| People for Progress
in India
2003 Annual Report P.O. Box 51231, Seattle, WA 98115-1231. http://ppi-usa.org/ e-mail:ppi@ppi-usa.org | ||
Dear Friends: Greetings! I want to open this year’s annual report with congratulations and a big thank-you to acknowledge your support in achieving a significant milestone in the history of PPI – the year 2003 marked the 25th Anniversary of our development work in India. It is because of your support and encouragement that we have been able to accomplish this remarkable feat. We are proud to be playing a role as a catalyst of positive change in India. We are happy to report that our work in supporting small-scale development continues with noticeable growth and change since we first began in 1978. We have 19 (?) on-going projects in eight (?) states from Delhi to Tamilnadu, and Rajasthan to West Bengal. The idea of working for one’s own progress has caught on in a big way in India resulting in a significant increase in the number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) there, as well as Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) in the U.S. which fund such work. PPI networks with other NPOs when appropriate, and has collaborated with ASHA-Seattle and IAEF on joint projects. PPI continues to work at a grass-roots level, and has diversified in response to a variety of innovative ideas that have been presented by NGOs. The number of proposals we receive has increased - an average 4-5 proposals a month. As a result, we have streamlined our selection process by modifying application forms and evaluation criteria. Our projects focus on a variety of needs such as: improvement of agricultural yields, vocational training, health care, education for handicapped, watershed management, socio-economic change and micro-credit. We know you, our friends and supporters in the community, believe in the work we are trying to do. We, therefore, appeal to you for your continuing support, especially by attending our annual benefit dinner, and by responding to our December donation drive. More than ever, we need your support—not only financial but also your ideas and your participation in our activities. As we begin our 26th year, we reaffirm PPI’s Goals: To fund programs which make people self-reliant and self-sustaining.To maximize the impact of money sent by working directly with local organizations and volunteers To maintain direct contact with partner NGOs. To encourage new ideas that involve people participation Please take a few minutes to review PPI’s projects and activities in the past year. Be PPI’s partner in working for India’s progress! Sincerely, Pran Wahi Chairperson, PPI 2003 Project Report NEW PROJECTS: 1. Training Program For Rural Women HKI - Helen Keller Institute, Mumbai, Maharashtra; Reena Bhandari/Sheela Sinha August 2003 - August 2004: 1-Year funding: Rs. 87,500 ($1940) This 1-year project is jointly funded by IAEF (Indian American Education Foundation) and PPI to set up a Computer center for the deaf-blind children. IAEF is funding computer hardware software needs up to $9,000, and PPI is funding the furnishing of the computer room suitable for deaf-blind students to the tune of $1,940. HKI is the first organization in India and Asia to start education services of this nature for the deaf-blind children. It offers education and rehabilitation services with a teacher-student ratio 1:1. Computers have been found to motivate such children, and have also helped to improve concentration and use of their residual vision and hearing. 3. Vocational Training for Handicapped Women Bihar Development Society, Gaya, Bihar – Mr. Jai Kumar Palit April 2003 – April 2006, 3-year commitment: Rs. 480,000, 2003 funding Rs.216,000 ($4645) This new three-year project (started in June 2003) has been planned to provide vocational training to 40 physically handicapped women per year so that they can become economically independent. Depending upon the educational background of the women, they will be provided training in computer courses (1 year duration), typing / shorthand in English and Hindi (1 year), tailoring (6 months), beauty culture (6 months), and toys making (3 months). CONTINUING PROJECTS: 4. Watershed Development Training SPS - Samaj Pragati Sahayog, Bagli, Madhya Pradesh; Nivedita Banerji Feb. 2002 - Feb. 2005; 3-year commitment: Rs. 594,000, 2003 Funding: Rs. 198,000 ($4258) This is a large and multifaceted project wherein PPI is supporting training for 5 full-time village level workers who impart technical know-how on watershed development and related economic benefits to local NGOs and tribal people. Major accomplishments in 2003 include: (1) Training Materials - video films on water harvesting structure, dry land agriculture, renewable energy and forest protection; (2) Farmers Conference - a large conference held at Baba Amte Center for People's Empowerment, Neemkheda, attended by 2000 farmers, including 1000 women, from 40 tribal villages that included a 4-hour direct Q&A session between a panel of scientists and farmers; (3) Soil Testing Lab - the first ever facility inaugurated in Dewas District; (4) Pisciculture - development of a Fish Pond by a 12 member women's Self-Help Group that is generating income by managing the fish pond and selling fish at Rs. 40 - 50/Kg; and (5) Technologies for Dry land Agriculture - being developed in collaboration with universities and research centers. 