware & Software Industry. The members of this
Self-Help Group work and grow independently.
Milestones
With a view to imparting Computer Education to the
disabled persons, PNR Society has been supporting the
disabled students to make them self-reliant and, as a
joint effort along with Bhavnagar University, the Gov-
ernment of India's Ministry of Science & Technology,
and the National Science & Technology Entrepreneur-
ship Development Board, New Delhi, and had
approved the proposal made by Bhavnagar University
to conduct a Skill Development Training Program for
the Bhavnagar University under grants-in-aid pro-
gram. This was an exclusive training program for 60
disabled students for 8 weeks and it was conducted
jointly by Bhavnagar University and PNR Society at
AT&T Technology Park & Institute. For the academic
year 2007-2008, the Entrepreneurship Development
Cell of Bhavnagar University and PNR Society have
jointly sent a proposal to National Science and Tech-
nology Entrepreneurship Development Board and the
Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi to
teach a number of new courses to disabled students.

ELA BHATT
IT
RA

Synonym for Community Leadership

RT

E LA RAMESH BHATT was born on September 7, 1933 in Ahmedabad, capital of Gujarat. Ela Bhatt
PO

and her family members' lives were greatly influenced by the satyagraha movement of Mahat-
ma Gandhi. As a student of Bachelor of Arts in English, she worked on the 1951 census when she decid-
ed to devote her life to working for the poor.

After receiving her Law degree and joining the Legal department of the Tex-
tile Labor Association (TLA), Ela Bhatt organized the self-employed women
into a union under the auspices of the Women's Wing of the TLA. In 1972,
the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) was established in
Ahmedabad. By 1976, only four years after its inception, the Association
had 9,000 members and today there are 10,667 members with national-
ized banks giving loans to SEWA borrowers.

Ela Bhatt traveled far and wide and participated in many international
meetings and conferences like the Women's Leadership Seminar in Japan. In
1977, she became a consultant to UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund)
for the Bangladesh Women's Department. One of the founders of Women's World
Banking and its Chair from 1980 to 1998, Ela Bhatt is a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation and was
awarded the civilian honour of Padma Shri by the Indian Government in 1985 and the title of Padma
Bhushan in 1986. She was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1977 and
the Right Livelihood Award in 1984. Currently, she is the Chairperson of SEWA Cooperative Bank.

Share& Care
24 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

NGOs as a Futuristic Religion

KISHOR MISTRY
NGOs are proliferating by the day because they are being accepted for being above religious and
political dogmas and can work selflessly for a livable, peaceful society.

I
N every religion there are theories about the origin of
universe and life. The searching human mind has led
to the development of science, arts and philosophy.
Religious books became "sacred immortal writings"; thus
were born science, arts, and philosophy from religion.
The second aspect of the religion's origin lies in the
establishment of peace and justice in society. Many of
the religious leaders were great social reformers as well
as philosophers. They tried to bring peace and justice
through social reforms. Buddha ushered in equality
among different castes in India. Mahavira went a step
further to treat all living beings as equals through his phi-
losophy of non-violence. Prophet Mohammad revolu-
tionized the rights of females and emphasized brother-
hood. Jesus started to treat everybody with equal respect
irrespective of religion.
Humane Approach
In modern times, many humans have started thinking
beyond "non-flexible" religions and advocating "humane"
approach to overcome violence and economic inequali-
ties. There are four main obstacles in the present day
forms of religions. One, religion is treated as the final
guide without any scope for change; Second, it is
acquired from birth. Third hurdle is its exclusiveness, i.e.
if you belong to one religion, you cannot simultaneously
belong to another. The fourth obstacle is outdated rituals
and customs associated with religion.
All religions have excellent and eternal philosophical
ideas and they are expressed very nicely. For example, in
Hinduism, the philosophies of universalism and non-vio-
lence; in Christianity, loving the neighbor; in Islam, sim-
plicity and brotherhood.
Again because of the non-flexibility of religion, the
functioning of State is separated from religion. This
has led to the evergence of democracy to establish
peace and justice. In the modern era, religion has
been reduced largely to a "private" faith, and we are
uncomfortable to discuss it in public. Democracy is
the least defective system that peoples have invented
to run a State; however, some societies are frustrated
because of the ills of "plutocracy and corruption" that
crept into the system with passage of time.
NGO Setup
During the last 30 years, many NGOs have been
founded to make up for the deficiencies in the exist-
ing democracies and religions. Recently their number
has multiplied exponentially. In the USA there are
about 2 million NGOs, and in India there are about 1
to 2 million NGOs. The roles of these NGO vary from
helping the poor to delivering healthcare, empoweing
women, protecting environment, improving educa-
tion, preventing child labor and protecting animals
and so on.
Broadly speaking, these activities help establish peace
and equality through voluntary work. NGOs work on
the basis of their current knowledge and experiences,
which are acquired without restrictions of race, caste,
gender or nation. This is why more and more people are
joining NGOs with the ultimate goal of making this
world more and more peaceful and livable.

“Th difference between what we do and what we

are capable of doing would suffice to solve
most of the world’s problems”.
— Mahatma Gandhi

Share& Care
26 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Post-Disaster Management
Share and Care Ever Ready
DILIP PARIKH

In developing countries, established communities are more vulnerable during disasters due to lack
of planning and emergency preparedness leading to colossal human, infrastructural, and financial
losses. SCF has been playing an effective role of reacting quickly by taking up emergency
relief and rehabilitation programs for long term sustainability.

F
OR a quarter of a century, Share and schools, villages, health care centers and
Care Foundation (SCF) for India, a community halls, as well as building voca-
non-profit voluntary organization, has tional training centers and offering micro-
provided over $ 7 million of support in cash loans to promote self-sufficiency.
and kind and implemented programs to
rehabilitate and revitalize over 5 million vic- Humanitarian Services
tims of disasters. Share and Care's post-dis- Share and Care's Post-Disaster Manage-
aster experience covers cyclones, droughts, ment model is intertwined with key ele-
floods, the Latur and Gujarat earthquakes, ments of its mission to provide humanitari-
the 2004 Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and an services to enhance the quality of life of
man-made tragedies such as the Bhopal the challenged by supporting programs in
Gas Leak and the 9/11 incident. the fields of healthcare, education, and DILIP PARIKH
welfare. These are focal areas for both
Following these occurrences, Share and immediate and long term needs of all disas- Volunteering at Share
Care's Post-Disaster ter-affected commu- and Care for the past
Management Team nities. 20 plus years,
marshalled its Dilip Parikh has
resources to assess While immediate managed its
and map out the situ- short term problems Humanitarian
ation by conducting are addressed in disas- Programs, Donor
field visits and work- ters, they also provid- Advisory Projects and
ing closely with local ed Share and Care served as Joint Secretary
Non-Governmental with the opportunity of the Executive
Organizations to enhance and Committee. He oversaw
(NGOs) to provide improve the overall the Gujarat Earthquake
immediate relief to quality of life of Relief and Rehabilitation
rebuild. Over the long term, Share and Care affected communities, who live in sub-par effort and is currently
developed and implemented processes and conditions pre-disaster. For instance, Share serving as Secretary,
programs for rehabilitation, self sufficiency, and Care has adopted and rebuilt villages; Board of Trustees.
and long term sustainability to foster social provided mobile clinics; built primary health
change in affected regions. Programs care centers, schools, homes, and commu-
implemented include immediate relief like nity halls; implemented micro-loan pro-
providing food, clothing, medicines, tem- grams to empower women; and built voca-
porary shelters, medical treatment and tional training centers, school complexes,
mobile clinics to those in need and longer libraries and computer literacy centers. The
term initiatives, such as rebuilding homes, synergistic effect of these programs has

Share& Care
 NGO 27
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

brought a positive social change assistance); Tsunami 2004 in

that will uniquely benefit future
generations in affected commu-
nities.
Strong Volunteer Base
Share and Care's Post-Disaster
Management Team comprises a
strong volunteer base of 40 peo-
ple backed by a nationwide
donor base of 10,000, a network of US-based partners and
suppliers, and over 400 NGO partners in India. Share and
Care carefully assesses each situation and extends assis-
tance to those affected. For example, medical supplies and
a medical van were provided for victims of the Bhopal Gas
Leak. Financial support was extended to immigrant fami-
lies of 9/11 victims who were not eligible for immediate
governmental assistance. Other accomplishments over a
span of last twentyfive years include Gujarat Earthquake
2001 (Share and Care provided more than $5 million in
South-eastern Indian states &
Andaman Island (SCF contributed
$ 3,70,000 and over $10,00,000
in kind); Latur (Maharashtra)
Earthquake 1993 (SCF contribut-
ed $ 1,55,000); Gujarat Floods
2007 (SCF invested $ 47,000);
Hurricane Katrina 2006 (SCF
donated $ 25,000); and Cyclone
Relief 1998 in Kutch, Western India (SCF repaired and
rebuilt buildings and schools and 50 homes).
With its Post-Disaster Management model in place, com-
plemented by continuing support from its dedicated donor
base and network of NGO partners, Share and Care has
thus gained wide ranging experience and expertise from
implementation of several post-disaster relief and rehabili-
tation programs. SCF is now in a strong position to respond
and better serve future Post-Disaster communities.

Shabana Azmi
IT
RA

Star Campaigner against AIDS

RT
PO

B
ORN on September 18, 1950 at New Delhi, Sha-
bana Azmi is a renowned film actress and social activist,
and a leading advocate of AIDS awareness in India. She is married to
the popular lyricist Javed Akhtar.

Among the neglected social groups whose causes she has advocated
are slum dwellers and the displaced Kashmiri migrants and victims of
the earthquake at Latur in Maharashtra. The 1993 Mumbai riots
appalled her and she emerged as a forceful critic of religious extremism.
She is the recipient of many awards like the Padma Shri in 1988, Rajiv
Gandhi Award in 1994 for Excellence in Secularism and the Gandhi
Foundation International Peace Award in 1998 for her work with the
slum dwellers. A member of the National Integration Council, head-
ed by the Prime Minister of India, and the National AIDS Commis-
sion of India, Shabana was nominated in 1997 as a member of the
Rajya Sabha. In 2002, Michigan University conferred on her the
Martin Luther King Professorship award in recognition of her
contribution to arts, culture and society.

