People for Progress in India

2004 Annual Report

A Non-profit Organization Registered in the State of Washington

P.O. Box 51231, Seattle, WA 98115-12231, Website: http://ppi-usa.org, E-mail:ppi@PPI-usa.org

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Dear Friends: Greetings!

As PPI enters its 27^th year, 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 13 on-going projects (8 new and 5 continuing) and 4 completed projects this year in various states from Madhya Pradesh to Karnataka, and Rajasthan to West Bengal.

The primary goal of PPI is to promote and nurture self-help rather than giving direct charity. We also network with other NGOs (such as ASHA, IAEF) on joint projects. PPI continues to work at grass-roots level, and has diversified it's eligibility criteria in response to a variety of innovative ideas that have been presented by NGOs. Our projects focus on community based needs such as: improvement of agricultural yields, vocational training, health care, watershed management, socio-economic change and micro-credit.

Our work in small-scale development in rural and urban low-income areas has made a positive impact in the lives of the poor. So we are appealing to you for your continuing partnership in this worthy cause. Please support us by becoming members of PPI, attending our annual benefit dinner, and by generously responding to our December donation drive. We solicit your involvement - not only in financial support, but also in sharing your ideas and through your active participation. 

As we continue our work, we reaffirm PPI's goals:

- to fund programs which make people self-reliant and self-sustaining

- to maximize the affect of money sent by working directly with local organizations and volunteers

- to maintain direct correspondence with the partner NGOs

- to encourage new ideas that involve people participation.

Please take a few minutes to review PPI’s current projects and activities in the past year.

Be PPI’s partner in working for India’s progress!

Sincerely,

Pran Wahi

Chairperson, PPI

Vikasana, Tarikere, Karnataka

Contact: Mr. Varghees Cleatas

July 2004-July 2007, Total Budget: Rs. 665,600

($15,100), 2004: Rs. 240,000 ($5723)

The goal of this new project is to improve the ground water levels and to educate and organize the villagers in water management. The work will be done in 5 villages; Kallakere, Manjunath pura, E. Thimma pura, Kurubara Halli and Chowlahiriyur in Kadur taluk involving about 1500 families. Farm ponds will be built to harvest rain water, and water-collecting pits filled with sand, gravel, and rocks will be built to recharge bore wells. Training sessions will be held on ground water and rain water conservation and management, and villagers will be organized to take responsibility for improvements. In addition, saplings of useful tree species will be planted to provide food and income as well as helping water retention.

Baikunthapur Tarun Sangha (BTS), Baikunthapur, 24 Paraganas, West Bengal Contact: Mr. Susanta Giri

April 2004-April 2005, Budget: Rs. 265,000 ($6141)

This one-year project is to grow fish in small ponds in West Bengal to provide income for 50 poor farmers while providing them with business and management skills. The project provides seed capital to develop the ponds along with a revolving store for veterinary medicine, feed and other supporting needs. It also includes a revolving fund of Rs. 200,000 to help in getting the businesses started.

3. Women’s Skill Development & Income Generation project

Champa Mahila Society (CMS), Shibganj, 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Contact: Mr. Amal Nayak

July 2004-July 2006, Total Budget: Rs. 512,800 ($11258), 2004: Rs. 245,100 ($5381)

In this 3-year project, 1000 village women working in 84 self-help groups will be trained to manage and increase their income and self-reliance. Traditional animal rearing, farming, fishing and small businesses will be improved using micro-credit management, increasing productivity and business skills. Concurrently health and nutrition awareness, education and leadership training will also be provided to improve in the status of these village women.

Pragathi, Mysore, Karnataka

Contact: Mr. B. Sharanappa

Sep 2004-Sep 2006, Total Budget: Rs. 612,000 ($13,900), 2004; Rs. 200,100 ($4637)

This three-year project is to improve the livelihood of dalits through training in contour bunding, drip irrigation, dry land farming in two tribal villages Chengundi colony and M.C. Tholalu in H.D. Kote taluk about 80 Kms south of Mysore. This project is similar to the one successfully completed with Pragathi in 2003. According to Mr. Sharanappa, the two villages have a total population of 865 people with 143 families with about 410 acres of agricultural land and about 262 acres of waste land. Initial work will include training, awareness and formation of self-help user groups. Subsequently, land treatment activities will be taken up for 50 hectares like farm ponds, diversion drains, bunding and bringing waste land under cultivation.