5. Participatory tank improvement project Vikasana (Tarikere, Karnataka); Varghees Cleatas, Director June 01-June 04; 3-year funding: Rs. 612,700 ($13153), 2003 funding: Rs. 186,700 ($4094) The objective of this project is the rehabilitation and improvement of tanks (small reservoirs) in a 10-village area of Karnataka. So far 5 tanks have been de-silted, the silt has been transported to 54 acres of farmland for fertilization, and two new tanks have been constructed. Tank development committees and water users’ committees have been set up in 10 villages, and a number of training sessions on relevant topics have been conducted. Seedlings of useful species are being raised in a nursery and are being planted around the tanks and elsewhere and tended by beneficiaries. Additionally, women’s self-help groups are being developed to promote local empowerment and economic development. 6. Management of Natural Resources and Empowerment of Rural Poor Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) (Dharwad, Karnataka); S. R. Hiremath, Director June 02-June 05; 3-year commitment: Rs.450, 000, 2003 funding: Rs.150,000 ($3289) PPI is supporting a part of this large project by SPS that will affect some 21,000 people in 26 villages in central Karnataka. In its first year the project has worked on several fronts: (1) Intensive work at the grass roots level to organize and train self-help groups, involving 236 poor families in 19 villages, for economic development and local management of issues, including a community-based tank management project; (2) Work with state and national level networks to strengthen local self-government (gram sabhas, panchayat raj institutions), promote community control of natural resources, and increase the quality of nutrition and education; and (3) Training programs, production of educational materials, and other support activities. 7. Economic Empowerment Of Disabled People Through Vermi-compost Enterprises Ashraya (B.G. Kere, Chitradurga, Karnataka); M.Y. Swamy, Director Nov. 02-May 04; 2-year funding: Rs. 230,900 ($5034); 2003 funding; Rs. 97,800 ($2220) The goal of this project is economic betterment of people with orthopedic disabilities through the production and marketing of earthworm-generated compost, as well as the promotion of the use of these organic fertilizers. Ashraya is providing assistance in building composting units and training for the beneficiaries, and is organizing self-help groups for the beneficiaries. During this year they have formed disabled people's self-help groups in five villages (about 10 people in each group) and gave them training on vermi-composting, income generation and entrepreneurship, and utilization of government resources. 15 vermi-composting plants have been built; they have just started operation. In waste that was collected in October, earthworms were introduced at the end of October, and the first batch of compost will soon be ready for marketing. 8. Comprehensive Education & Rehabilitation Program for Child Laborers Trust for Rural Upliftment Strategies (TRUST), Bangalore, Karnataka. M.N. Madhusudhan Apr 2002 – Apr 2004; 2-year funding: Rs. 299,600 ($6367), 2003 funding: Rs. 151,570 ($3200) The program introduced to the community in April 2002 with PPI support made significant progress during the past six months. All the four non-formal education (NFE) centers are functioning well. More than 100 child laborers attended the NFE classes, 22 of them enrolled in different government managed schools for mainstream education during this academic year. “This is a significant achievement,” writes Madhusudhan, “considering the initial aversion of the children to attending the NFE classes in the evenings after tough and tiresome job in the day.” The credit for the transformation goes to the children who “shifted their priorities from earning to education. The parents of the children and the NFE teachers also share the honours.” TRUST is making constant visits to these schools to monitor attendance and progress in learning. The feedback on the childrens’ conduct and progress is very good. Trust also organized awareness programs for the community, for mothers and parents on child rights and laws, and staff training in teaching/training techniques for project staff. 