Share& Care
28 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Investment in Rural Health Care
DR. SHIRISH C. PATRAWALLA
Since two-and-a-half-decades, SCF has been expanding its access to diseases prevention education, primary
health care and social welfare in order to enhance the quality of lives of the most impoverished and
marginalized groups in rural India and is determined to take galvanized action to empower
these focused groups to gain control over their lives and acquire self-esteem.
S
TARTING with humble beginnings in
1982, until today the flagship project
is providing nutritional foods, milk
powder, clothes, medicines and medical
instruments (CT scan, dialysis machine,
etc) to those ailing and afflicted in rural
India where resources are scarce and facil-
ities are remote. The activities of SCF have
grown by leaps and bounds ever since.
Along with various other projects, the
grants for prevention of TB, Leprosy,
Blindness, Cataract, and Polio are also
being provided on an ongoing basis.
With changing times and needs, SCF's
focus shifted to the wider scope of pre-
ventive health care with special emphasis
on maternal, prenatal, and health care of
children and improving hygiene, sanita-
tion and providing potable drinking water.
According to the latest national family
health survey, half of the children under
the age of 3 are malnourished and have
no access to basic health care including
vaccinations. The health report also unrav-
els that poverty, lack of public health facil-
ities and sanitation are the root causes of
Share& Care
poor health in rural India. Having over 5
lakh villages where more than 70% of
India's population resides, one can imag-
ine, on a practical level, the medical infras-
tructure is inadequate to meet their health
needs. Therefore, there is an urgent need
and a major role to play in this area.
Hence, SCF started supporting and spon-
soring NGOs with dedication and proven
management. The noteworthy and shin-
ing examples amongst them are SEWA
Rural, Anjali and Life. SHIRISH
C. PATRAWALLA
SEWA Rural, Jhagadia, Gujarat
Share and Care granted $1,25,000 to Shirish Patrawalla is a
practising Cardiologist,
SEWA (Society for Education Welfare and Maplewood, New Jersey.
Action) Rural to build a training center A founding member and
that provides facilities for education in Past President of Share
basic and preventive healthcare to and Care Foundation,
volunteers, midwives, lab techni- he is serving it for
the last 25 years. Past
cians and physicians. The primary President of AAPI of
focus is on maternal and child Essex and Past Regional
health, family planning, immuniza- Director of Mid Atlantic
tion and acute care facility (hospi- AAPI, Trustee at
tal). From year 2000 to 2006 the Siddhachalam and Jain
Center, New Jersey, he is
maternal mortality was reduced by the Alumni of Seth
35% and neonate mortality by G.S.Medical college,
21%. SEWA Rural was awarded Mumbai (India).
the prestigious McArthur Founda-
tion cash award of $3,50,000 in
2007 for the its achievements.
Anjali, Ranasan, Gujarat
Anjali (the Society for Rural Health and
Development) started a primary health
clinic in Sabarkantha district in 1989 with
the grants from SCF and has grown to
provide health services to about 80,000 to
1,00,000 people in surrounding 30 to 40

villages. Most of beneficiaries are marginal landowners,
landless laborers, and economically underdeveloped com-
munities.
In addition, SCF is funding approx. $1,50,000 every
year in direct support to many primary health centers and
various health-related projects since ten years. About
$5,00,000 is donated in kind to various NGOs, every year,
in the form of milk powder, medications, medical equip-
ment and supplies.
Community-to-Community Outreach
In January, 2007 Share and Care Foundation, with the
help of a team of nine USA based physicians in collabora-
tion with a local medical team, initiated a "Shibir" to cre-
ate and document students' medical records for future ref-
erence as well as designing and implementing corrective
actions and measures to prevent the conditions from fur-
ther deterioration. The team of physicians made a com-
plete examination of 850 students of schools at Bhimora,
Gujarat. This Shibir's results were quite eye-opening and
Vandana Shiva
IT
RA
An Ecologist par Excellence
RT
PO
B ORN on November 5,
1952 at Dehra Dun,
Uttarakhand, Vandana
Shiva is a physicist,
ecofeminist, environmen-
tal activist and an author
of over 300 papers in
leading scientific and
technical journals.
Shortly after completing
her Ph.D. in Philosophy of
Science in 1978, Vandana
Shiva set up her Research Foun-
dation for Science, Technology and
Natural Resource Policy at Dehra Dun. Van-
dana Shiva participated in the non-violent
Chipko movement during the 1970s and built
NGO 29
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
alarming. Majority of students were malnourished,
anaemic, and with poor dental and eye care hygiene and
were also infested with lice. They suffered from skin infec-
tions and eczema also.
Future Vision
Our future vision is to upgrade the standards of Man
(motivation and training), Material, Methods (best prac-
tices) and Machines (modern, yet cost effective) of health
care systems in rural India. To make it happen is to form a
coalition of like-minded NGOs in USA and prepare a
blueprint of integrated health initiatives for primary and
preventive health care in rural areas with the blessings
and support of the Government agencies and local com-
munities. These initiatives can be replicated and scalable
as a model all over India. These initiatives will need gen-
erous support from all USA based Indian communities,
corporations and grants from private and public Founda-
tions. It will also need services of experts in various fields
including medical, pharmaceuticals, environmental, nutri-
tionists, psychologists, educationists etc.
a new movement called Navd-
hanya for the conservation of
indigenous seeds. She assisted
grassroots organizations of the
Green Movement in Africa,
Asia, Latin America, Ireland,
Switzerland and Austria with
campaigns against genetic
engineering.
In 1993, she received the
Right Livelihood Award ("Alter-
native Nobel Prize"), the Global
500 Award of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), and
the Earth Day International Award of the Unit-
ed Nations. She is one of the leaders of the
International Forum on Globalization.
Share& Care
32 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Value of In-Kind Grants
Since 1983, SCF has been involved in sending in-kind or non-monetary grants to the needy in India.
The shipments usually are made up of Used clothes, Humanitarian Supplies like Food, Milk Powder
and Blankets, Medical Equipment/Supplies, and Computers and other miscellaneous items.
T
HE First project SCF ever undertook
was a shipment of used clothes to
India in the year 1983. From a mod-
est amount of $8,000 worth of used
clothes shipped in 1983, the value of
used clothes and other humanitarian sup-
plies reached slightly over $1.0 million in
2006. Over the last 24 years, SCF has
shipped such commodities worth more
than $16 million. SCF sends the clothes
to several charitable organizations
(NGOs) in India who sort these clothes,
make necessary alterations to suit the
local needs and then distribute them to
the needy people.
Used Clothes
Just to illustrate how a discarded item
such as used clothes can have a pro-
found and positive impact on the lives
of many in India in late 1990s, SCF sent
five 40' containers of clothes and milk
powder to Rajkot Blood Bank and
Research Center. These shipments result-
ed in the distribution of 1,008 bales of
clothing. On average, each bale weighs
60 kgs (132 lbs) and contains 80 pairs
of men's or women's clothing or 125
pairs of children' clothing. Over
1,00,000 people, including 48,000 chil-
dren received clothing from these ship-
ments, valued at Rs. 4 million (about
$90,000). In short, we were able to out-
fit so many people at a meager cost of
90 cents per person!
From the same shipment, 1,641 bags of
skimmed milk powder weighing 25 kgs.
(55 lbs) each were distributed to 100 par-
Share& Care
BIPIN GANDHI
ticipating organizations. 41,025 kgs, of
milk powder was converted into 410,250
liters of milk. This ultimately yielded 2.1
million liters of buttermilk. From this, over
22,000 families received one liter of but-
termilk every day for three months. The
average cost worked out to $3.50 for
three months or 4 cents per day per fam-
ily!
Sporadically, SCF has sent nutritional BIPIN GANDHI
food items such as rice, beans, wheat Bipin Gandhi is
flour, sugar and vegetable oil. In this associated with SCF
endeavor, SCF has been very fortunate to since 1987 and has been
have The Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- an active member
ter-Day Saints (LDS), Salt Lake City, Utah of the general body in
various capacities.
as their partners. These two organiza- Having spent most
tions, together with some 273 local of his career in
NGOs affiliated with Rajkot Blood Bank international shipping,
have been able to phenomenally impact Mr. Gandhi has been
the lives of hundreds of thousands of quite instrumental in
bringing down the
people in Saurashtra and Kutch by mak- shipping cost for the
ing crucial contributions to their nutri- in-kind donations sent to
tional needs and well-being. India over the years.
Medical Equipment/Supplies
SCF started sending these items in the
year 1985 with a modest shipment of
medical equipment valued at $5,000.
However, with the generosity of various
individual and institutional donors, this
figure reached its peak of $4.7 million in
the year 2001. As at the end of calendar
year 2006, the total value of medical
equipment and medical supplies shipped
to India stood at a staggering figure of
$15.5 million. By American standards,
this may not be a very impressive figure;
however, to the needy in India it is enor-
 NGO 33
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

mous. To put this in proper perspective, in 2004, with Computers

approximately 10 such shipments, SCF was able to help
more than 20 hospitals and health care clinics in various
regions of India and the beneficiaries were thousands of
needy patients.
These shipments have included valuable equipments
such as dialysis machines, retinal cameras, endoscopes,
dental chairs, ultra-sound machines, mammography
machines, defibrillators and physical therapy equip-
ment. Most of these units are used and either old or dis-
continued models that would be discarded in the U.S.
However, in India (especially in the remote regions),
they are considered "god sent" and the hospitals and the
clinics have been able to get good use of them for many
years. In addition to the medical equipment, the ship-
ments have often included items such as surgical tools,
sutures and related items, orthopaedic supplies and sur-
gical supplies.
IT
Although there has been only one shipment of 500
computers in 2003, it is worth mentioning it here, as
many people, due to its multiple uses, especially by
young students, derive the benefits. Another notable
in-kind shipment is of three 40' containers of paint
that was used to paint several schools and hospitals.
Overall, since 1983, SCF has sent approximately
$32 million worth of non-monetary assistance
to the needy in India. What is especially rewarding
and gratifying about the in-kind grants is that we have
been able to take unusable or discarded resources of
one country and make them a usable resource for the
betterment of the people in another country.
Moreover, such shipments allow us to
stretch the dollar to the maximum, and shipments
worth about $32 million are many "stretchable
dollars" !

Sunita Narain
RA
RT

A Down to Earth Environmentalist

PO

S
UNITA Narain is a recipient of the Padma
Shri award of the Government of India for
her commitment to environmental protec-
tion. A part of the Centre for Science and Envi-
ronment in India since 1982, She has campaigned
actively for reviving India's tradition of water har-
vesting, and for a Southern Agenda on global
warming and environmental issues.

Publisher of the fortningly magazine, Down to

Earth, Sunita Narain remains an active participant
in civil society, both nationally and international-
ly. She serves on the boards of various organiza-
tions and on governmental committees, has lec-
tured at many forums globally on issues of her
concern and expertise and is author of many
books.

Share& Care
34 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
The Health Care NGO
One man's idea of "giving back", despite the onrush to go abroad seeking fortunes, changed the
village not only in terms of health facilities but also in other fields. The author brings out
some salient points in terms of what is needed for the success of an NGO.
I
T was mid and late seventies when
there was a talk of brain drain in India.
Migrating to USA was common. It
was then that I was torn between my
needs and our country's needs as also
those of the area where I was born and
brought up. In this situation, and influ-
enced by various people and thoughts,
what I wanted to do was to “use the
capabilities gained / acquired for the
local community rather than my own
self”.
Many communities in Gujarat or
rather a section of Gujarat were so well
off that they hardly had a real feel or
awareness about the masses who were
in a very bad state and needed support
from various sources. The Sabarkantha
district, like many other areas, was also a
scene of large scale migration. There was
a feeling at that age: "why I can not go
in the reverse direction -- migrate to
rural areas". So I decided to stay back in
Sabarkantha district and work in medical
field.
Formation of Anjali
Seven years were spent on training,
work experience and capacity building at
various places. That was the time I mar-
ried Anita, who had the maturity to
understand and appreciate my desires /
thinking / ideas and also become a team
member. The work was started in
Ranasan village in 1987. The organiza-
tion which we formed was named
'Anjali'. For us it meant "offering our
Share& Care
Anjali
DR. LALIT SHAH
skills, capabilities, strengths for the local
community and the area". The work,
setup and systems we adopted were
pro-poor but by keeping a low profile.
Employing local manpower, making a
concentrated effort, non-exploitation of
workers and transparency in our work
were our work ethics. Whenever growth
/ expansion was thought of, it was based
on the people's needs, institutional capa-
bilities, past experiences and capacities
of the team. DR. LALIT SHAH
Care was taken not to dilute the ongo- A Medical Doctor, Lalit Shah
ing work but constraints were many -- belongs to an interior village
dormant community, lack of political will, in Sabarkantha district of
apathetic government structure but North Gujarat. After
skilled manpower with exposure and completing his studies in
understanding of the purpose. Financial- medicine in 1979, instead
ly there was no government support and of migrating to USA,
local people were not capable of contri- he opted for working for the
bution. Lack of good educational facili- poor people in Sabarkantha
ties could not help attract qualified man- district. He did extensive
power. clinical work and was
awarded Ashok Gandhi
Generous Support award in
A Gramin Arogya Kendra was started 1996 for Humanitarian
in a two-room rented house with 3 Medical Services.
workers and two founders in 1989 in He is Managing
Ranasan vlliage with population of 2500. Trustee of Anjali.
A group of 8-10 gentlemen of Baroda His wife, Anita Shah,
contributed Rs. 80,000/- when we is a graduate of
addressed them about our desire to Bombay university
work in Sabarkantha. Learning about the and has been
same, even a local resident purchased 3 his key partner in
½ acres of land and donated to Anjali in his social
1990. Share and Care Foundation learnt service activities.
about the founder's commitment to
 NGO 35
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