5. Skill Training for Children

TRUST, Hulimavu, Bangalore, Karnataka

Contact: Mr. Madhusudan

April 2004-April 2006, Total Budget: Rs. 467,000 ($10,600), 2004: Rs. 178,200 ($4130)

The aim of this three-year project is to impart training skills such as Tailoring, Fashion Designing, Book Binding and Screen Printing. This is a continuation of a recently completed PPI project with TRUST on non-formal education of child labor program.

Mr. Madhusudan writes in his October status report: "Two instructors (trainers) have been hired and put on their jobs. All the needed materials and equipments were procured and put in place. 23 children are undergoing tailoring and fashion designing and 20 children in Book Binding and Screen Printing. The project has attracted the attention of the local populace and achieved quick acceptability with the community. 

6. Micro-Credit Project

Legal Education Awareness & Rural Development Society (LEARDS), Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Contact: Mr. Niranjan Kumar, Jan 2004-Jan 2005, Budget: Rs. 67,000 ($1500)

This is a one-year micro-credit program in 5 villages near Guntur to loan Rs. 2000 each to 25 dalit women and train them in the business of selling: flowers, fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee, pickles and garments. This project also includes training them in accounting and banking to manage the business.

Maharogi Sewa Samiti (MSS), Anandwan, Warora, Maharashtra

Contact: Dr. Vikas Amte

April 2004, Budget: Rs 216,000 ($5006)

8. Nutrition Enhancement through Vegetable Gardens

Rural Reconstruction Society (RRS), Kavali, Andhra Pradesh. Contact: Mr. Samuel Chandra Mohan

Oct 2004-Oct 2006. Total budget: Rs. 182,700 ($4200), 2004: Rs. 87,000 ($1942).

This new project, similar to a project we completed with RRS last year, aims to improve the nutrition of dalits and tribals in ten remote villages. The project will provide training in bio-intensive gardening and proper nutrition, and will organize and train local nutrition committees to educate the villagers and conduct mother-and-child health clinics. A revolving seed bank will be developed to facilitate production of vegetable crops, and production of compost fertilizer will be promoted.

Bihar Development Society, Gaya, Bihar.

Contact: Mr. Jai Kumar Palit

June 2003-June 2006, Total Budget Rs. 480,000 ($10,900), 2004: Rs. 132,000 ($3059)

This three-year project provides vocational training to 35 physically handicapped women per year in the villages near Gaya, Bihar so that they can become economically independent. During the first year, 15 women were provided training in computer courses (1 year duration), 4 women were trained in tailoring (6 months), and 15 women were trained in beauty culture (6 months). The type of training depends upon the educational background of the physically handicapped women. The successful trainees have also been provided small loans (from locally generated funds) to buy appropriate equipment to start using their new skills to earn money.

Samaj Parivarthana Samudaya (SPS), Dharwar, Karnataka; Contact: Mr. S.R. Hiremath

June 2002-June 2005. Total Budget: Rs 450,000 ($9838), Final year 2004: Rs 150,000 ($3378)

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 second year the project has worked at the grass roots level to develop local organizations (self-help groups, village forest committees, etc.) to improve their quality of life and to better manage natural resources. They are currently working with 914 families in 26 villages and following up on families involved in earlier stages of the project. In addition, the project is continuing to work toward empowerment of local government (gram sabhas) and local control of natural resources. One result has been the release by the government of 20,000 acres of land for people’s use.

11. Dry Land Agriculture

Vidya Nikethan, Bangalore, Karnataka

Contact: Ms. Susheela

Jan 2004-Dec 2005, Total Budget: Rs. 362,000 ($8200), 2004: 2,23000 ($4100)

This project deals with alternate land development of dry land for effective utilization for agriculture in three villages near Kanakapura about 80 Km south of Bangalore. The plan is to grow horticultural crops interspaced between trees, grow field crops to reduce the effects of run off water and conserve the soil and the nutrients. This year awareness camps and training programs have been held and 3000 seedlings and 15000 forest seedlings have been distributed for planting. Demonstration plants in cropping pattern were developed in 10 individual farmer lands. With the use of organic manure, compost and mulches, the soil fertility of the land seems to be improving.