9. Sustainable Health Care and Health Worker Training GRAVIS Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti, Jodhpur, Rajasthan - Mr. L.C.Tyagi Feb 2002- Feb 2005, 3-year commitment: Rs. 320,500, 2003 funding: Rs.100,000 ($2137). GRAVIS continued health intervention in a cluster of 25 villagers under Osian Panchayat Samiti. The major objectives of this intervention were to reduce the incidence of infant & child mortality and to improve the general health status of the people. At the same time, the issue of reproductive health status of the women and the adolescent girls were addressed on a priority basis. A training program for village health workers (dai’s) was organized at GRAVIS hospital. Health awareness, mother and child immunization, clinical support & medication, safe delivery, personal hygiene, education of adolescent girls, water and sanitation, and capacity development of the community were the main strategic interventions made by GRAVIS with the help of trained dai’s. COMPLETED PROJECTS: 10. Rural Women Vocational Training Program KHI - Karnataka Health Institute, Ghataprabha, Karnataka, Dr. Kiron Vaidya Dec 2002- Dec 2003 1-year funding: Rs. 1,32,000. ($2791) This project was to train rural women in advanced tailoring, embroidery, machine knitting and doll making. Training was given to 15 women during the first two months, later extended to 220 women, by three instructors in tailoring, embroidery, wooden toy making and doll making. The products are being marketed through local NGOs and other corporate and philanthropic individuals. Dr. Vaidya writes that they have been getting good responses from other near by states also. Their objective is to make the project self sustaining and expand the concept to include other marketable products such as bags, purse making and screen printing, etc. 11. Economic Empowerment of Women through Dairy Cooperative RHEDT - Rural Health and Environment Development Trust, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu - Ansar Basha May 02 - May 03; 1-year funding: Rs.163, 000 ($3361) The purpose of this one-year project was the development of a dairy cooperative run by women. The funding provided for purchase of 10 cows and dairy equipment, plus training. They have sent photographs and progress reports recently. Although just completed, the project has begun to yield economic benefits to the local community. The milk is being sold through the cooperative scheme. They have also been making ghee (clarified butter), curd, butter and buttermilk and have been marketing these items. They have started paying back the loans and RHEDT expects to be able to recycle the money within another six months. 12. Dairy-based Industry, Trust for Village Self-Governance (TVSG) Tamilnadu Foundation, Kuthambakkam, Tamilnadu - Elango Rangaswamy Jun 2002-Jun 2003: I-year funding: Rs: 150, 000 ($3119) This one-time grant was part of a large project bringing six villages together into a cluster that will evolve into a village economy based on the Gandhian concept of self-dependence. PPI funds enabled the villagers to buy a small freezer (Rs.75,000), a stirrer (15,000), stoves and utensils (Rs. 10,000), vessels, plus a working capital of Rs. 50,000. The Dairy project is now complete, and is currently operating from the village technology center. Women are getting trained in the use of these equipments and producing marketable dairy products. 13. Income Generating Microcredit Program for Poor Women Ch. Kiran Kumar, Community Awareness and Village Improvement, Pedakakani, A. P. December 2001 - December 2002: 1-year funding: Rs. 88,000 ($1942) This 1-year scheme has provided loans to 36 poor women from 10 villages, so that they can start small businesses such as raising milk cattle, fruit vending, pickle making, tea stalls, cycle repair, shoe repair etc. The loans were designed to be paid back in small installments within one year. The returned principal amount has then been used to provide loans for other poor women. The women have selected their own businesses to pursue. 14. Kitchen Garden and Fruit Tree Plantations Champa Mahila Society (CMS), Village Basanti, Sibgang, West Bengal. Contact: Ms. Sandhya Rani Das. Jan 2001 - Jan 2004: 3-year funding: Rs.415,650 ($9023), 2003 funding: Rs. 104,550 ($2234) Women in the Sunderban area were provided with training and seeds for planting small plots of land adjacent to their family homes. In their final report, CMS writes that 42 self-help groups were involved in this project, benefiting 665 women. The women of the groups assembled once a month to discuss kitchen garden techniques. They learned to make compost pits and use natural compost instead of chemicals for a better harvest. A few chose to train in mushroom cultivation for nutritional benefit. The women have been saving seeds and sharing them with one another for subsequent use. Meanwhile the CMS orphanage is running a self-sufficient farm at which they cultivate enough rice and vegetables to feed all the children. CMS is running five non-formal education centers, and 125 destitute children are being educated at these centers. An added benefit: children are teaching their illiterate mothers the Bengali alphabet. The project can be termed an unconditional success. This project was run in conjunction with ASHA Seattle, which funded the educational aspects. 