work for poor and offered to assist. The Foundation con-
tributed the cost of construction and partial furnishing of
Anjali Hospital and construction of staff quarters. The
hospital building was inaugurated by mid 1993 and staff
quarters by 1996. The infrastructure was there but med-
ical manpower was not available. Both of us ran the
show for more than 4 years which was sufficient enough
to gain the community's goodwill and credibility to
ensure a reliable health facility. Young industrialists and
professionals came close to us in the process and were
transformed from supporters to trustees.
Two fund-raising programs in 1994 and 1997 in
Mumbai and Baroda brought in some financial
resources. The work kept on increasing. The local com-
munity developed good rapport with Anjali. Today poor
and needy people of more than 100 villages take
advantage of the health facility and even patients
from surrounding districts of Rajasthan and the trib-
al belt of Meghraj and Malpur also come for health
services. About 25 local persons have been trained
and employed.
Meanwhile, the problem of cash liquidity in the poor
communities motivated us to start Women's Saving
Groups, which was well accepted by the community and
is going on in 32 surrounding villages. Simultaneously,
we were also seized of the arid conditions of land in the
area and developed water bodies.
The Governments of India and Gujarat have recently
selected Anjali to be the service Non-Government Orga-
nization (Service NGO) of Sabarkantha district. Anjali
will be working in 36 interior and far-flung villages in the
field of maternal and child health in collaboration with
the Government of Gujarat. Anjali has formulated a lot
of programs for future, including engaging youth in
sports and creative activities; consolidating women's
program; creating more water bodies; and starting a day
school for children of 40-50 interior villages.

Sainath
IT
RA

The Journalist-Investigator
RT
PO

B ORN into a distinguished family in Andhra Pradesh in 1957, Palagum-

mi Sainath is the grandson of former President (late) V V Giri. His pre-
occupation with social problems and commitment to a political perspective
began when he was a college student. Beginning his career as a journalist at the
United News of India and as a free-lance journalist and rural affairs editor of
The Hindu later, Sainath painstakingly investigated on the lives of the people liv-
ing in the drought-stricken States of India. He proved that the acute misery of
India's poorest districts was not caused by drought but was rooted in India's enduring structural inequalities
in poverty, illiteracy, and caste discrimination, exacerbated by recent economic reforms favoring foreign
investment and privatization. Sainath's authoritative evidence led Indian authorities to address certain critical
issues and to enhance relief efforts in states such as Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.

Sainath was instrumental in the establishment of the Agriculture Commission in Andhra Pradesh to sug-
gest ways for improving agriculture in that state. Sainath is the only Indian to receive the 2007 Ramon
Magsaysay Award, equivalent to the Nobel Prize in the category of journalism, literature and communica-
tion and was conferred with the prestigious Raja-Lakshmi Award in the year 1993, the European Commis-
sion's Natali Prize in 1994, the A.H. Boerma Award in 2001, and the Prem Bhatia Award for excellence in
political reporting and analysis for 2003-04.

Share& Care
36 DEVELOPMENT
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
MACARTHUR
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions 2007
Society for Education, Welfare and
Action -- Rural
Saving the Lives of Mothers and their Babies in India
I
T has been called the most neglected health problem in
the world, and little progress has been made in reducing
it. More than half a million women die each year as a
result of pregnancy and childbirth. In India, one of the
world's riskiest countries in which to be pregnant, the gov-
ernment has launched a significant effort to reduce the
maternal mortality rate. In the state of Gujarat, the Indian
government is relying on one of its oldest and most respect-
ed non-governmental organizations to help.
The Society for Education, Welfare and Action-Rural
(SEWA Rural) has improved the health of Gujarat's primari-
ly tribal population for nearly three decades. In 1980, sur-
geon Anil Desai and his wife, pediatrician Lata Desai,
returned from their medical training in the United States to
create the organization, which has become an anchor for
health and well-being in rural India. More than 140 full-time
employees, including 15 medical doctors, now work there.
The organization's current work on maternal mortality
focuses on the development and replication of a communi-
ty-based approach. It provides health education and train-
ing to families, communities and front-line health workers,
birth attendants, paramedics, doctors and students of
medicine, social work, rural studies and health management
on maternal health issues. It works to ensure more institu-
tional deliveries and professional involvement in home
SEWA Rural has been promoted by the Share & Care Foundation
deliveries. It conducts research to provide more reliable
estimates of maternal mortality and morbidity. And it advo-
cates for maternal health programs with different ministries
in government, policy makers and service providers.
The results have been impressive. Between 2003 and
2006, a set of interventions focused on residents from 168
villages reduced maternal mortality by 35% and neonatal
morality by 21%. Federal and state governments in India
would like to take that progress to a national scale, as part
of an effort to reduce India's maternal mortality ratio from
540 deaths per 1,00,000 live births to 100 deaths by 2010.
(By way of comparison, the maternal mortality ratio in the
United States is 8 deaths per 1,00,000 births.)
The state government of Gujarat is enlisting SEWA Rural
to support the national effort to train new community
health workers who will provide preventive primary health
care, counseling, and referrals in village communities. In
response, SEWA Rural will establish a new training and
resource center focused on maternal mortality reduction.
The center will scale up the group's work in Gujarat, train-
ing more than 2,500 frontline health workers.
SEWA Rural will use its $3,50,000 MacArthur Award
to establish a reproductive health training and resource cen-
ter.

Transparency and Accountability
Share & Care's Hallmark
Catalyst interviewed some of the active members of SCF to explore their strategies to
promote transparency and accountability in the NGOs they support and also the
formula for their success in raising funds from NRI community in USA. — Editor
C: HOW does Share and Care go about selecting NGOs ?
SCF: When Share and care receives appeal from NGOs, the
project review committee reviews their requests and based on
the merits of the project and availability of funds etc., sanc-
tions the funding for the project. For major projects Share and
Care volunteers visit the locations in which NGOs are work-
ing.
Through research and analysis, we identify NGOs where
resources will make the most difference on target issues. The
inspiration and focus in NGO selection is the dedication and
teamwork of the social workers who are running the NGOs.
They have vision, ideas, and a strong desire to help the peo-
ple in need.
Many NGOs lack experience in measuring the cost effective-
ness of individual programs to demonstrate the opportunity
cost to the donor base. Share and Care, on the other hand,
looks out for outstanding and dedicated social workers who
can give their donors an opportunity to fund projects which
will be executed efficiently and effectively. Share and Care
then helps the NGOs to manage the projects effectively, set
up performance goals and annual targets, document and
share best practices within and outside the organization and
introduce the element of sustainability and replication. Over
last eight years, Share and Care has planned, and managed
annual Networking meetings in India by inviting strategic
partners over a weekend to share their programs and practices
and learn from others. To obtain grants from Share and Care,
an NGO has to submit Financial Assistance Request form and
all other necessary documents. Our Project Review Commit-
tee reviews all requests and, based on the merits of the pro-
ject and availability of funds etc., sanctions funding for the
project.
C: How does Share and Care keep their expense ratio
so low ?
SCF: Share and Care's expense ratio stays low due to the spir-
it of volunteerism. For the first 15 years, all functions of Share
and Care were carried out by volunteers from their home.
Share& Care
NGO 37
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Only necessary expenses were incurred by the Foundation. A
small office premises was rented in 1992 and we employed a
part time help to carry out the increasing clerical and routine
work. Today, we have one-and-a-half employees and still
carry out most of the work through volunteers.
Share and Care core volunteers have been making signifi-
cant financial contributions regularly. Also, all travel and other
expenses for work done in India and USA for the Foundation
activities is paid for by the volunteers. The community
involvement has also helped to keep the expense ratio low.
Members of the community willingly participated in our "used
clothes" drive and also brought their children along with them.
The satisfaction derived from the act of giving back inspired
many people to volunteer for this foundation.
Initially, they donated their time. As they settled down, they
began to increase their financial support. At the end of 90s,
Share and Care got a big boost by receiving a grant for $
5,00,000 from Lucent Technologies Foundation. During the
same period, we also received grants from AT&T, Agilent and
Western Union.
These donors are attracted to Share and Care because we
have developed a reputation of being a transparent non-prof-
it organization with a team of dedicated volunteers. At the
time of the major earthquake in Gujarat in 2001, Share and
Care received over $ 8,00,000 from nearly 2,000 individuals
and 50 organizations in USA, without publicity in the local
newspapers.
C: How does Share and Care raise donations from donors ?
SCF: In 1984, when we had our first fundraiser, all active
members contacted friends and families and sold tickets or
solicited advertisements and donations. Since then, we have
donors who have been donating generously every year. They
look forward to doing so, because:
1. They have confidence in the ability of active members to
distribute the funds to the deserving NGOs.
38 NGO
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

2. They see that the active members themselves support the
cause of the Foundation financially as well as volunteering
their time.
3. They see that the actual operating expenses are at an
absolute minimum, ensuring that the significant amount of
their contribution is going to the cause.
4.. Donations are not seen as charity handouts, but invest-
ments with appropriate diligence, risk-reward analysis, and
outcomes evaluation.
5. Share and Care has not lost any of their active members since
inception and continues to function as one cohesive unit.
C: How does Share and Care conduct due diligence and
monitoring?
SCF: After the initial setup of each NGO, follow-up is equally
important. All funding requests are reviewed by the project
committee to ensure that requests fall within the mission of
the Foundation, and will produce permanent positive change.
Wherever feasible, active members meet with the representa-
tives of the NGOs, and visit their offices and areas of opera-
tion and meet the beneficiaries. We require NGOs to submit
regular progress reports and success stories.
C: What is the future thrust of the Foundation ?
SCF: Share and Care continues to change in order to con-
stantly meet demonstrated needs. As the economic progress
of India continues, need for used clothes has been reduced
significantly. Shipments of other donations, such as milk
powder and medical equipment, have been on hold as we
are in the process of reviewing government rules and regu-
lations.
Based on the need to provide equal opportunity to the
youth in villages, going forward, our emphasis will be on
Youth Development and Women Empowerment. With
respect to Youth Development, we intend to concentrate in
the areas of providing "Excellence in Education" while keep-
ing in mind holistic development of mind, body and soul. In
the areas of Women Empowerment, our focus will be on
micro-finance, micro-entrepreneurship, skill building, and
vocational training.
"Grant Making Foundations are philanthropic
snowflakes, as no two are alike; so it is more
of an art than a science!"

