1995
ANNUAL REPORT
Dear Friends:
December,
1995
Over the years People for Progress
in India has gathered many supporters and friends. We thank you all for your
support in 1995. For those of you who are new to PPI, here is a little of our
background. PPI was founded in 1977 on the concept that help for the
under-privileged in India should go beyond the conventional contribution to
charity - that it should encourage seif help. Accordingly, from its very
inception, PPI has been guided by the following goals:
· to fund specific programs that make
people self-reliant and seif-sustaining: co-ops, lowinterest loan programs,
education, health care, vocational training, small-scale industries, etc.
· to maximize the effect of each dollar
sent by working directly with local organizations and volunteers and maintaining
contact with them, and
· to encourage new ideas that involve
people participation in such issues as envfronmental awareness, Afforestation,
etc.
Be cause the most under-privileged
of Indians live in rural areas, most of our projects have been located in
villages. However, PPI has also supported a few projects in urban centers. 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.
CURRENT
PROJECTS - 1995-96
1. Slum Women Rehabilitation Project - New
Project
Dr. Samuel Issmer, Rural Weiffire
Association (RWA), Bangalore, Kd?hataka
This project plans to train 60
poor women from Byappanahalli and adjoining slums in Bangalore in tailoring.
Training was started on September 4, 1995. About 30 women are receiving
tailoring and sewing instruction in morning and afternoon sessions. Each trainee
will learn to stitch 25-30 dresses for women and children. Simultaneously, the
project coordinators are establishing contacts with businesses to provide sewing
orders to these women at the end of training. Our funding commitment is for
$3800 for three years. The funding provides for the sewing machines, supplies
and for the salary of the instructors.
2. Village Fodder/Water Resource Enhancement
Project
Mr. L. C. Tyagi, Gramin Vikas
Vigyan Samiti (GVVS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan
PPI is in the second year of a three-year pilot project that enables
small and marginal cultivators to harness rainwater and subsoil water against
recurring droughts in the Thar desert. Five taankas
(rainwater storage tanks) were built to assist five families (about 55
people) to obtain safe drinking water over several months each year. A 526-foot
deep community tube well was drilled to irrigate a 26 acre area in which fodder
is cultivated, and later stored for use by livestock during drought periods.
Five khadins (earthen embarikments)
are under construction to collect and store rainwater to grow crops and trees.
PPI's funding this year is $3200 out of a total three-year commitment for
3.
Afforestation and Environmental Protection
New Project
Dr. 5. R. Hiremath, Samaj
Parivarthana Samudaya (SPS), Dharwar, Karnataka.
The main objective of this project is to: (1) strengthen the village
forest committee with the active involvement of women and poorer groups,
building on some Afforestation work already done;
4.
Embroidery, Stitch-craft and Tailoring Project
Mr.
Gauri Shanker Prasad, Rashtra Nirman Vidya Vikas Trust, Gay a, 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 induded 30 women and high school students
from the area. Additional funding of $950 and $1300 was provided during 1994 and
1995 respectively to train 100 additional women in sewmg and embroidery skills.
The salary covered the salaries of the two sewing and embroidery teachers and
the cost of the basic supplies.
5.,
Environment with Economic Development
Mr. B. Sharanappa, PRAGATHI,
Mysore, Karnataka
The
objectives of this project, started in January 1994, have been to: (a) train
villagers in horticulture, sericulture and dry-land farming, and to (b) educate
women to improve their social and economic situation through seif heip. So far,
113 people from 10 villages have been trained and a nursery unit has been set up
to provide tree samplings at a subsidized rate to low income people. A total of
72000 samplings of a variety of trees (such as teak, coconut, lemon, tamarind,
betel) has been provided to about 1500 beneficiaries. The saplings have been
planted in small land areas and kitchen gardens. The funding for the project was
$3100 and $2500 for 1994 and 1995 respectively.
6.
Traditional Craft Training Project
Ms.
Lalitha Krishnaswamy, Seif Employed Women's Training Association (SEWA),
Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
SEWA
is a cooperative formed by poor seff-employed women in the state of Gujarat. ln 1993, SEWA initiated a three-year project with PPI funds to train
y~un~Éw'omen under master craftswomen ffi the art of patchwork and embroidery.