Samaj Pragati Sahayog (SPS), Bagli, Madhaya Pradesh; Ms. Nivedita Banerji

Feb 2002-Feb 2005; Total Budget: 594,000 ($12923), 2004: Rs.216,000 ($4876)

Baba Amte Center for People's Empowerment was set up by SPS to train and motivate rural communities to improve their livelihood and water security. PPI is supporting a small part in a large program to train 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. Highlights of the activities in 2004 include; grass roots training programs on: (i) right to grow food, (ii) management of water resources and (iii) development of non-forest wastelands. Over 36 volunteers from 21 organizations attended the training and will take this knowledge to the villages. This will improve the drinking water situation in their villages and also benefit irrigation, recharge wells and tube wells. SPS has also been training various NGOs from near by states to get mobilized to work in similar activities. Although PPI's involvement in this overall program is small, we are very happy to be a part of this experiment.

13. Sustainable Health Care Project for Villagers of Thar Desert

Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GRAVIS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan - Contact: Mr. L.C.Tyagi

Feb 2002- Feb 2005, Total Budget: Rs. 320,500 ($6892), 2004 final year: Rs. 71500 ($1613)

This three-year project, being implemented in 25 villages focuses on improving the health conditions of the region with a special focus on women and children. Gravis set up a village-based network of health workers and health committees and with their help, organized medical camps (in 11 districts) and health awareness camps (in 8 villages). At the Tinwari hospital, the trained medical staff treated 14,500 patients in 40 villages during this last year-900 received eye surgeries, 26 received TB treatment, and 1600 patients were treated for malaria.

Completed Projects

Helen Keller Institute (HKI), Mumbai, Maharashtra. Contact: Ms. Reena Bhandari

August 2003 - August 2004: 1-Year Budget Rs. 87,500 ($1940)

This one-year project jointly funded by Indian American Education Foundation (IAEF) and PPI to set up a Computer center for the deaf-blind children was completed. IAEF funded the purchase of computers and Software ($9000) and PPI funded computer room setup ($1940).

Ms. Reena Bhandari writes;

"At present, 8 low vision deaf blind children use the room everyday (5 days a week). They use the computers to learn language and math. The Computer Room has enabled us to encourage children to use their residual vision effectively for learning purposes. We have used the room to demonstrate to educators and visitors how visual efficiency can be improved through computers in an interesting way". 

PPI is very happy to be a part of this wonderful experiment with IAEF in helping the disadvantaged children in India.

Ashraya, B.G. Kere, Chitradurga, Karnataka Contact: M.Y. Swamy, November 2002- May 2004

Total Budget Rs. 230,000 ($5004)

This project focused on production of marketable compost with the help of earthworms to help disabled and poor people in villages about 80 Kms north of Chitradurga. After conducting a training program, 15 compost pits were built and are now maintained by the beneficiaries. These units are producing income for them. Ashraya has used them to conduct training sessions to other NGOs and a group of 50 farmers from surrounding villages. 30 of the farmers, who took training, have constructed 30 pits with their own money and have helped in improving the soil fertility of the land.

16. Participatory Tank Improvement Project

Vikasana, Tarikere, Karnataka

Contact: Mr. Varghees Cleatas

June 2001-June 2004; Total Budget of Rs.612,700 ($13,153)

The goal of this project was the restoration of a number of silted-up tanks (small reservoirs) in southwestern Karnataka. Four tanks were completely desilted, and 625 tractor loads of silt were transported to 54 acres of dry land to serve as fertilizer. Nine other tanks were improved. Training sessions were held in all villages affected by the project, and tank development committees and water users committees were formed to manage the local water resources. Finally, seedlings of useful species have been raised in a nursery and are being planted around the tanks and elsewhere and tended by the beneficiaries.