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

1983-2006 Revenue & Support: $ 52.6 Million

Fund Raising 10% Cash Donations 26%
Non-Cash Donations 63% Interest Income 1%

1983-2006 Grants & Expenses: $ 51.2 Million

Grants Awarded & Non-Cash Donations 96%
Fund Raising Expenses 3% General and Administrative Expenses 1%

Share& Care
A R E N A Animation - Kukatpally offers Special Discount for Members of
Global Angels Jai Charitable Trust to promote Animation among Rural Youth
* Conditions Apply
40 HEALTH
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Anuradha Foundation
Anuradha Foundation is working quite innovatively in such crucial segments as Mental Health
and Education in India, with the ultimate goal of becoming the voice of the nation in
raising the levels of mental health awareness and enhancing
literacy rate among the population.

A
NURADHA FOUNDATION (AF) has been founded
in October, 2003 at Los Altos, California, USA by
three Indians hailing from diverse backgrounds,
Chandrik Niksch, Anu Sethuram and Nikhil Srivastava.
What brought them together was their profound interest
in and a strong commitment to doing community service.
Equally importantly, they carry an unflinching sense of
passion, dedication and determination to pursue their
twin goals.
Chandrika Niksch is an executive coach based in
Bavaria, Germany. She has been active in educational
work related to adolescent mental health, especially
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and bipo-
lar disorder, in both male and female youngsters, for sev-
eral years now. Anu Sethuram, a philanthropist, is the co-
chair of the Community Partners Program at the India
Community Center in California. She has supported sev-
eral private educational ventures in India. Currently, she
is actively involved in promoting inter-cultural awareness
in the local community. Nikhil Srivastava, an alumnus of
BITS Pilani and Stanford, recently graduated with an MBA
from Harvard Business School and is an investment
banker at Goldman Sachs in San Francisco.
The founding of the organization was keenly accompa-
nied by Dr. Vivek Kusumakar, Professor of Psychiatry, Dal-
housie University, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Global
Director of central nervous system and pain research at
Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and
Development, USA. Dr. Kusumakar is a specialist in mood
and psychotic disorders across the age spectrum, and a
globally known clinician and researcher in the areas of
mood disorders, psychopharmacology and so on.
AF operates in India through its project leaders who
interact directly with a coordinator in California. The
Foundation has two chapters, one devoted to Education
and the other to Mental Health. The Education Chapter
has focused on values and character building, and sup-
ported gifted youth, especially girls, through its mentor-
ship program and scholarships, granting them opportuni-
ties and facilitating their progress in becoming high
achievers. In the Mental Health Chapter at AF, ensuring
and facilitating family support and stressing the need for
family and community mental health are the most impor-
tant goals.
AF's Education Chapter completed a two year program
in 2006 with the Prasanna Jyothi Educational Trust in
Bangalore. This is an orphanage for girls where AF grant-
ed scholarships and financed the education of five girls.
AF is currently reviewing proposals for scholarships and is
working with other non-profit organisations and individ-
uals to expand the Education Chapter.
The Mental Health Chapter is working towards the de-
stigmatization of psychiatric disorders, the creation of
awareness, focusing on family and community mental
health programs, and funding mental health care pro-
jects, primarily in rural and semi-urban areas in India.
Three selected projects in Karnataka - a project covering
the neuro-psychopharmacological aspects of medica-
tions, Grameena Abyudaya Seva Samsthe (GASS), a com-
munity mental health project working in 2 semi-
urban/rural districts, and SAMPARK, a community men-
tal health project in the remote northern Karnataka dis-
trict of Koppal -- went live on October 17th, 2005.
info@anuradhafoundation.org.

“ The truth of good economic doctoring is to know the general principles,

and to really know the specifics. To understand the context, and also, to
understand that an economy may need some tender loving care,
not just the so-called hard truths, if it's going to get by.
“
— Jeffrey Sachs

Seva Sadan Society
Conceived and founded in 1908, Seva Sadan Society, one of the oldest NGOs, is an institution
dedicated to the empowerment of the underprivileged girls and women in Mumbai, India.
A
project initiated by two visionary philanthropists,
Behramji Malabari and Divan Dayaram Gidumal, to
emancipate destitute Indian widows, Seva Sadan
Society (SSS) has evolved over the years to keep pace
with the changing times. The old ideology of charity has
been replaced by empowerment and self-reliance. In this
pursuit, the Society provides girls with education and
training geared to ensure their overall development.
Whether it is the new restaurant "By The Way", the
Teachers Training College or any vocational courses
offered by the Society, the effort is to
enable the girls to support them-
selves as individuals rather than
just providing them with care
and shelter. As a part of its
empowerment drive, the
society has implemented
a number of activities
and novel projects.
Management
Over the years, the
society has infused pro-
fessional ethics in its
functioning. The Manage-
ment is looked after by a
team of elected Honorary Man-
aging Committee Members, who
are supported by paid staff. The Society
also has a very competent Advisory Panel com-
prising prominent specialists in different fields who offer
their voluntary advisory services to the Society.
The Society is largely funded by donations from philan-
thropic individuals, corporates and organizations, apart
from some revenue generated by its self-sufficiency activ-
ities.
Services
The society's services include an Orphanage/Hostel, a
Preprimary, Primary and Secondary school each, a Prima-
ry Teacher Training College, a Vocational Training Institute
and Women's Self-Service activities.
EMPOWERMENT 41
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Free or low cost accommodation is provided in a con-
genial and homely atmosphere. The Hostel houses about
100 girls and strives to provide them with value-based
education and social, moral and cultural values. The
Preprimary school has 100 children on the rolls in an envi-
ronment conducive to early learning. Although the medi-
um of instruction is Marathi, English language was recent-
ly introduced to ensure fluency and confidence. The Pri-
mary school is aided by the Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpa-
lika. Approximately 350 students, from I to IV standard,
receive quality education with the help of latest
teaching aids. Aided by the Education
Department of the Maharashtra
Government, the Secondary
school has approximately 500
students and it prepares
them for the S.S.C. Exam-
ination.
With its 2-year recog-
nized Diploma Course
(D.Ed.), the Primary
Teachers Training col-
lege imparts complete
education with practical
training to girls, who wish
to pursue a career in teach-
ing. So also the Society provides
comprehensive Vocational training
in various subjects, ranging from sewing
and embroidery to computer education.
Self-Sufficiency Projects
There are also in-house projects for women's self-suffi-
ciency activities, initiated and managed by the Society, in
an effort to open up job opportunities for girls and
women. These services provide training and job experi-
ence for students and generate revenue to help the non-
profit organisation to be self-sufficient. The activities
comprise an upmarket Restaurant, an Eatery called Ahaar
and a Meal Service to provide home-cooked food for Cor-
porates, working individuals and homes.
sevasadan@hotmail.com
42 AGRICULTURE
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

One Acre Wonder

For Sustainable Agriculture
PROF. M. RUDRARADHYA

Posing the greatest threat to food production, farming has lately become
uneconomical in India. Water is scarce. Capital for investment is out of question.
Skilled or even unskilled labour are simply unavailable in villages as migration
has been the order of the day. With the result, a time has come when perhaps
multi-purpose farming will have to be considered as the way out.

A
more than 70 per cent of the Indian farmers own less water through run-off by constructing bunds across the
than one hectare of land each. They are categorized slope. For the purpose, the holding is divided into five seg-
as small and marginal farmers. Owing to unpre- ments. Along with run-off, if allowed, the topsoil that is
dictable weather conditions, crop failures and unstable normally fertile and nutrients added to the soil, are also lost.
market prices, they are a dejected lot and feel that except Successful prevention of these three losses is the distinct
for going in for a single crop of Ragi or Horsegram, they advantage in this model. Furthermore, water ways are cre-
cannot dream of ventur- ated all along the model in
ing any other new practice such a way that excessive
or improved technology water that would run
for bettering their condi- down in spite of these
tions. To address the needs measures, will be ulti-
of such farmers and to mately lead to a farm
ensure sustainable living pond constructed at the
for them, a low cost farm- lowest elevation in the
ing system model, inte- model. The water so con-
grating farming system served could not only be
practices and watershed used for vegetable culti-
concepts, has been devel- vation in the kitchen gar-
oped at the Agricultural den but also for piscisul-
Research Station, Bavikere ture (Fish Farming) in the
of Tarikere taluk in Chik- farm pond.
magalur district.
Another important
Most of the require- feature of the model is
ments of the farm family that a small farmer will
and farm animals are pro- be able to produce most
duced in the model on a of the needs of the farm
sustainable basis, supple- Ram Krishnan (in dhothi) with a farmer and family and his animals.
mented with regular flow Prof. M. Rudraradhya (right). Dwelling right on the
of cash income through farm, he will be able to
several farm related subsidiary enterprises. take up several farming-based subsidiary enterprises,
which would ensure sustainable living. Accordingly, cere-
Design of the Model als, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruit crops, dairy, bee-
The model is laid out in a one-acre area (100m x 40m). keeping, floriculture, fish, chicken & mutton, medicinal
As the model is developed for the benefit of rain - depen- plants, green leaf yielding plants, etc., are all accommo-
dent small farmers, it is designed to prevent the loss of rain- dated in their rightful places in the model.
 AGRICULTURE 43
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Live Bunds pond is constructed at the low-

Multicut grass and Glyrecedia / est elevation in the model. The
Sesbanea are grown on the bunds dimension of the pond reads
which would ensure green fodder 8m x 8m on the top and 5m x
and green leaf for manuring. They 5m at the bottom with a depth
also help in checking the erosion. If of 3m. These dimensions could
the gradient is too high, grasses like vary depending on the quan-
Stylo / Khus could be grown on the tum of rainfall received in a
bunds to prevent the erosion. given place. Excess water dur-
ing heavy rains will run through
Biogas Plant the water ways created all
It is possible to construct this plant along the model and ultimately
at a low cost to provide cooking gas gets collected in the farm pond.
and light for the dwelling and cattle All the essentials are desired in
shed. There could be provision for a a farm pond, viz., inlet, outlet,
light outside the farm hut and near the farm pond. It also scale for measuring the depth of water at any given point
acts as a light trap for the pests affecting the crops. of time.

Compost Preparation Vats Kitchen Garden

In addition to verminculture, there are compost produc-
tion vats constructed by adopting NADEP method,
improved method comprising stone walls (Japan Method)
and the one having the walls made of Glyrecedia twigs.
All farm wastes and crop residues get mixed with bio-gas
slurry and are digested fast to yield well decomposed
compost.
Fruit Crops and Intercrops
Providing 10m x 10m spacing in a triangular fashion,
two Mango plants and one each of Sapota, Jack fruit,
tamarind, Pongamia, Neem, Cashew, Mulberry tree
(Jamoon) and Goose berry are accommodated as also
Green gram, Cowpea, Avare (Dolichos), Soyabean, Black
gram, Red gram, etc., as intercrops between rows. After
the harvest, it is possible to grow a second crop of
Horsegram. During the last three years, an income of
about Rs. 2000/- from inter-
crops alone has been possible.
This is established in an area of 400 square meters (4
guntas). French Beans, Brinjal, Bhendi (Lady's finger),
Raddish, Carrot, Clusterbeans, Cabbage, Vegetable Cow-
pea, Tomato, Chilli, etc., are successfully taken up in this
unit. Especially 10-12 types of green leafy vegetables are
invariably produced in this garden and these are available
continuously throughout the year. Due emphasis has been
given for chilli production and at the end of every season
8-10 kg of dry (red) chillies are obtained. For the last three
years, vegetables alone have contributed to the tune of
Rs. 2500-3000 income to the farm family per annum.
Other Important Features
In the front and back yards of the farm house flow-
ers, Coconuts, Arecanut, Betelvine, Pepper, Lemon,
Curry leaves, Medicinal plants (for the common health
problems that are usually encountered), Papaya,
Banana plants etc., are grown
to reap the benefits.