PPI's funds were used to prov ide seed capital for t1chindi"
(fabric scraps), sewing machines, and other equipment needed for training. A
cooperative was formed by 178 women in Kadi, a village 50 miles from Ahmedabad,
enabling them to get bank loans. This year, 40 selected women were trained in
fmancial management, marketing, health education, and water management. Three
women received upgrade skills in patch work. The goods have been marketed from
three SEWA centers and from Gujarat Handicrafts Board. The cooperative has
generated employment for 70 other women in different tasks such as procuring raw
materials, cutting, packing and participating in exhibitions. This three-year
project is now in its fmal year. Our total funding is for $10,000.
7.
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 farmers in
ten villages in Tarikere Taik, Western Karnataka on better environmental
practices through workshops, slide shows, and exhibitions. As Mr. Varghees
Cleates writes in his letter to PPI (June 6, 95)-" as a result of nursery
plant distribution, we have been able to minimize Tobacco plant cultivation. We
have been able to motivate the farmers to construct 21 Bio-gas plants in
villages, which has reduced the use of timber. The farmers have constructed
compost pits for fertile local manure that increases the fertility of the Soil.
The farmers were also guided in de-salting the tanks and as a result, water
storage capacity has increased. This has helped maintain adequate ground water
level." VIKASANA has started
training the villagers in joint Forest Planning and Forest Management with the
cooperation of local government. From their 1995 annual report, VIKASANA appears
to be doing excellent work in environmental activities such as nursery plant
raising, planting in school grounds & common lands, joint forest planning,
kitchen gardening, horticulture, and plant cultivation. They also have the
support of other organizations like OXFAM, Tata Trust, KAP (Netherlands). Our
total three-year funding is $5,600.
8.
Sericulture Training Project
Ms. K. Sunanda, Alternative for
India Development Group (AJD), Bihar.
This
three-year project begun in 1993 is an
integrated training and employment scheme for tribal
9.
Stone Quarry Worker Rehabilitation Project
Mr. L. C. Tyagi, Gramin Vikas
Vigyan Samiti (GVVS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan
This
completed project enabled 35 stone mine laborers in a desert area of Rajasthan
to free themselves from heavy, life-long indebtedness to mine owners. PPI funds
were used to provide quarry workers with their own tools, formerly owned by
mine-owners. With these tools, they are now earning better wages in village
mines near their own homes. The workers loans were renegotiated and repayments
are being made by the workers in installments over a period of three years.
Partly due to PPI's interest, 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
conference in Jaipur with state and national governmental leaders on issues such
as mine workers' health and safety and the exploitation of women and child
labor. PP1t5 total commitment for this project was $ 4700.
10.
Vocational Training Project
Dr. Samuel Issmer, Rural Welfare
Association (RWA), Bangalore, Kdrnaräka
Started
in 1994, this project deals with the training of villagers near Chittor, Andhra
Pradesh, in tailoring, stitch-craft, embroidery and typewriting. Over a
three-year period, 90 young women will be trained in sewing, 60 women will be
trained in stitch-craft, and 60 boys and girls will be trained in type writing
classes. During his visit to the project in November 1994, 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 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, Maharashira
MSS's
silk screen project for cured leprosy patients was completed seven years ago
with PPI assistance. Since then, they have been supplying us with colorful
greeting cards for sale. This year, we are selling a limited supply of cards at
50 cents each. Some cards bear holiday greetings, and others are blank. All the
collected money will be sent to the project. Those interested in buying the
cards may contact Ilse Volinn, 524-3442 or Pran Wahi at 232-8619.
Report
from Past Projects:
Dr.
Parameshwara Rao, Bhagavatula Charitable Trust(8CT), Vishakapaaanam, Andhra
Pradesh
Samanwaya
Ashram, Bodhgaya, Bihar
SWA Roop Wardhini, Pune, Maharashtra
OTHER
ACTIVITIES
· Clarice Auluck-Wilson Visit
ln
June 1995, we had an interesting slide show by Ms. Clark Auluck-Wilson. ln 1989,
she and her husband were instrumental by chance, in the development of a Mahila
Mandal (women's organization) in a village near Pune. The impetus for the
formation of the Mandal was the murder of a village woman, and the initial focus
of the group was on prevention of violence to women. Later the activities were
expanded to indude post-elementary education for girls, adult literacy and the
improvement of health care for the villagers. The mandal had been remarkably
successful in achieving positive changes in the life of the village. Ms. Auluck-Wilson
is the president of an organization that provides continuing support for the
development for the village. For more information, please write to her at 757
Raymond Avenue, Suite 316, St. Paul, MN 55114.