17. Rural Women Vocational Training Program

Karnataka Health Institute (KHI), Ghataprabha, Karnataka, Contact: Dr. Kiron Vaidya

Jan 2004-April 2004, Budget: Rs. 60000 ($1354)

KHI requested additional 4 months of support on their project completed in December 2003, to train 20 rural women in marketing their products to near by states. Various vocations included; embroidery, making of dolls, wooden toys and bags, bakery products, plant nursery and Zardosi (Zari work for cloth and fashion designing). Many of the products have sold well in the nearby towns of Gokak, Belgaum and Kolhapur. Dr. Vaidya writes that during this year, they are focusing on marketing the product out of state and have been successful in getting orders from other states such as Maharashtra, Goa and Andhra Pradesh.

We are very happy to inform that Women and Child Development Department, Govt. of Karnataka, selected VIKASANA for "Kittur Rani Chennamma award" for 2003-2004. Congratulations to Mr. Varghees Cleatas and his team of dedicated volunteers. PPI has supported VIKASANA for more than a decade and is proud of their achievements.

PRAGATHI, Mysore, Karnataka - Sujala Watershed Management Government Grant

Our concept project in watershed management with PRAGATHI over last several years has paid off. Seeing the work done by Pragathi, the World Bank and Karnataka State Government have signed a contract to expand the watershed management project to a different part of Karnataka, which is suffering from drought. Mr. Sharanappa writes:

"With reference to our earlier discussion during your visit, about the New Sujala Watershed project, the agreement has been signed on 1st of March 2004, through the District Watershed Development Officer, State government in Tumkur. The total grant to Pragathi is Rs 81,72373 includes administration and training and the program cost. Under this project we are working in 30 villages. The work includes counter bunding, gully plug, check dam, diversion drain, farm pond, horticulture, wasteland development, income generation, water harvesting, crop loan etc."

We are very proud of Mr. Sharanappa's achievement and wish him success.

Dr. Anupama Taranath to TRUST, Hulimavu, Bangalore, Karnataka:

Dr. Taranath and her students from the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Washington visited the TRUST (Project # 5) in September 2004 and she writes:

To mark the completion of 25 years of PPI's work in India, in April of 2004 we published a special summary report. Please contact PPI if you do not have a copy of this brochure. The publishing costs were donated by individual contributions. Our sincere thanks to the donors: Amin and Afshan Lakha, Raj and Dilu Shah, Akhil and Deeann Shah, Nizar and Tasmin Sayani, Vijay and Sita Vashee, Phiroz and Najma Lalji, Ravi and Sarika Agrawal, Zakir and Chitra Parpia and an anonymous donor.

These figures are approximate. A precise and detailed financial report for 2004 will be made available in early 2005.

Income: $57,500 in general contributions, $900 in membership dues, $100 in interest, and $10,500 from the annual dinner, for a total of $69,000.

Expenditures: $51,000 to projects (not including special contributions), $2500 in operating expenses (mainly photocopying, postage, insurance, etc.)

Special Contributions: $3532 to Belaku Trust (an organization, primarily focusing on women's health issues in Kanakapura, near Bangalore, Karnataka). Friends of Dr. Saras Ganapathy (Director of Belaku Trust), have sent these funds. Since Belaku Trust's work falls within PPI guidelines, PPI is pleased to channel the funds.

2005 PPI annual benefit dinner will be on Saturday March 26, 2005. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the event to support PPI.

In 2004, PPI’s annual benefit fund raising dinner was held on March 20, 2004 and raised $10500 after expenses. Ms. Sitara Thobani of Vancouver, British Columbia gave a wonderful performance of Odissi, a classical dance of Orissa in Eastern India. Our sincere thanks to her donating her time for the event.

Pran Wahi, Chairperson, Arun Trikha, Vice Chairperson; Gerald Folland, Treasurer; Suresh Ramachandran, Secretary

Click here to read 2004 Treasurer's Report, 3-31-05.

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Year 2005 Membership & Pledge/Contribution Form

Name: ________________________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________________

City__________________________________ State_______ Zip____________

Phone: ( ) ________________ E-mail Address: ______________________________

Membership: $ _______ _______($25 Family, $15 Single/Year)

Pledge: $ ______________ /monthly for one year (2005), 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.