15. Asatoma Project Eye Patient Outreach Dr. Shroff Eye Hospital, New Delhi - Dr. Steven Roy Nov 2000 - Nov 2003: 3-year funding: Rs. 374,000 ($12,000) This was the concluding year of PPI funding. The Asatoma project achieved significant results over three years. Its purpose was to train hospital volunteers and field workers to identify poor patients who needed free eye care. The areas of action were Delhi and its surrounding villages, and Alwar, Rajasthan. A total of 352 volunteers were trained (including 50 in Alwar) to conduct hospital outreach programs. The hospital held 264 eye screening camps (including 41 in Alwar) for cataract surgery, vision-restoring and vision-saving children's surgery. In a preventative strategy aimed at early detection, Asatoma went to 356 school teachers (90 of them in Alwar) and trained them to recognize vision problems in their students. Thousands of free treatments and hundreds of free surgeries were performed. As an extension of this project, they have also set up a department of pediatric ophthalmology in Delhi, and a permanent satellite center in Alwar. The hospital has also launched a media campaign to broadcast the availability of their services to poor adults and children. 16. Rain-fed Agriculture, Tree Plantation and Child Education Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GRAVIS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan - Mr. L.C.Tyagi Oct 2000 - Oct 2003; 3-year funding: Rs. 461,000 ($9959). The purpose of this project was to promote rain-fed agriculture in the arid dry areas of Rajasthan. Thirty arid horticulture gardens and 30 agro forestry units have been set up in and around Rampura village, Barmer district. Although the prior two years were only moderately successful due to drought, 2003 brought good rains, and the surviving trees and plants are now thriving. In addition to providing fruit, the small forestry units supply fuel and prevent wind erosion. Improved millet, pulse, moeth, and sesame seeds and organic manure were provided to farmers, and from 2003's good harvest, farmers collected seeds for the next harvest. Five selected young farmers were trained in organic agriculture and tree plantation and are passing their knowledge on to others. A school was started to improve the low literacy rates, and 25 girls and 15 boys are attending from Rampura. The school was aided by a bequest from PPI member, the late Surain afSandeberg. 17. Bee-Keeping and Medicinal Plants Processing Training Center ASHA, INDIA Group, Kaithi, Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh - Mr. Vallabh Pandey Jun 2000 - Jun 2003, 3-year funding: Rs. 203,000 ($4535). Sri Pandey writes: “The Kaithi bee keeping center known as Swavlamban Prashikshan Awam Shodh Sansthan (SPASS) was established in February 2001. The motive was to train and help rural youth to become self-reliant. We organized 12 training programs on bee-keeping (apiculture), and trained 82 persons, out of them 34 have started positive efforts (in our report 17 are working very much satisfactory). They are in regular touch with the center. SPASS conducted about two and half dozen training programs for preparing handicraft items, sewing, embroidery, greeting card making etc. Total 352 women has been trained in these training programs…these programs have enhanced the self confidence of girls of this rural area.” 18. Self-Sustenance Through Agriculture, Soil And Water Conservation Pragathi (Mysore, Karnataka); B. Sharanappa, Director June 00 - June 03; 3-year funding: Rs.543,800 ($11842); This project has brought agricultural improvements in ten villages of Andhra Pradesh near Mysore. It focused both on organizing and educating the villagers to manage their land better and on physical land improvement projects. The villagers have acquired expertise, confidence, and an increased sense of responsibility for land and water management, and the participation of women and youth has increased. Bunds and farm ponds have been built, resulting in a rise in ground water levels. Crop yields have improved markedly, and 240 acres of wasteland have been made productive with plantation of mango and other trees. Local watershed committees and self-help groups are now well established and are ensuring continued progress after the end of the project. 19. Nutrition Status Elevation Program Rural Reconstruction Society (Kavali, A.P.); D. Samuel Chandra Mohan, Director July 2000 -July 2003; 3-year funding: Rs. 200,920 ($4416). This project promoted nutritional improvements in ten villages of tribal and dalit people in the Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh. Villagers were trained in bio-intensive gardening and sustainable agriculture, resulting in increased availability of food; 450 compost pits are now producing organic fertilizer, and a revolving seed bank has been developed and is continuing to grow. Nutrition Committees of six selected women in each village were trained in nutrition, sanitation, growth monitoring of children, and leadership skills, and are now in charge of carrying on the work of the project. SPECIAL COLLECTION: Flood Relief For Baikunthapur Tarun Sangha (BTS) Kultali, West Bengal. Sushanto