· Project Dosti
ln
our September 95 meeting, Sameer Bhatia gave a brief report of the volunteer
work done through project Dosti this
Summer. The program provides opportunity for young adults to learn more about
lndia through service; and strengthen bonds of shared ~ulture'~and values with
India. Sameer and three other young persons volunteered their time and expenses
for six weeks in the Summer of 1995 working with Dr. Iss mer in the slums of
Bangalore. The group spent their time partly in gathering socio-economic data on
slum dwellers. This will help Dr. Issmer to get government grants for slum
improvement. They produced a street play to convey messages about drug
addiction, domestic violence, etc., and worked at some shelters-cum~training
centers that the YMCA has set up for street children. Sameer reports that the
group had a wonderful experience and were well received in both the villages and
the city slums. The Dosti group has a
chapter in Seattle and in Stanford University, and will
be planning
another trip to India in 1996 Surnmer. For more information about Dosti, please contact Kumar Bhatia at (206) 965-0899, Pran Wahi at
(206) 232-8619, or Sameer Bhatia at (415) 497-7351.
· Annual PPI Dinner
PPI's
annual benefit dinner on March 18, 1994, was well attended, and helped raise
about $3700 after expenses. We were happy to welcome many new supporters and
helpers. Our heartfelt thanks to all the young dancers who gave a delightful
program of Kathak and folk dances. This program was in memory of their teacher,
the late Prabha Rustagi, who had contributed to PPI in many ways. The next PPI
Annual Benefit Dinner will be held on March 16, 1996.
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 heip, 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 and 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, and vis iting our projects while in India. PPI needs you
to review new projects, and to correspond with project contacts. PPI projects
are funded through pledges (typically $ l0-$30/month) and contributions by
members and non-members. All donated amounts are passed on to the vanous
projects. Membership dues ($25/family/year, $ 15/single/year) cover the cost of
printing, mailing and occasional honoraria for
Sincerely,
Arun
Trikha
Chairperson, PPI
PPI 1995 Project Contacts
Project
Org/State
PPI Contact
Phone
1
Slum
Women's
Rehabilitation Project
RWA,
Andhra Pradesh
Arun Trikha
(206)
641-3207
2
Village Fodder/Water Resource Project
GYVS, Rajastlian
Gary Worthington
(360) 8664655
3
Afforestation and Enviromental Protection
SPS, Karnataka
Jerry Folland
(206) 525-8581
4
Emhroidery/Stitch-craft Training Project
RNT, Bihar
Arun Trikha
(206) 641-3207
5
Environment with Econornic Development
PRAGATHI,
Karnataka
Arun Trikha
(206) 641-3207
6
Traditional Craft Training
SEWA, Gujrat
Lolita Lekha
(206) 728-9117
7
Environmental Education/Afforestation
VIKASANA, Karnataka
Jerry Folland
(206) 525-8581
8
Sericulture Training
AD, Bihar
Shantha Benegal
(206)5224404
9
Stone Quarry
Worker Rehab.
GVVS, Rajasthan
Gary
Worthington
(306) 8664655
10
Vocational Training Project
RWA, Andhra Pradesh
Anin Trikha
(206) 641-3207
11
Greeting Cards-Leprosy Rehab.
MSS, Maharashtra
Pran Wahi
(206) 232-8619
PPI
Office Bearers: Arun Trikha, Chairperson; Pran Wahi, Co-Chairperson; Sunil
Saraiya, Treasurer; Gerald Folland and Shantha Benegal, Joint Secretaries.
1996
MEMBERSHIP & PLEDGE/CONTRIBUTION FORM
Name/Address:
Phone:
Membership:
$ ________ ($25 Family, $15 Single/Year)
Pledge:
$ ________ /monthly for one year (1996), or
Contribution
of
$
Enclosed
is a check for:
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