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Association For India’s Development MIT and Boston Chapters

2012 - 2013 Newsletter

Be the change you wish to see in the world. ~ M.K. Gandhi

www.aidboston.org

Photo: Hemanth Krishnan Self help group meeting in school in Karnataka

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About AID

Compassion wherever there is suffering.

Conviction that the compassion is strong enough to

eliminate suffering.

Courage to make this conviction a reality.

This is AID.

Association for India's Development is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization committed to promoting sustainable, equitable and just development. AID supports grassroots organizations in India and initiates efforts in various inter-connected spheres such as agriculture, energy, education, health, livelihoods, natural resources including land and water, women's empowerment and social justice.

Our Vision The problems of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, disease, social inequalities, corruption and loss of natural resources reinforce one another and are interconnected. Hence the efforts addressing them must be also be interconnected.

PEOPLE are at the center of

development and are active participants in the process and not mere beneficiaries.

The VOICE of the poor is our teacher and

guides our vision on development. Fundamental to development are peace,

tolerance and justice. AID respects the plurality of culture and religion.

SANGHARSH, SEVA and NIRMAN are the 3 pillars of struggle for justice,

responsible living and constructive work on which AID’s work is based.

www.aidboston.org

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Welcome Dear AID Patron,

We, the volunteers of AID, MIT and Boston chapters, appreciate and thank you

for your commitment and continued support that enable us to carry forward

our mission to substantially impact marginalized communities in India.

From its humble beginning in 1991, AID has continuously strived to listen to the

voices of the poorest of the poor and, in the process, developed a deeper

understanding of the issues that affect their lives. After 22 years, we feel closer

to people, their issues and derive great strength from their indomitable spirit

and resilience.

A volunteer organization like ours is energized by passionate volunteers and

ardent supporters like you. Significant portion of the funds that we raise come

from individual donations. Now, we hope you can make that difference by

making your contribution to AID.

$450 supports one year’s worth of education material for 125

adivasi girls in Gujarat

$1000 a month supports people in 27 villages to realize their

rightful wages and services using Right to Information in Paschim

Bangla

$1200 annually empowers 40 farmer households to practice

organic agriculture and seed conservation in Paschim Bangla

$1500 a month supports 10 village health workers, who provide

access to health care to thousands of tribal families in Chhattisgarh

$2000 annually can provide education to 35 kids in Mumbai

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Nitin Gujaran

President, AID Boston Chapter *The numbers are close approximations, based on past budgets and approvals.

info@aidboston.org

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AID Projects Association for India's Development supports several projects in different sectors across India. Here are some active projects in 2012-13.

Agriculture

Anti-Corruption

Education

DRCSC’s seed conservation project is promoting a bio-diversified farmer system to protect small farmer investment

and also make agriculture profitable by setting up a seed center and a demo kitchen for food security in Paschim Banga.

Organic farming in Sunderbans started post Cyclone Aila with BTS & Mukti promoting organic, sustainable agriculture

techniques to reclaim salinated land and supporting over 3000 farmers in the last 4 years in Paschim Banga.

RTI Manch is a group of activists working on issues such as Right to Information (RTI), National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

(NREGA) and electoral reforms through kiosks, workshops, social audits and awareness campaigns in Rajasthan.

Mukti sets up a Right to Information help center to raise awareness on pro-people government schemes and rights

based work in Sunderbans area, Paschim Banga.

RTI Purulia project has been implemented in 3 blocks in Purulia district in Paschim Banga with over 100 public meetings talking

about public distribution systems(PDS), agriculture, cooperative loans, self help groups (SHG) and other social entitlements

using RTI laws.

Parivartan provides informal education to approximately 120 children from migrant communities regardless of religion,

caste, culture, language or gender in the slums of Wadala in Mumbai, Maharashtra. A bridge school to formal education.

Jambuni Child Growth center supports education and enrich-ment initiatives for 110 poor Santhal tribal children to prepare

them for mainstream education and organizes crèche pro-grams for 60 babies in Birbhum district, Paschim Banga.

www.aidboston.org

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Public Health

Social Justice

Community Empowerment

All projects have been visited by AID Volunteers and we continue to learn from each other.

Two community workers from Jadugora, Jharkhand which has been the epicenter for health crisis from uranium mining will undergo extensive 9 months training with Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS), a

pioneer in community health work in Chhattisgarh.

Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) tackles the problems associated with illegal mining in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur, Karnataka and

Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh by strengthening local self-rule, community control of natural resources and livelihood.

Sangtin Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (SKMS) is a people’s movement based in Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh. More than 10,000 rural

women and men have mobilized to demand work and fair wages under NREGA, access to irrigation water, social services and

implementation of other pro-people policies.

Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS) runs crèches providing day care and nutrition to children between 6 months and 3 years of age which

lets parents go to work and elder sibling to go to school. In 2012-13, the program will reach out to 1100 kids along with early childhood

education and stimulation activities in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

Trust for Reaching the Unreached (TRU) is working on rural mental health for poor communities and focusing on community based

rehabilitation in Panchmahal in Gujarat.

SATHI health rights project effectively introduced the measures suggested by National Rural Health Mission through techniques like

report cards for health officials and jan sunwais (social audits) in Badwani district, Madhya Pradesh.

Justice for Bhopal campaign hopes to achieve justice and a life of dignity for the survivors of the gas disaster in 1984 caused by Union Carbide (now Dow Chemicals) disaster in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh focusing on compensation , clean water and clean up of toxic site.

Rehabilitation of internally displaced people (IDP) project tries to ensure basic requirements of food, health, livelihood, education and

basic human rights and dignities for 10,000 IDPs fleeing armed conflict in Chhatisgarh in 150 settlements in Khammam, Andhra Pradesh.

info@aidboston.org

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Health for All

127th in maternal mortality in the world. | 400,000 die from tuberculosis | 386,000 children die from

diarrhea | 2 million afflicted with malaria | 6th lowest spending on public health

Healthy living conditions and access to good quality health care for all citizens are not only basic human rights, but also essential components of social and economic development. In India today, the health sector is simultaneously an area of deep crisis as well as of tremendous opportunity for positive change. The government, private medical sector, and community health activists seek to massively reorganize health care services, but each with a different vision and perspective. Throughout India, people are struggling to defend their rights to healthy living conditions as well as access to health care. Joining hands with some of these efforts, AID supports village health workers in remote and rural areas, promotes programs to train government health workers to work more effectively and sensitively, and encourages direct interventions in areas such as children's nutrition, eye-care, malaria or mental illness.

Trust for reaching the Unreached, Gujarat Trust for Reaching the Unreached (TRU) is working on rural mental health for poor communities and focusing on community based rehabilitation approach in Panchmahal, Gujarat.

Approach toward rural mental health:

Extensive surveys in 236 villages and 190,000 people surveyed on mental health initiatives to understand attrition on medicine intake.

Community meetings and individualized attention

Overall Impact:

More than 2000 patients at the clinic on health issues

Community is more sensitized on mental health and reducing stigma associated with mental health.

Three Facets of Health

www.aidboston.org

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Jan Swasthya Sahyog, Chhattisgarh - Crèche program

Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS) is a voluntary, non-profit, registered society founded by a group of health professionals committed to developing a low-cost and effective health program that provides both preventive and curative services for 1500 villages and 300,000 people in the tribal and rural areas of Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh state in central India.

Committed towards several long-term projects with this partner:

Village crèche program supporting 1200 children which provides a secure and healthy environment for children (6 months to 3 years)

Supporting bicycles and footwear for 104 village level health workers doing extensive work in 53 tribal villages in rural Chhattisgarh

Medical equipment and an electronic medical records (EMR) system

Saathi Cehat—Accountability in public health, Madhya Pradesh SATHI works in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to improve rural health conditions by making the public health system effective & accountable.

Strategies to increase accountability:

Raise awareness about health rights through village meetings & translat-ing manuals/policies in local language

Villagers use pictorial report cards to monitor attendance & availability of medical supplies

Public hearings to report denial of services

State level workshops to train health monitors

Engage media to highlight state of health system

Challenges:

Low awareness of health rights in rural parts, very high infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate, absence of trained medical staff & medicines in rural health centers, refusal to accept critical patients by health centers & referral to far off urban centers and unavailability of ambulances.

Right to Health and Healthcare Creating models of quality healthcare for rural India.

Stemming malnutrition from 0-3 years; maternal, ante & neo-natal care for all

Holding the public health system accountable by community monitoring.