Giri, Director. BTS is leading a major community based intervention to change the prevailing social and economic conditions in the Kultali block of the Sunderbans. Their activities extend in three major categories: Education, Health care, and, Agriculture. PPI funded agro-equipment for improved farming in 2001-2002. During the recent monsoons, however, Kultali became severely waterlogged destroying thousands of dwellings as well as paddy crops, cattle, livestock and vegetables. PPI requests you to make a special targeted donation to BTS for rebuilding and rehabilitation. Kindly send your donations/contributions either in money transfer/draft/check in the name of Baikunthapur Tarun Sangha directly to Account no.420169557 at American Express Bank, 21, Old Court House Street, Kolkata-700 001, tel: 2248 6281/84, fax-22488896 with a CC via Email to missionwelfare@vsnl.net. OTHER ACTIVITIES Seattle to Portland (STP) Bike Ride Vijay Bhatt, Sharad Gadre, Satish Samant, Shama Samant and Clarita Bhatt rode from Seattle to Portland in the “Pedal for Purpose” program and helped raise $670 for PPI. Pedal for a Purpose program raises funds for various charitable and worthwhile programs to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people. PPI is grateful to Vijay, Sharad, Satish, Shama and Clarita for their hard work in raising these funds for PPI. Seattle Art Museum (SAM) Exhibition This summer, PPI participated in SAM’s “Painted Visions” exhibition of Indian miniature paintings. PPI displayed photographs, traditional Indian costumes, Indian jewelry and posters detailing PPI projects and gained considerable exposure to the local community. Niranjan Benegal, Mahesh Massand and Suvro Datta displayed many beautiful pictures of the Indian landscape. Many ladies tried on the saris and enjoyed getting their snap-shots. The book-marks with calligraphy were a great hit. Dr. Vikram Prakash, Associate Professor, Chair, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, UW gave an excellent talk on “Ajanta and Khajuraho; The symbolic role of Painting and Sculpture in South Asian Architecture. SAM was very happy with our involvement and we gained considerable goodwill and exposure. We made over $400 from ticket income after deducting expenses. Our sincere thanks to SAM staff, Dr. Vikram Prakash, the photographers, display organizers Sarika Agrawal, Anita Butail, Subha Sanathanam and Santosh Wahi who lent their costumes and jewelery for the costume displays, and the many volunteers who worked hard during the 3-month exhibition to make it a success. SITE VISITS: Sarah Loudon, SAM’s senior education coordinator and a PPI member, visited one of the PPI ongoing projects this summer. Her visit was a Fulbright-funded trip to visit India with 16 American teachers. She visited the TRUST project near Bangalore. She was highly impressed with the work Sri. Madhusudan is doing in eliminating child labor practices through non-formal education. Ram Krishnan, of Akash-Ganga, a Minneapolis-based non-profit that promotes rainwater harvesting in India, was referred to us by Sangeeta Shivram. He sent us this report: “I am happy to share with you my impressions and thoughts about Kuthambakkam after my recent visit in… October 2003. This was my third India visit when I went to Kuthambakkam and observed the significant progress taking place…[Regarding] PPI’s Dairy project: The funding of Rs 150,000 provided by PPI-USA enabled Elango to procure the necessary items. The Dairy project is now complete. The Dairy unit is currently located in one side of the Technology center. Women are getting trained in the use of these equipment and producing the dairy products.” Treasurer’s Report: Brought forward from 2002: $13,282 Belaku Trust: SUCCESS STORIES - A PPI SAMPLER FROM INDIA Samaj Pragathi Sahayog Project, Madhya Pradesh: CAVI, Andhra Pradesh: I am Durgapu Padma, wife of Venkata Rao, aged 30 years. I belong to the washerman community. I do not keep good health and could not do any work. We are very poor. I have now learned the skill of knitting baskets with wire. Now I am doing this work with your support and earninga good income. Samaj Pragathi Sahayog Project, Madhya Pradesh:
PPI: 2004 Membership & Pledge/Contribution Form Name: ___________________________________________________________________Address ________________________________________________________________ City__________________________________ State_______ Zip____________ Phone: ( ) ________________ E-mail Address: ______________________________ Membership: $ _______ _______($25 Family, $15 Single/Year) Pledge: $ ______________ /monthly for one year (2004), or Contribution of: $ ______________ Enclosed is a check for: $ ______________ {IRS Code 501(c) (3) Tax Exempt, ID No. 91-1057315} Please make your checks payable to “People for Progress in India” and mail it with this form to: People for Progress in India (PPI), P. O. Box 51231, Seattle, WA 98115-1231. (If your employer has a matching grant program that PPI qualifies for, please include the appropriate form). |