1994 ANNUAL REPORT December,
1994
Dear Friends:
Over the years, PPI has gathered many supporters and friends. We wish to thank you for your support in 1994. For those of you who are new to PPI, here is a little of our background.
PPI was founded in 1977 in Seattle to help the under-privileged in India beyond the conventional contribution to charity. Though most of our projects are in rural areas, some have been undertaken in urban areas also. PPI, from its very inception, has been guided by the following goals:
ï to fund specific programs that make people self-reliant and self-sustaining: co-ops, low- interest loan programs, education, health care, vocational training, small-scale industries, etc.
ï to maximize the effect of each dollar sent by working directly with local organizations and volunteers and maintaining contact with them, and
ï to encourage new ideas that involve people participation in such issues as environmental awareness, afforestation, etc.
We want to share with you the excitement of
watching our projects grow. The following report of our projects
is summarized from letters and reports received from our various
project contacts.
A SYNOPSIS OF CURRENT PROJECTS - 1994-95
1. Village Fodder/Water Resource Enhancement Project - New Project
Mr. L. C. Tyagi, Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GVVS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan
This is a three-year pilot project to demonstrate
how small and marginal cultivators can harness rainwater to better
survive the recurrent droughts in the Thar desert. Earthen embankments
shared by three to four families are built to retain rainwater
in areas of six to eight acres each. Water thus collected is used
to grow crops and trees. Poor families are also being assisted
to build household cisterns for rain water storage; and a community
tubewell is being drilled to irrigate an area to grow fodder to
be stored for use by livestock during drought periods. PPI's funding
this year is Rs. 100,000 ($3200) out of a total three year commitment
for Rs. 300,000.
2. Environment with Economic Development - New Project
Mr. B. Sharanappa, PRAGATHI, Mysore, Karnataka
The objective of this project, started in January
1994, is to train villagers in horticulture and sericulture with
a view towards their economic development. So far, 53 people from
10 villages have been trained in horticulture and sericulture
techniques. In addition, a nursery was set up to provide tree
saplings at a subsidized rate to low income people. A total of
40,000 saplings of a variety of fruit trees were provided to about
1500 beneficiaries. The funding for the project is $3100.
3. Embroidery, Stitch-craft and Tailoring Project
Mr. Gauri Shanker Prasad, Rashtra Nirman Vidya Vikas Trust, Gaya, Bihar
This project was started in 1993 with initial
support for $900 covering the purchase of five sewing machines
and one interlock machine, as well as the salary of an instructor
for one year. The trainees included 30 women and high school students
from the area. This year, additional funding of $950 has been
provided to train 50 women in sewing and embroidery skills.
4. Traditional Craft Training Project
Ms. Lalitha Krishnaswamy, Self Employed Women's Training Association(SEWA), Ahmadabad, Gujarat.
The SEWA organization is a cooperative of poor
self employed women in the state of Gujarat. This project initiated
in late 1993, trains the daughters of seamstresses in the traditional
craft of patchwork, and assists them to market their products.
PPI's funds are being used to provide seed capital for "chindi"
(fabric scraps), sewing machines, and other equipment needed for
training. The project is proceeding well and a 168-member cooperative
(Kadi Khudder Hast Kala Women's Co-operative) has been
formed enabling it to get credit from banks to expand its activities
and rent space for its operations. They have already managed to
get export orders from OXFAM for their products. The project is
also linked to SEWA's other activities such as financial management,
marketing, health education, and water management. The funding
for this three-year project is $10,000. The training project will
ultimately expand to benefit 600 women.
5. Environmental Education and Afforestation Project
Mr. Varghees Cleates, Vikasana, Tarikere, Chikmangalur, Karnataka
The main thrust of this project (initiated
in late 1993), is to educate the farmers in ten villages in Tarikere
Taluk, Western Karnataka in environmental issues, through workshops,
slide shows, and exhibitions. Many of these farmers grow Tobacco
crops and depend on firewood collected from forest for curing
the Tobacco. The project has been making progress on several fronts:
1) The farmers are being educated to grow more environmentally
friendly crops. Species such as Papaya, Tamarind, Bamboo and Jack
fruit have been cultivated in the nursery and distributed to the
farmers. This activity has also provided some employment for youth
from scheduled castes. As a result, the farmers are depending
less on Tobacco crops for their livelihood. 2) Kitchen gardens
are being encouraged. Plants and seeds are being provided jointly
by Vikasana and the state horticulture department. 3) Workshops
in environmental education have been organized for women's groups
as well as for farmers. Total three-year funding is $5,600.