A Farm House (Hut) This model demands dedica-

A farmhouse (hut) for dwelling tion and cordial love and affec-
of the farm family, a cattle shed, a tion from the farm family. It pro-
latrine, a biogas plant, five com- vides healthy,
post production vats, a farm pond, pollution-free, chemical-free
appended with a poultry cage, a products to the owners
beehive unit and a kitchen garden and promises a life
are the salient features of this seg- embedded with complete satis-
ment. faction and free from debts. The
farmer marches from insecurity
Farm Pond towards prosperity and sustaina-
As mentioned above, this bility.
44 VOLUNTARY SECTOR
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

National Policy on Voluntary Sector - 2007

A National Policy on the Voluntary Sector - 2007 has been formulated by the Government of India to
initiate the process to evolve a new working relationship between the Government and Voluntary
Sector, without affecting the autonomy and identity of Voluntary Organizations.

A
S THE an effective non-political link between the
people and the government, the voluntary sector
has been contributing significantly to finding inno-
vative solutions to poverty, deprivation and discrimination.
Therefore, a National Policy has been evolved in the year
2007 to recognize the important role that the voluntary
sector has to play in various areas and affirms the growing
need for collaboration with the voluntary sector by the
Government as well as the private sector, at the local,
provincial and national levels.
The Policy covers voluntary organizations (VOs) which
include organizations engaged in public service, based on
ethical, cultural, social, economic, political, religious, spiri-
tual, philanthropic or scientific & technological considera-
tions. VOs include formal as well as informal groups, such
as community-based organizations (CBOs); non-govern-
mental development organizations (NGDOs); charitable
organizations; support organizations; networks or federa-
tions of such organisations as well as professional member-
ship associations.
enabling environment for VOs that stimulates their enter-
prise and effectiveness, and safeguards their autonomy; b)
to enable VOs to legitimately mobilize necessary financial
resources from India and abroad; c) to identify systems by
which the Government may work together with VOs, on
the basis of the principles of mutual trust and respect, and
with shared responsibility; and d) to encourage VOs to
adopt transparent and accountable systems of governance
and management.
Enabling Environment
In order to achieve these objectives, an Enabling Environ-
ment will be established for the voluntary sector to help
safequard their autonomy, simplify their registration proce-
dures, enacting a simple and liberal law for registering VOs
that wish to operate in different parts of India and abroad,
to streamline the system of granting Income Tax exemp-
tion status to charitable projects and check misuse of these
incentives, to simplify Foreign Contribution Regulation Act
from time to time, and working together of government
and voluntary sector in the nation's development process.

VOs characteristics
To be covered under the Policy, VOs should broadly have
characteristics, such as, a) They are private, i.e., separate
from Government; b) They do not return profits generat-
ed to their owners or directors; c) They are self-governing,
i.e., not controlled by Government; and d) They are regis-
tered organizations or informal groups, with specifically
defined aims and objectives.
The specific objectives of the policy are: a) to create an
Depending upon the needs, the government will utilize
the expertise of the voluntary sector by including experts
from VOs in the committees, task forces, and advisory
panels constituted from time to time to help address
important public issues.
In order to strengthen the voluntary sector, government
will support and encourage funding from philanthropic
organisations so as to channelise private wealth for public
service.

Viewed from the standpoint of the present the carrying out of such
a program of human development must seem a very pointless
occupation; but it is doubtful whether the present civilization
would appear to an educated Athenian as something worthy to
mark the culmination of his efforts.
— John Desmond Bernal

Who Can "Fix" Poverty ?
For long, we have been relying on the government to fix the problem of poverty. Then we thought
that NGOs will somehow solve the problem. Now we think private companies, through their
"corporate social responsibility" (CSR) programs, will significantly reduce poverty.
F
OR decades, thousands of NGOs
have been working on different
poverty aspects to deliver basic
services and to create livelihood oppor-
tunities for the poor. While NGOs have
relied mostly on donor funds in earlier
years, lately they have turned to gov-
ernment for assistance. Unable to deliv-
er services effectively, governments
have increasingly sought NGOs for
assistance. These partnerships involve
governments either working with NGOs
and/or channeling funds through them.
NGOs Effective
Traditionally NGOs have been found
to be fairly effective in the delivery of
services, often in a complementary role.
For example, NGOs may take up pro-
jects in education or health care where
there might be major deficiencies in
government-run programs. For exam-
ple, NGOs have initiated projects to
prepare pre-school children for primary
education. Similarly, NGOs have been
involved in awareness and prevention
of HIV/AIDS.
While some NGOs have successfully
embarked on livelihood projects such
as mobilizing poor people in handi-
crafts and job training, for the most
part they have not been involved in any
large scale employment creation. With
the increasing popularity of micro-
credit, creation of new jobs and busi-
ness opportunities are left to the so-
called social entrepreneurs who are
essentially for-profit organizations.
However, there is some confusion in
the minds of many on the activities of
POVERTY 45
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
ABRAHAM M. GEORGE
NGOs and micro-finance companies
that serve similar markets.
Many companies in India have
formed CSR departments that make
donations and involve themselves in ini-
tiatives designed to help the poor. Some
have even formed NGOs to channel
funds and undertake projects. But the
CSR movement appears mostly to be a
public relations campaign or a "feel
good" effort, and less of any major
assistance to the poor. The little that the ABRAHAM M. GEORGE
companies do is, often they are tied to
Abraham George holds a
publicity and favors to politicians, and Ph.D. in Business
become an indirect channel to sell their Administration, has written
products. Companies have figured out three books in International
ways to extract government grants for Finance, and was a
successful entrepreneur in
their CSR activities, and hence, mini-
the Untied States for more
mize their own contributions. Regard- than 25 years. He is the
less of all these, if even small benefit founder and managing
goes to the poor, it is well and good. trustee of the George
Foundation, a charitable
trust working towards
Health Care, Educational Support
poverty alleviation
I like to see corporations investing in (www.tgfworld.org).
the rural sector. They must be required His charitable work through
to pay wages that allow families to sup- the George Foundation in
port themselves. They must offer at India for over ten years has
focused on poverty
least minimum benefits for employee
alleviation, empowerment of
health care and educational support. women, health care and
They must not damage the environ- education for the rural poor.
ment. If they would do just these and Dr. George is the author
be socially conscious citizens, it is more of a highly acclaimed r
ecent book: India
than sufficient. Unfortunately, even
Untouched: The Forgotten
those companies that have CSR pro- Face of Rural Poverty.
grams do not adhere to these simple
principles.
India has surged ahead economically
through privatization of its urban sec-
tors, but nobody wants to come to the
villages because of the low purchasing
46 POVERTY
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

power of its consumers. But companies should not be
focusing on selling to the "bottom of the pyramid"
(which will happen in due course when purchasing
power rises) but on manufacturing. Hence, my recom-
mendation is that the private sector should be offered
sufficient good reasons to enter the rural sector in
areas where they can have an economic advantage by
sort of rural outsourcing as well as in establishing
industries, especially in agro-related products. Gov-
ernments must offer sufficient incentives for compa-
nies to invest in the rural and deprived communities
by way of soft loans, infrastructure improvements, tax
breaks, etc. and keep out of the process except for
enforcement of labor laws, worker safety and environ-
mental protection. Market forces will automatically
take hold. The trouble is that neither the government
nor the companies do their part. NGOs can play a pos-
itive role in facilitating proper involvement of the gov-
ernments and companies.
We are under the illusion that poverty can be solved
by NGOs and the government. Now we are beginning
to think that the CSR movement will. Both NGOs and
governments have roles to play, but the real solution
is in creating vibrant economic activity. This is the les-
son I have learnt from our Baldev Farms and other
work being carried out by the George Foundation in
Tamil Nadu.
george@optonline.net.

Sangopita
A Shelter for the Care of Special Children

S
ANGOPITA, a shelter for care, was found- a multi-purpose hall was constructed, and the
ed by Sujata and Ravindra Sugwekar to special school was started with 2 students.
provide a residential-cum-day school Karmayog, Today 44 students attend the school that
for special children (who are suffering a website set up has been built and nurtured from dona-
from cerebral palsy or are autistic or slow in 2004 to assist tions from friends and family, as well as
learners) in the suburban areas of Bad- NGOs and connect from loans. The school provides a day
lapur. The idea for this initiative came them to those who school as well as residential facilities,
from their own experience of being want to help their trained staff and assistants, spe-
unable to find any such services initiatives, supports cialised training and care for the stu-
available for their spastic son, Sangopita. It offers Resource dents, medical facilities, vocational
Akshay. The basic ideology of San- Sections on more than 100 training, entertainment and leisure
gopita is to provide a home, educa- issues and causes; provides facilities, and balanced food as
tion, medical help, specialised thera- space for Focus Groups to required by the students.
pies, and vocational training that are take up issues/causes, Locality
required by special children, all Sites to enable you to stay Future plans include expansion of
under one roof, with the aim of connected with others in the residential block, increase in
enhancing the children's physical and your locality or community staff and number of classrooms, up-
mental capabilities to the extent pos- and address their specific gradation of the kitchen, raising a
sible, thus enabling them to become concerns; and connects meditation center, acquiring a school
independent for their basic needs. you to those who can bus, and setting up of a rural dispen-
offer you solutions or sary to enhance their outreach.
Sangopita is registered under the Bom- to whom you can Income for the Year 2005 - 2006 was
bay Public Trusts Act and is exempted offer help. The Rs. 6.59 lakh.
under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act website is for
1961. Since its inception in 2003, Sangopita free. karmayog.org/
has acquired a plot of land in Badlapur on which ngoofthemonth