6. Sericulture Training Project
Ms. K. Sunanda, Alternative for India Development Group (AID), Bihar.
This three-year project begun in 1993 is an
integrated training and employment project for tribal women. The
project deals with Tussar and Mulberry Sericulture training Bihar.
In the first year a total of 155 women in two villages of Guriadamar
and Yeruwa have been successfully trained in mulberry plant cultivation,
silkworm rearing, and spinning and reeling of silk. About 500
acres of previously degraded land is being reforested with indigenous
trees such as Asan and Ashoka, which are host plants for Tasser
silk worms. A nursery to start saplings and an irrigation well
with a pump set have been built to sustain the project. AID has
sought and obtained technical expertise from various Governmental
agencies. Budget for this 3-year project is $12,100.
7. Leather Work Training/Marketing Project
Mr. L. C. Tyagi, Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GVVS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan
We completed the project of assisting cobblers
in three desert villages to market their shoes and leather products
in various Indian cities. This was a continuation of an earlier
project in which PPI's funds helped train the leather workers
in new shoemaking techniques. In December 1993, Mr. Tyagi has
sent us a summary of the achievements of the Cobbler Project,
which included some of the case histories. The program was implemented
in six villages; 4 women cooperatives were formed; beneficiaries
participated in urban exhibitions and were able to sell goods
worth Rs. 154,346 ($4930). In addition, they sold shoes worth
Rs. 2,00,000 ($6389) in local markets. The women's cooperatives
also conducted discussions on cleanliness, safe drinking water,
child education, health care, women's role in preventing alcoholism,
and equality of women. PPI's 1994 commitment is for Rs. 18000
($575).
8. Stone Quarry Worker Rehabilitation Project
Mr. L. C. Tyagi, Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GVVS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan
This is the final year of a three-year pilot
project to assist stone mine laborers in desert villages to free
themselves from heavy, life-long indebtedness to mine owners.
The loans for twenty-one workers have been re-negotiated so that
repayment can be made in easy installments, and the workers have
been provided with their own tools. They are now earning better
wages in village mines near their own homes. Perhaps even more
significantly for the future, partly due to PPI's interest and
inquires concerning conditions in the mines, GVVS was instrumental
in forming the Mine Labor Protection Campaign (MPLC), which filed
public interest litigation in the Rajasthan High Court against
the state government. A film is also being made on the status
of mine workers. On September 8-9, 1994, the MPLC sponsored a
round table conference in Jaipur with state and national governmental
leaders to educate the officials on issues such as mine worker's
health and safety and the exploitation of women and child labor.
PPI's funding for this year is for Rs. 30,500 ($990) out of a
total three year commitment of $ 4700.
9. Village Dairy Project
Dr. Samuel Issmer, Rural Welfare Association (RWA), Bangalore, Karnataka
The project, initiated in 1993, has provided
high-breed cows to 30 poor families in five villages near the
Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. A resident village volunteer
provides guidance in caring for animals, arranges for fodder,
and assists in marketing the milk. The money from the sale of
milk will be used to pay back the loans, which will then be recycled
to expand the program to other villagers. PPI members Shimoga
Srinath and Arun Trikha have visited the project site in January,
1993 and in November, 1994 respectively. It was heartwarming to
meet villagers taking care of their cows and calves, which provide
them with a decent livelihood. Dr. Issmer had earlier sent a
background description and a picture of each owner with his /her
cow. The project is proceeding very well. The total cost of the
project is $6,400 for three years.
10. Vocational Training Project New Project
Dr. Samuel Issmer, Rural Welfare Association (RWA), Bangalore, Karnataka
This project deals with the training of villagers near Chittor, Andhra Pradesh, in tailoring, Stitch-Craft, Embroidery and Typewriting. Over the next three years, 90 young women will be trained in sewing and 60 women will be trained in stitch-craft and 60 boys/girls will be trained in type writing classes. During his recent visit to the project, chairperson Arun Trikha met the students in sewing and stitch-craft classes, and was very impressed with the student skills already developed and the thoroughness of the teaching plans. The typewriting class is expected to be started in December 1994, when the local government has offered to provide them a room dedicated for this class. The project is for three years and the budget is Rs 105,700 ($3375) for the first year, and Rs. 88,000 ($2800) for each of the next two years.
11. Greeting Cards for Leprosy Victims Rehabilitation
Dr. Vikas Amte, Maharogi Sewa Samiti (MSS), Anandwan, Warora, Maharashtra
Completed with PPI assistance six years ago,
MSS's silk screen project for cured leprosy patients has been
supplying PPI every year with colorful greeting cards. This year,
we are selling 1,000 cards at 50 cents each on their behalf.
Some cards bear holiday greetings, and others are blank. All
the collected money will be sent to the project. Those interested
in purchasing or selling cards may contact Ilse Volinn, 524-3442.
12. Update on Non-formal Adult Education Project
Dr. Parameshwara Rao, Bhagavatula Charitable Trust(BCT), Vishakapattanam, Andhra Pradesh
We funded this project in 1992, to develop
books/reading material based on Indians epics and folklore and
distribute among the neo-literate adults in the villages. Dr.
Rao wrote us in July this year, that he has finally succeeded
in getting an agreement signed with the Literacy House, Hyderabad
a reputable outfit that has writers who specialize in writing
for the neo-literate. The Literacy House will also conduct workshops.
Our commitment for this project was for $3500. The project is
expected to be starting in November 1994.
13. Individual Contributions to Specific Non-PPI Projects:
Last year a special clause was approved to permit individuals to contribute to worthwhile projects that are consistent with PPI's goals and objectives. We wholeheartedly commend such efforts by the individuals and the matching organizations. The following projects were approved in 1994.
- Modern Medical Institute (MMI), Lalpur, Raipur, Madhya Pradesh
Ravi and Sarika Agrawal donated a sum of $8050 (with a 100% matching grant from Microsoft) towards purchase of "Life Support Systems" for the hospital. MMI is a new hospital built entirely by voluntary donations from individuals and various trustees with a goal to serve both the rich and the poor alike in and around Raipur, Madhya Pradesh state. The services will be provided free to those who cannot afford to pay. The equipment to be purchased include: Defibrillators, Pace Makers, Respirators, Dialysis Unit and C-Arm Unit.
- New School Building, Mandir, District Valsad, Gujarat
Dilip Naik donated $1613 (with a 100% matching grant from Microsoft) towards construction of a new school building in his village Mandir near the city of Surat, in the state of Gujarat. Mandir is a village with a population of 15000, approximately 6 miles from Dandi where Mahatma Gandhi lead the famous Salt Satyagraha in 1930. The village has a high school that caters to the educational needs of the surrounding villages as well. The construction of the new building is underway and should complete by March 1995.
- Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha, Pune, Maharashtra
Anita & Vijay Bhatt, and Nandini &
Prakash Limaye donated $1200 to the Karve Institute in Pune. This
institution started by Dr. D. K. Karve for women's education and
welfare will be 100 years old in 1996. They have recently established
a technical college for training women in electronics, computer
science and instrumentation. The donations from the Bhatts and
the Limayes is targeted to support this polytechnic institute.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
ï Dr. Samuel Issmer - Visit
We welcomed Dr. Samuel Issmer of Rural Welfare Association, Bangalore, who is in charge of projects #9 and #10 in March this year. He discussed his proposal to train villagers near Chittor in tailoring, stitch-craft, embroidery, and typesetting. He gave us many beautiful samples of embroidered napkins of the sort that would be produced by the trainees. In addition, he talked about the work he is doing with the South Asia Council for Community & Children in Crisis (SAC-CCC). This organization is primarily committed to the cause of rescuing and rehabilitating children and adults in crisis situations. They are mainly focusing on oppressed minorities, such as 'Dalit' community, Aborigines of South Asia, street children, orphans, children who have been exploited, and handicapped children.
ï Dr. Raja Rao and Mrs. Shubhada Karnik - Visit
In October this year, We were honored to have Dr. Raja Rao and Mrs. Shubhada Karnik from India, who have been involved in two different education projects in Maharashtra.
Dr. Rao presented a slide show on his work in developing literacy in villages in northwestern Maharashtra. He has been working mainly with adult women to teach them to read and write so that they in turn will encourage their children's education.
Mrs. Karnik works for the Indian Institute of Education, Pune, Maharashtra, a non-profit research center involved in research and development of educational material/methods to promote literacy at the grass roots level. Their techniques include teaching basic language skills through awareness programs such as health care, nutrition, family planning and the environment.