Community Policing
An Alternative Strategy for Public-Police Partnerships
Community Policing revolves around the principle of proactive policing through people-friendly policing
practices, community participation and problem-solving leading to crime prevention.
L
AW enforcement agencies across the
globe, in order to meet the emerging
challenges, are focusing on strategies
that help prevent crime, reduce fear of crime
and improve the quality of life in neighbour-
hoods. An alternative policing strategy that
is adopted worldwide is Community Policing
that advocates forging of problem-solving
partnerships between the police and the
public. Community policing allows law
enforcement agencies to get back to the
principles upon which it was founded, to
integrate itself once again into the fabric of
the community so that the people and the
police collaborate even before a serious
problem arises and not merely as a knee-
jerk reaction after a crisis arises. The com-
munity plays a crucial role in helping the
police resolve crime and disorder. Therefore,
a collaborative approach to solve the com-
munity problems is called for.
India is a democracy with an enormous
population and multiple problems, but with
too inadequate a police force to deal with
these problems. The ratio of police to public
stands at about one policeman for every
thousand members of the public (1:1000) as
per recent statistics. Besides, research indi-
cates that merely increasing the strength of
the police force does not lead to a corre-
sponding tangible decrease in crime rate.
Friends of Police
Some experiments in different aspects of
governance have been tested and empiri-
cally proved as good governance practices
and could serve as a model to be adopted
with suitable modifications by the entire
country. Some key elements of these initia-
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
PRATEEP V. PHILIP
tives from all over the country have been
identified and integrated into a viable
model or road map for community partici-
pation in policing for the whole country.
The Friends of Police (FOP) Model incorpo-
rates all these key elements of community
policing into a cohesive wholesome process
and thereby, improves the quality of polic-
ing and the delivery of police services.
The FOP concept goes beyond the exist-
ing community policing philosophy. Friends
of Police are not mere substitutes for
policemen. They are integrated with the
police system but are not to be identified
with the police. Any function or role that
any enlightened citizen is expected to per-
form as per the law of the land is the role
of the FOP.
The FOP concept is based on an under-
standing that if the "power-haves" (the
police) do not share power with the peo-
ple, the police are disliked, if not hated.
Conversely, if the "power-haves" share
power with the people they serve, the
police are liked, if not loved. Though it is
based on individual empowerment, it is
called a movement because it invokes the
power of the masses.
The concept is gaining wide acceptance
that the police are not mere agents of the
Government or creatures of law who are to
react to emergent situations but they are,
primarily, agents of social change.
prateepp@vsnl.com
www.friendsofpolice.org
www.prateepphilip.com
POLICING 47
PRATEEP V. PHILIP
Prateep V. Philip, I.P.S.,
Deputy Inspector General
of Police, Social justice
and Human Rights,
Tamil Nadu, has
distinguished himself
as a pioneer and
innovator.
He pioneered the
internationally-acclaimed
Friends of Police Movement
that has been accepted as
an International Blueprint
for Community Policing. In
recognition of his work, he
was awarded the inaugural
British Gurukul Scholarship
for Excellence and
Leadership (1997). He
established the first ever
higher education link in
India between Tamil Nadu
Police Training and the
British Police Training,
Bramshill, UK. Recently, he
was one of two officers
outside UK to be awarded
the inaugural 15,000 pound
Queen's Award for
Innovation in Police
Training and
Development.
48 EDUCATION
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
'Spend More on Education'
SCHOOL'S OUT
At a time when the country is facing a severe shortage of
educational institutions, several thousand schools do not
have a single student, a government survey has revealed.
32,000
Odd schools don't have a
single student.
48%(15,791) of these
are primary schools, mostly
in the rural areas and in
the public sector.
2.92% have zero enrolment
with Karnataka having the
highest number of such
schools at 7,945.
6.17% (69,353) have
less than 25 students: 1,70,888
have between 26
and 50 students.
States with high school
enrolment:
Bihar, Delhi, Kerala and
Uttar Pradesh.
Reasons for low enrolment
No teachers: This is one of the
main reasons. Some 23,000
schools are yet to get a teacher
while 1.3 lakh schools are
single-teacher institutes.
Some have para-teachers.
Migration: Exodus of people
due to various factors is
another reason. For instance,
Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal
Paradesh, where people
migrate due to climatic
conditions in winter,
have low enrolment.
Infrastructure: This, or the
lack of it, leads to low
enrolment. As many as
1,02,227 elementary schools
have only one classroom.
Source:
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
IN INDIA 2005-06
Ministry seeks
additional
Rs. 80,000 cr
Chetan Chauhan
New Delhi, August 5
T HE Human Resources Development
Ministry has demanded Rs. 80,000
crore more than what the Planning Com-
mission intends to give it in the 11th five-
year plan.
The commission, in consultation with
the PMO, has selected five areas where 70
per cent of the funds in the 11th plan
would be spent. One of these areas is edu-
cation, whose total gross budgetary sup-
port it proposes to increase to 18.2 per
cent (Rs. 2,69,600 crore) from 7.8 per cent
in the 10th plan. But the ministry has
demanded
Rs. 80,000 crore.
an additional
It wants an additional Rs. 40,000 crore
for its flagship Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and
midday meal programmes. There is also a
huge variance between the ministry
demand and commission projection for
secondary and adult education. Only in
the area of the higher education is the dif-
ference in projections slightly low at Rs.
15,000 crore.
The commission feels school education
should more or less be the responsibility of
the state and private participation should
be increased. The ministry says the states
just don't have the finances for such pro-
grammes while increased private invest-
ment will only commercialise education.
chetan@hindustantimes.com
 EDUCATION 49
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

True Education
A Practical Way to Ignite Thinking among Students
DR. BHAMY V. SHENOY

A
FTER 45 years I was returning to
my native place Bantwal (near
Mangalore) for a longer stay of
two months. Ever since I left it for my
studies at IIT and then abroad, I have vis-
ited it very frequently but only for one or
two days. This is a typical rural town sur-
rounded by small villages dependent
upon farming and beedi rolling.
Learning-Unfriendly Environment
In this town, there is a five-year degree
college with 1000 students. Most of
them are first generation literates. A large
percentage (99%) is not accustomed to
reading books other than text books
despite the college having a good selec-
tion of books. These students for several
reasons are also not accustomed/allowed
to asking questions as in many other col-
leges. Because of the well critiqued edu-
cation system of ours, they are also not
encouraged to think of and develop their
own solutions to any problems. They are
not encouraged to offer their comments.
To make some changes in this kind of
rigid and learning-unfriendly environ-
ment, I experimented with a seminar
series called "True Education" during my
stay. It was a great success.
I had 19 sessions with a small group of
20 students (surprisingly 19 were girls and
just one boy). We limited the participation
so that every one can be given personal
attention. They regularly attended these
sessions over a period of seven weeks.
There was no compulsion to attend. No
student could relax and day dream since
every one had to either ask a question or
make comments during all these sessions
on topics of wide ranging interests. I
noticed a remarkable improvement during
this short span. Students were hesitant to
open their mouth before the beginning of
the seminar series. Towards the end they
were completely transformed and there
was not enough time to respond to all
their questions.
Topics
The topics covered were: Philosophy of
Jiddu Krishnamurthy, NGO movement in
India, World and Indian History, India's
activities involving consumer
Energy Crisis, Communism, Socialism and
Capitalism, Holding a mirror to Indian
society, Politics and Corruption, Major
world conflicts, Citizen Responsibility,
Need for Reservation, Status of Education,
Management Principles, World's religions,
former Soviet Union countries.
Science, Superstition and Modern Gurus,
Energy and Environment, Reasons for
India remaining poor even after 60 years
DR. BHAMY V. SHENOY
Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy, an IIT
Madras graduate with a Ph.D
in business administration
from University of Houston,
worked for Conoco in all
phases of International
Petroleum Industry for 21
years, from 1966 to 1987.
He took early retirement in
1987 to return to India to get
involved in India's
development. He has been
participating in various NGO
protection, education and
environment. He contested
election twice as an
independent. From 1997 to
2003, he was involved in
energy sector reform in
He is currently an honorary
advisor to the national oil
company in Georgia.
50 EDUCATION
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
of Independence, Liberalization, privatization and globaliza-
tion (LPG), and Critical factors for India's development. I
spent just 15 minutes at the beginning of each session intro-
ducing the topic. The remaining 75 minutes were spent in
Q & A.
Valedictory
During the valedictory, every student made a short pre-
sentation on what they got out of this seminar series.
Every one wanted this experiment repeated for the ben-
efit of other students who missed the opportunity. One
stated that he learnt more during these 19 sessions than
during his entire 15 years of schooling. Many girls men-
tioned that they have now started to read newspapers
and that too critically for the first time. Many talked
about the courage they have acquired as a result of their
participation to ask questions not only in the classrooms
but also in government offices. All were determined to
take up some civic cause to fight against social evils like
Innovative Farm Methods
IITian's Experiments in Chennai
RAM KRISHNAN
A
S a lot has been said and written about already, India is
passing through the most critical times on the agricul-
tural front with multiple intractable problems throttling
the farmer from different directions. This is the juncture when
innovation is the urgent need. Understandably, Madhavan's
experiments in his Padapai farm have become cynosure of all
eyes.
Most Indian farmers (80%) are
called marginal farmers. Through gen-
erations, the father has split his land
holdings amongst his children. Now
the average Indian farmer has just an
acre of plot for cultivation. If a farmer
owns more than 6 acres, India classi-
fies him as a 'big' farmer.
In Tamil Nadu and other parts of India, the land holding
farmer would hire daily 'coolies' to work in his farm for a daily
wage of Rs. 65. These coolies can now get about Rs 120,
working as a dishwasher in a restaurant in a nearby larger
town. Hence, they demand the same Rs 120 to work as a
daily coolie in the agricultural farm. The farmer cannot afford
untouchability, casteism, dowry system, gender bias, child
labor, plastic menace, water harvesting, tree planting,
improving the local hospital, etc.
Some colleges have already come forward to imple-
ment this program. There is hardly any cost to implement
it. There is no bureaucracy involved in the implementa-
tion since no prior permission is required from the gov-
ernment. Through this program we can encourage inde-
pendent thinking and critical questioning abilities on the
part of students without having to wait for our political
class and bureaucracy to change the education system.
What we need are a few - just one or two per college -
ofcommitted teachers/educationists to get involved.
Every well informed and concerned educationist can join
these efforts either as facilitators of the seminar series in
areas they live or by sponsoring some one to conduct
them if they are unable to for some reason.
bhamysuman@hotmail.com
to pay this increase in daily wages. Most farmers have pledged
their crop to banks for a loan, to get seeds or water and other
essential inputs. Given this predicament, many farmers are
deciding to close down their farms and move to the nearby
towns to work as coolies themselves.
In this context, what IITM alumni Madhavan is hoping to
achieve needs national attention. He
is making great efforts to improve
farm productivity. With simple meth-
ods, tools and process, he is achieving
manifold increase in the yield. In 2
short years, he has made dramatic
changes. Some of the techniques he is
employing include simple hand tools
promoted by the university of Califor-
nia in their Davis Campus.
But this needs some funding to procure the tools as well as
ship them to his farm near Chennai. Let us encourage Mad-
havan. Thereby we are, in a way, breathing new life into the
beleaguered Indian farmer.
ram.krishnan@yahoo.com

Need for a New Development Paradigm
There is a strong case for the funding agencies to consider changes in their approach, particularly for the
countries facing the challenge of reaching out to large populations with workable solutions. Project Plan
100, launched in August 2005 by Lend-A-Hand-India, is a step in that direction. Lend-A-Hand-India is
helping to address the challenge of youth unemployment and urban migration in India by scaling
up successful, sustainable, and replicable models, created by grassroots NGOs.
A
group of professionals, motivated
with the thought to give back to the
community and to contribute to the
challenges confronted by poverty wherev-
er it exists, founded Lend-A-Hand-India, a
New York-based not-for-profit, tax exempt
corporation. It is an outcome of an idea,
nurtured over five years, by its founders,
Sunanda Mane and Raj Gilda.
The foremost challenge before the exec-
utive board of this start-up was to decide its
program strategy: How can Lend-A-Hand-
India differentiate itself from several big,
resourceful, and long standing foundations
and invest its small dollars in the best man-
ner that will make an impact.
Lend-A-Hand-India finalized its program
strategy and approach after much deliber-
ation. It made these conscious choices in
recognition of India's population challenge
and the need to reach large numbers with
workable solutions.
Program strategy and approach
The overall program focus will be youth
unemployment and urban migration.
Lend-A-Hand-India will assist the grass
roots NGOs to replicate and scale up
their proven program interventions and
technologies with an objective to moti-
vate them to diversify and move beyond
their existing program areas.
At the project implementation level,
Lend-A-Hand-India will develop and
design projects in collaboration with
selected non-profit organizations and
share with them technical and program
TRANSFORMATION 51
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
SUNANDA MANE
expertise, complimented with financial
assistance, to deliver time bound and
result oriented projects.
Lend-A-Hand-India will undertake short
term field research studies to enrich pro-
grams and project planning,
In a country like India, Lend-A-Hand-
India strongly believes that the govern-
ment policy measures need to be compli-
mented by efforts at grassroots level.
Besides, achieving the primary goals, the
above approach will also help in organiza- SUNANDA MANE
tion and human resource development of Sunanda holds a Master's in
Economics from University of
the NGOs and increase the transparency. In
Poona, India; and Master's in
August 2005, Lend-A-Hand-India International Development from
launched its flagship project, Plan 100, with Columbia University, New York.
an objective to make the high school edu- Over the past fifteen years
cation a rewarding experience leading to a Sunanda has designed and
constructive approach to career opportuni- managed projects in
ties and self employment. Plan 100 is a microfinance, small business
development, primary
project to equip 20,000 girls and boys from
education, and governance.
100 high schools in rural India with job and She has held senior
life skills. So far Lend-A-Hand-India has managerial and consulting
opened eighteen basic rural technology positions in organizations
training centers in rural high school with an such as CARE, UNDP, World
enrollment of over 2100 girls and boys. Bank, and philanthropic
These centers provide students an opportu- foundation. Sunanda has
extensively worked in
nity to simultaneously learn multiple voca-
India and Bangladesh,
tional, job oriented skills with hands on Tajikistan, and the US.
experience by undertaking community Sunanda currently sits
work. on the board of two New York
based non-profit
Yet another project, Project Disha, oper- foundations.
ates in six villages, covers about 2300 stu- Sunanda conceptualized
and co-founded
dents, and provides aptitude testing, career
Lend-A-Hand-India
counseling and mentoring services. in 2003.
sunanda.mane@
lend-a-hand-india.org
52 SEEDS
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

the tele.graam
an occasional bulletin of news from "the distant village"