ï Project Dosti
Project Dosti provides opportunity for young adults to learn more about India through service and strengthens bonds of shared culture/values with India. Five young persons volunteered their time and expenses for one month to a children's hospital in Bangalore, in July 1994. During that time, they also visited one of Dr. Issmer's slum rehabilitation projects in Bangalore. The Seattle chapter of project Dosti is affiliated with Indian Association of Western Washington and there is also a chapter in Stanford university. For more information about Dosti, please contact Kumar Bhatia at (206) 965-0899, Pran Wahi at (206) 232-8619, or Samir Bhatia at (415) 497-7351.
ï Child Relief and You (CRY)
Shiva Athreya briefed us at our August monthly meeting about CRY, an organization in Bombay, that promotes child welfare. Over the last 14 years, CRY has supported over 550,000 children through more than 80 voluntary agencies. For more information about CRY, please contact Siva Athreya at (206) 363-8103 or Jayashree at (206) 883-4484.
ï Annual PPI Dinner
PPI's annual benefit dinner on March 26, 1994
was well attended, and helped raise $4,700, after expenses. We
were happy to welcome many new supporters and helpers. Our heartfelt
thanks to Ms. Gauri Agashe for her fine Bharata Natyam
dance performance. The next PPI Annual Benefit Dinner will
be held in March/April of 1995. More details will follow later.
AN INVITATION TO SHARE
Perhaps you support some good cause in India in your own way. Perhaps, you have thought that if only there were more people to help, things would be better. PPI was founded on such sentiments. Many of our projects were started through personal referrals and were followed through with direct correspondence. PPI invites you to share your ideas on development. Much can be accomplished by a caring individual: but much more can be done collectively. Your help in the past has enabled us to make some change, however small, in rural/urban India. As we continue with the current projects, there are new ones under consideration. We urge you to volunteer some of your time by participating in PPI's monthly meetings. PPI needs you to review new projects, and to correspond with project contacts.
PPI projects are funded through pledges (typically
$10-$30/month) and contributions by members and non-members.
All donated amounts are passed on to the various projects. Membership
dues($25/family/year, $15/single/year) cover the cost of printing,
mailing and occasional honoraria for guest speakers. Members
participate in the selection and funding of the projects. Monthly
meetings are held usually on the first Friday of each month.
Everyone is welcome to attend. We need your continued support.
Please fill the attached membership and pledge/contribution form
and mail it to us.
Sincerely,
Arun Trikha
Chairperson, PPI
PPI 1994 Project Contacts
Project Org/State PPI Contact
Phone
1 Village Fodder/Water Resource Project GVVS, Rajasthan Gary Worthington 866-4655
2 Environment with Economic Development PRAGATHI, Karnataka Arun Trikha 641-3207
3 Embroidery/Stitch-craft Training Project Rashtra Nirman Trust Arun Trikha 641-3207
4 Traditional Craft Training SEWA, Gujrat Lolita Lekha 385-5164
5 Environ. Education/Afforestation Vikasana, Karnataka Jerry Folland 525-8581
6 Sericulture Training AID, Bihar Shantha Benegal 522-4404
7 Leather Work Training GVVS, Rajasthan Gary Worthington 866-4655
8 Stone Quarry Worker Rehab. GVVS, Rajasthan Gary Worthington 866-4655
9 Village Dairy Project RWA, Andhra Pradesh Arun Trikha 641-3207
10 Vocational Training Project RWA, Andhra Pradesh Arun Trikha 641-3207
11 Greeting Cards-Leprosy Rehab. MSS,
Maharashtra Ilse Volinn 524-3442
Contact numbers: Any of the above or Sunil Saraiya, 364-1509; Shimoga Srinath, 747-6239; Pran Wahi, 232-8619
PPI Office Bearers: Arun Trikha, Chairperson; Kumar Bhatia, Co-Chairperson; Sunil Saraiya, Treasurer; Gerald Folland and Shantha Benegal, Joint Secretaries.
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1995 MEMBERSHIP & PLEDGE/CONTRIBUTION
FORM
Name/Address:______________________________________________________
____________________________________________Phone:
________________
Membership: $ ________ ($25 Family, $15
Single/Year)
Pledge: $ ________ /monthly for one year
(1995), or
Contribution of : $ ________
Enclosed is a check for: $ ________ (tax
deductible)
Please make Checks payable to People for Progress in India (PPI)
and mail with this form to P.O. Box 51231,
Seattle, WA 98115-1231.