Seed Village Program Goes State-wide in Karnataka

Farmers' Perspective
In order to fully grasp the significance of this project one
must see this subject from the perspective of the farmer.
For him, the seed is most critical. It is central to all agricul-
tural and horticultural production. The seed's quality,
availability and cost determine what is sowed and what is
harvested and hence the food supply for all of us.
The availability of seeds is critical because of the small
window of time when they must be sown. In rural India,
the demand and supply of seeds is unpredictable. Nature
works in her own way and adds to these uncertainties.
requirements, methods of handling seeds during pre-sow-
ing operations, rouging at different stages of crop growth,
harvesting and preparing samples for testing, bagging
and labeling.
A Seed Processing Center
Inaugurated in June, 2005, the farmers bring harvested
seeds to the Center to be dried, cleaned and graded. A
small laboratory capable of testing the germination
potential of the seeds is attached. The seeds are then
bagged and labeled as to kind, variety and lot number,
which will help keep track of their performance.

Seed Procurement - Then & Now
Historically, farmers have simply put aside the best of their
harvest for the next seasonal planting. This system helped
preserve the thousands of varieties of seeds that are called
traditional. This changed with the advent of globalization.
The seed has become a commercial product along with
other agricultural items. This was reinforced primarily
through terms and conditions imposed by the World Trade
Organization's (WTO).
Based on this model's success, a 3-year program was cre-
ated to extend this model to all districts of Karnataka,
under Swarnajayanti Gram Swarazgar Yojana (SGSY) - to
cover agricultural, horticultural and sericultural crops.
A collaboration of KVKs statewide, Central Silk Board,
Agricultural Universities, the Governments of Karnataka
and India and with a project budget of Rs 1,485.046 laks,
the program is presently headed by Prof. M. Rudraradhya.

As a result many of the traditional varieties have become The Seed Processing
rare and some have become extinct. Center in Suttur, is
Today between declining quality and commercial seduc- now operated by the
tion, more and more farmers are becoming dependent on Federation of Seed
large private and government seed companies. Growing Farmers.

A Seed Village
The concept of seed villages envisages a cluster of villages infraSys is proud to
(farmers) who will grow crops specifically with seeds that have been a part of
will be locally available at planting time at a reasonable this pilot program
price. In 2005, under the leadership of Padma Shri Dr. M. and is seeking other
Mahadevappa, JSS Rural Development Foundation and opportunities to
infraSys joined hands and invested a total of Rs 11 laks, to work with seeds.
implement what was to become a pilot project.
There are more stories to share… after the hard
One hundred farmers were selected and trained at the JSS work…after the harvest… and after after the seeds
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Suttur, Karnataka, in assessing seed are stored… in our distant villages.

infraSys is a company that invests in small enterprises in rural India. We bring together the necessary infrastructures
- physical, know-how and financial - without which such enterprises may neither succeed nor be sustainable. We
seek collaboration in creating livelihoods and infrastructure in rural areas.
Visit www.infrasys.biz and write to author at murthysudhakar@gmail.com
 NPOs 53
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Choosing the Type of NPOs

Trust, Society or Sec. 25 Company ?
NOSHIR H. DADRAWALA

In some states in India, legislations in vogue offer simplicity and ease in procedures of registration of Trusts,
Societies and Sec. 25 companies. Two trustees may establish a trust but societies require a minimum of
seven members for registration. In other states, the trust deed is easily registered at the sub-registrar's
office. A company is registered by registrar of companies after he approves the name of the company.

T
HE legal framework in India allows Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs)
a choice to register either as a trust, society or company. In states like
Maharashtra and Gujarat where a Public Trusts Act is in force, the
statute offers simplicity and ease in registration procedures. Just two
trustees may settle or establish a trust, while societies require a minimum of
seven members. The paperwork to establish a trust is less elaborate and in
certain states or in New Delhi the trust deed can be easily registered with
the sub-registrar's office. Trusts also enjoy autonomy in management and
administration. An individual may remain a trustee for life and new trustees
may be selectively appointed over a period of time. In a society or section-
25 company, there are requirements for a general body of members, peri- NOSHIR H. DADRAWALA
odic elections and annual general meetings. The setup is more democrat-
ic. Noshir H. Dadrawala is the
CEO of the Mumbai based 'Centre
Generally schools, colleges and hospitals established by wealthy families for Advancement of Philanthropy',
or corporate houses are founded as trusts. These educational or medical a company specializing in areas of
institutions are usually built on private and family lands and from private charity law, finance, management,
and family wealth for public good. Trusts offer them greater control and taxation, resource mobilization
autonomy in management and administration. Members of the family may and human resource development.
remain on the board for as long as they may want to. New trustees may Vice Chairman of 'Asia Pacific
be selectively appointed from time to time and there is no requirement of Philanthropy Consortium', a
a general body of members or annual general meetings. Director of 'Resource Alliance"
and a member of the Coordinating
Registering A Trust Committee of the 'Worldwide
The application for registration of a public charitable trust should be sub- Initiatives and Network of
mitted at the office of the charity commissioner having jurisdiction over the Grant-makers' (WINGS),
region/sub-region of the state in which the trust is to be registered. The Dadrawala is contributing editor
application should be made in the prescribed form. The trust deed should of the 'International Journal on
be executed on non-judicial stamp paper. In some states, the trustee appli- Non-profit Law' and visiting
cant should submit an affidavit, and all co-trustees sign a consent letter. faculty at, among other
institutions, the Tata Institute of
Registering A Society Social Sciences, Narsee Monjee
The application for registration of a society should be made to the regis- Institute of Management Studies
trar of societies. The application should be submitted together with the and the S.P. Jain Institute of
memorandum of association and rules and regulations. In states like Maha- Management and Research.
rashtra and Gujarat all societies registered under the Act of 1860 are also
required to register under the Bombay Public Trusts Act 1950.
54 NPOs
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Registering A Company Approval under Section 35AC

The first step towards registration of a company
(under section 25 of the Indian Companies Act) is the
application for availability of name, by which the com-
pany may be called, to the registrar of companies, made
in the prescribed form. A choice of three other names
should also be suggested in case the first name is not
found acceptable by the registrar. Once the name is
available, an application should be made in writing to
the regional director of the company law board. The
application should be accompanied by three printed
copies of the memorandum and articles of association
of the proposed company, duly signed by all the pro-
moters with full name, address and occupation.
Tax Exemption
Once the NPO is registered as a trust, society or sec-
tion -25 company, the next logical step is to apply for
tax exemption with the income tax authorities. The
application for 12A certificate must be submitted,
together with the certified copies of the trust deed or
memorandum and articles of association, certified
copies of the registration certificate obtained from the
charity commissioner's office or the registrar of soci-
eties/companies.
80G Certificate under the Income Tax Act
A donor is entitled to a 50% tax rebate for donations
made to NPOs having 80G(5) certificate. The applica-
tion for approval of an NPO under section 80G(5) of
the Income Tax Act should be made in the prescribed
form, together with copies of the registration certificate
and the trust deed/memorandum and articles of associ-
ation.
of the Income Tax Act
Contribution(s) made to a project/scheme notified
as an eligible project or scheme for the purpose of sec-
tion 35AC of the Income Tax Act, would entitle the
donor to a 100% deduction of the amount of such
contribution. Unlike the certificate granted under sec-
tion 80G (wherein donations made to a qualifying
organization entitles a donor to a 50% deduction), the
certificate under section 35AC is generally given to an
eligible and approved project. The application for
approval of an association or institution for the pur-
pose of section 35AC should be forwarded to the sec-
retary of the National Committee for the Promotion of
Social and Economic Welfare. The National Committee
usually recommends to the Central Government, a
project or scheme for notification as an eligible project
or scheme for an initial period of three financial years.
Approved projects/schemes are generally for rural
development, urban slums, etc. Every NPO has to
apply for allotment of Permanent Account Number
(PAN).
Registration for Seeking Foreign Funds
All NPOs in India, whether registered or not, come
under the purview of the Foreign Contribution
(Regulation) Act. The application for obtaining prior
permission of the Central Government to receive
foreign contribution should be made in form FC-1A
and the application for registration of a nonprofit
organization for acceptance of foreign contributions
should be made in the prescribed form FC-8.
centphil@vsnl.com

“ Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for

daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty,
and a building block of development...Especially for
girls and women, it is an agent of family health
and nutrition. For everyone, everywhere, literacy
is, along witheducation in general,
“
a basic human right...

— Kofi Annan, Former UN Secretary General

 CAREER 55
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Learning Journey - Dec 15-22, 2007

RAM KRISHNAN

T
HIRTY years ago, the average US citizen thought of ences through video and in writing so that the tour partici-
India as a country full of snake charmers. Now, thanks pants will share their understanding of rural India with their
to outsourcing, he/she thinks that every Indian citizen friends and colleagues upon their return. If each of them
is a double graduate in Maths and Science. We know that can place the Indian situation in proper perspective among
both these images about India are wrong. India continues 10 friends, we hope to take around 300 NRIs next year and
to be essentially an agricultural society with almost 250 mil- organise similar tours in North, West, East and South India.
lion people of the
worlds 'extreme If half the participants of this tour get inspired to 'engage'
poverty' population themselves in the rural development of areas of their choice
(of one Billion) in the fields of water, agriculture, health, education, liveli-
earning less than $ hood, energy, this tour will be a great success. The tour has
1 day, living in been planned, thanks to the enthusiasm shown by Ram
India. To under- Narayanan of New York state.
stand this position
and hopefully If in the next few years we have NRIs working in every
engage in rural one of the 660 districts of India, we will truly be a developed
transformation, 30 country as President Kalam hopes India to be by 2020.
NRIs in the US have agreed to visit some of India's villages
and see for themselves what is happening. This 7-day tour
takes place on Dec 15-22, 2007 in southern Tamil Nadu.

Starting with a briefing session in Chennai on Dec 15, this

group travels by a train and bus to visit Ganghigram Rural
Institute in Dindukal, Watershed and micro-credit programs
taken up by DHAN foundation in Madurai and Ramanatha-
puram districts, see some of the poorest villages in
Vilathikulam region of Tuticorin district and conclude the
tour with a visit to Vivekananda Center at Kanyakumari.

The tour members come from almost every part of the

United States, they represent all age groups and hail from
many States of India. We plan to document their experi-

“ Development is a comprehensive economic, social, political,

and cultural process that aims at the improvement of the quality
of life of all people and the full enjoyment of all fundamental freedoms
and human rights without disntinction as to race, gender, religion,
“
status, or political belief. It is though a genuine development
that the full potentials of the human person and the
whole human race can be fully realized.
— UN Declaration of the Decade of Development
56 CITIZEN SECTOR
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Citizen Sector in India

Will it Cope with New Responsibility ?
VENKATESH RAGHAVENDRA & MALINI SEKHAR

The citizen sector of India has seen tremendous growth over the past decades. This growth and
development is due in part to India's rich history of social reform movements. With growing
influence in society, the citizen sector in this era of economic activity has and will play a
critical role in a more holistic development for the haves and have-nots in India.

N
OWADAYS, they are often the most
accessible resources to communities.
Politicians and CEOs emphasize their
affiliations to the powerful and effective ones.
Famous personalities lend their faces to their
causes. Globally, they are identified under a
spectrum of names: Non-Governmental Orga-
nizations (NGOs), Non-Profit Organizations
(NPOs), the Voluntary Sector, the Third Sector,
and Citizen Sector Organizations (CSOs). The
list of phrases go on to describe the space or
blaring gap as is often the case, between the
state and private interests where various
dynamic initiatives driven by public citizens
have grown in strength and depth to address
challenges facing communities. In this
instance, we will refer to this space as the citi-
zen sector. As in the words of Bill Drayton,
Founder of the global organization Ashoka:
Innovators for the Public, "It is more productive
to be defined by what one is, rather than what
one is not."
Emergence of Citizen Sector
The emergence of the citizen sector in con-
temporary India owes much of its foundations
to the social reform movements and their
charismatic leaders during British rule and post-
independence. The satyagraha philosophy led
by Mahatma Gandhi inspired a focus on social
welfare and sustainable development which
was inextricably linked to India's independence
movement. In addition, compelling leaders
such as Raja Rammohan Roy earlier on, and Dr.
B. R. Ambedkar advocated strongly against
social bigotry, caste discrimination, and oppres-
sive customs. E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, also
known as Periyar, was another example of a
significant figure inspiring social reform in post-
Independence India.
"Periyar's Swayam-maryada (Self-Respect)
campaign mobilized hundreds and thousands
of people and put the spotlight on the issues of
equity and equal opportunity in post-Indepen-
dence India. Periyar also radically altered the
position of women and strived for gender equi- VENKATESH
ty as well." Says Ravichandra Raju, head of RAGHAVENDRA
Manas, a CSO based in Hyderabad.
Venkatesh
Raghavendra is
In post-independence India, the government Chief Philanthropy
attempted to play a greater role in addressing Officer with the
social welfare. Five-year development plans American India
Foundation in
came into existence as well as government-
New York.
funded-and-managed Khadi and Village Indus-
tries which were an attempt to promote small-
scale products for a living that could be pro-
duced and sustained in India for the benefit of
its villages. Similarly, institutions training young
people in social work began to emerge. In the
years and decades that followed, it became
clear that the government was unable to effec-
tively deliver relevant and necessary services to
MALINI SEKHAR
all of its citizens. This inability gave way to
experimentation with alternative approaches to Malini Sekhar is
development which brought forth various stu- an independent
dent-led and voluntary movements that consultant
evolved with specific target groups such as the specializing in
international
Dalits, women, and focused on particular issues
development
like health, and the environment. issues.
According to Reetu Sogani, a key member of
the Community Awareness Centre in Uttaran-
chal, "People's movements have definitely been

able to bring about major changes in the life, attitudes, and
the spirit of civil society and have also helped initiate a process
to ensure responsive and accountable governance." More
recently, these movements have given way to a more profes-
sionalized approach to development, and have established
vast networks for organizations with varying missions.
Hugely Expanding
The citizen sector in India today is immense and expanding.
Exact figures vary, but according to Indianngo.com, most
agree there are one to two million citizen sector organizations
(CSOs) functioning in India. CSOs in India operate locally,
regionally, and nationally and vary in forms from societies to
trusts to more informal, unregistered movements. They
engage in a broad range of fields and activities. Some of
these activities include but are not limited to: direct services,
advocacy, education & training, monitoring & evaluation of
government programs, and specific project implementation.
In this era of economic liberalization, the citizen sector in
India has also burgeoned in clout. CSOs are now more visi-
bly acknowledged for striving to fill the gap left by govern-
ment and business sectors in terms of fulfilling basic livelihood
needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations in society.
It is no longer unheard of to have CSOs invited to the table
alongside policy makers in crafting effective legislation on spe-
cific issues. Although there are critics to India's Domestic Vio-
lence Act of 2002 and its limitations, drafts of the bill were
said to be widely circulated among women's groups and orga-
nizations. An example of the citizen sector's increasing influ-
ence according to Minal Doshi, director of Setu Developmen-
tal Intervention Centre in Gujarat, is Javed Abidi's determined
efforts to fight for disabled rights in India. "One person with
a disability, who felt a part of the society, took the Govern-
ment of India head-on because he felt that the State was not
doing enough to make him feel empowered and today, we
have a whole Act because of that" recalls Doshi.
Some engaged in citizen sector activities believe that a histori-
cal opportunity for change exists at this juncture when the citi-
zens' sector voice has become increasingly powerful and India's
economic activities continue to grow. "With increased economic
activity in India, there is an opportunity for engaging poor peo-
ple in productive and better paying vocations. So, in that sense,
there is a window that has opened up that did not exist 20 years
ago," states C.V. Madhukar, founder/director of PRS Legislative
Research, an independent initiative based in New Delhi.
Growing Challenges
Yet as the citizen sector emerges as a stakeholder, they also face
a growing set of challenges. Externally, Madhukar believes that
CITIZEN SECTOR 57
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
the citizen sector is still pushed to the margins when decision-
making opportunities present themselves. "Many policy makers
still see civil society as peripheral actors. Sometimes civil society
is seen as an ally (to help implement projects) and at other times
as a nuisance (when there are protests). From the point of view
of policy making, civil society has been limited in access and
opportunities, and thus it has done less than it can." Madhukar
says.
Internally, accountability, credibility, and transparency among
some CSOs have come into question. Often times, effective
monitoring and evaluation mechanisms of CSOs have not been
established which makes it difficult to assess the impact of their
work. CSOs with political and religious affiliations are at times
able to unfairly secure larger public benefits and influence. In
addition, some CSOs that have grown in funding resources and
networks often become more hierarchical and lose the spirit of
their original mission. Sogani affirms this through her own expe-
riences, "The emergence of the NGO movement, I feel, has killed
a certain spirit, to some extent. The spirit of people to come
together, to conjure up courage, bring up issues, challenge the
establishments, motivate others to join the movement, and car-
rying it forward against all odds has somehow gone down a bit.
At least in Uttranchal, I have seen fewer movements in the past
few years compared to 70s and 80s. NGOs have been acting
more as a parallel govt, and instead of promoting self-sufficiency,
they have made people more dependant than before." The evo-
lution of the citizen sector from its roots in people's movements
has also presented challenges for CSOs where leadership is con-
cerned. Just as movements of the past were inspired and driven
by charismatic leaders, CSOs have faced sustainability challenges
when the dynamic leader and founder becomes the sole heart
and face of the organization without building capacity and a
commitment towards carrying the mission forward from within.
Created Positive Impacts
Despite these ongoing challenges, most would agree that
the citizen sector in India has offered more positive social
impacts over time than in the converse. As of late, the sec-
tor has been developing clever and creative ways of partner-
ing, collaborating and overcoming barriers with both the
government and corporate sectors to enhance its influence
and impact across the country. In this decisive moment in
history where economic growth in India has the potential to
either furnish access to opportunities to disadvantaged pop-
ulations or increase the divide between the haves and have-
nots, the evolving role of the citizens sector becomes increas-
ingly important. The citizen sector might very well serve as
the catalyst in lessening this precarious divide.
venky04@gmail.com
58 ESSAY
CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
NGOs for Development
DR. SRINIVASA RAO
A Call for a New Order of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for Better and Faster Progress.
I
NDIA ranks 4th in the world accoding to its US $ 2.6
trillion GDP in terms of Purchasing Power Parity
(PPP). Yet its Human Development Index (HDI) rank
is 126th in the world in 2006. The HDI is developed by
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as
a measure of three indicators - health, education and
economy of the country.
In 2000, the United Nations General
Assembly adopted the Millennium Develop-
ment Goals (MDGs) -- eight goals for mem-
ber nations to fulfill by 2015 (see figure).
The MDGs corresponded
well with the UNDP’s
indices for human devel-
opment.
In order to achieve
these goals, countries
must work hard and
spend effectively. Part of
what makes a country
underdeveloped is gov-
ernment systems that are
imbued with bureaucra-
cy, lethargy and corrup-
tion. Lack of reliable data
hinders development
efforts. In order to collect relaiable data and
implement programs there must be a nation-
al level network of committed organizations
outside the government system. The Govern-
ment and the Corporate Sector cannot be
solely depended upon to accelerate human
development in India. The only other major
force that exists in the country is its more
than one million NGOs.
Pratham, interested in primary education, conducted
India's Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) with the
help of 482 NGOs. The mobilization of over 20,000 vol-
unteers across the country - 549 districts in 28 states, is
a great example of effective NGO networking
(http://www.pratham.org/).
The Akshaya Patra Foundation currently provides
approximately 800 thousand hygienic and nutritious Mid-
Day meals (MDM) to underprivileged school children
everyday in 14 locations in India. This is exemplary of a
public-private partnership model where the volunteer orga-
nization is working with the Central and State
Governments, along with corporations to imple-
ment the MDM program (http://www.akshaya-
patra.org/).
Share and Care Foundation, a New Jersey
based NGO, has been working to improve health
and education in India
through a few hundred
NGOs over the past twenty-
five years demonstrating that
the NRI contribution can be
channeled for development
in India (http://www.share-
andcare.org/)
These examples of net-
working for implementing
programs at a national level
demonstrate the scope for
forming national alliances by
NGOs. Governments and
corporations can lend their support but the real
implementation is by the NGOs. A large number
of NGOs need to work in concerted manner on
various activities across the country to improve the
HDI of India from its current 0.611 to that of a
developed nation (0.8). For reference, Norway is
ranked first in the world with an HDI of 0.965 and
Niger is at the bottom with 0.311.
A list of more than 1000 NGOs who worked in collabo-
ration with other NGOs is compiled and posted on the web
- www.afhd.org. If these NGOs function as a teams at the
grassroots level, the underlying cause of the problems can
be addressed successfully to make India a developed
country soon.
editor@afhd.org
 www.devdir.org

www.guidestar.org

www.microfinancegateway.org
The
directory of
development
organizations,
listing 51,000 www.developmentbookshop.org
www.yearofmicrocredit.org development
organizations,
has been
prepared to www.idealist.org

facilitate international
www.enterprise-development.org cooperation
and knowledge
sharing in www.devdir.org
delvelopment
work, both among
www.ruralfinance.org civil society
www.microlinks.org
organizations,
research
institutions,
governments
www.developmentmarketplace.org and the
private www.seepnetwork.org

sector.

www.wbcsd.org www.mdgs-un-org.org