Advocacy to strengthen health and patient rights Dr. Jain in JSS, Chhattisgarh

info@aidboston.org

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Agrarian Crisis 1995-2010: Every 28 minutes, a farmer committed suicide.

Agriculture and the population dependent on it is facing a severe crisis in India today.

At the heart of AID’s work in agriculture is its concern with the livelihood of the small and marginal farmers, the landless, the adverse effect of chemical farming on health and the environment. AID works with its partners to promote low external input sustainable organic agriculture, reclaiming degraded land, retaining control of seeds by the farming communities and nurturing conditions that make farming remunerative for the marginal farmer.

Conserving Traditional Seeds & Promoting Biodiversity, Paschim Banga

Development Research Communication and Service Centre (DRCSC) establishes seed centers with the aim of seed preservation and promote bio-diversity. Seed centers aim to encourage farmers to grow using local, resilient seed varieties and store their own seeds using traditional means.

Approach for Seed banks:

The seed varieties, primarily of edible vegetables and leguminous crops, are chosen based on rigorous surveys, farmer meetings and participatory appraisal methods with a detailed seed database.

Linkages with network of 50 farmers in each location for seed banks

Annual beej utsav (Seed Fair) exhibits indigenous seeds and exchanges

Overall Impact:

Biodiversity is being preserved by farmers borrowing the seeds, multiply-ing them and using them in their fields.

Saving and documenting seeds that are saline tolerant, waterlogging tolerant and can grow in dry conditions while preserving the rich bio-diversity.

Changed farmers’ habits from buying to saving their own seeds with 500 farmers borrowing from seed banks.

Focus on our Agriculture projects

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Sustainable Agriculture in Sunderbans, Paschim Banga

In the Sunderbans, excessive use of chemicals has made land infertile and increased health problems. Rising costs have made farming economically difficult. Sustainable organic practices reduces input costs and makes farmers self-reliant.

From Disaster to Self-Reliance:

In 2009 Cyclone Aila salinated the lands and made it uncultivable

25 farmers took training in sustainable organic practices and had good results as agriculture failed around them

Trained farmers started training others

Farmer groups raised awareness by postering and street theaters

Seeing the results many farmers wanted to take up these low-cost methods

Overall Impact: Starting with 25 farmers in 2009; today, 3000 farmers have taken up

these methods

Farmers have become trainers and have been taking the movement for-ward

1000 acres of land under sustainable organic farming

Women have taken up leadership roles in spreading the movement

Organic methods save Rs 4500 on 1 acre for paddy

Way out of Crisis Low external-input sustainable

organic farming

Conservation, seed rights and land-reclamation

Building consumer-farmer linkages

Advocacy campaigns to support small farmers

Farmer in Sunderbans, Paschim Banga.

info@aidboston.org

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Annual Fundraiser

2012 Concerts: Pt. Birju Maharaj and Shankar Tucker

Being utterly bored of being a ‘gym-rat’, in the winter of 2011-2012, I decided that come spring, I will start running outdoors, along the river hopefully! I was introduced to this amazing organization, AID and their marathon fundraiser, TeamAIDAsha (TAA), by a friend and it was the very first time I ran anything greater than 2 miles with this group. The TAA program is geared towards first-time / beginner and experienced runners to train and run a full or half-marathon while raising funds for AID and Asha, Boston/MIT chapters. It has a very dedicated group of volunteers and an excellent coach. I ended up not only running a full marathon and raising over $2620 for a great cause but also making some great friends along the

way.

I gradually began to understand the causes that AID volunteers strive so hard to support working towards self-reliance and empowerment of some of the poorest and extremely marginalized communities in India. I became very curious about their work and decided to attend the regular meeting every Sunday with specific agenda items such as introduction of new projects, talks and issue based discussions. I learned a lot about AID’s past as well as current projects, their campaigns, and Jeevansaathis and became interested in becoming more involved. I am the 2013 Tabling coordinator and am very glad to be a small part of this marvelous organization. I continue to run as part of TAA and hope to raise more awareness and funds in the near future! Learn more about the program: www.teamaidasha.org

~ Shivangi Joshi

Why do I run 26.2 miles for AID?

Photo: Biju Kalissery TAA 2012 Team

www.aidboston.org

2013 Benefit Fundraisers: Donor Dinner and Uttarakhand Floods

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AID hosts public events with grassroots leaders from India in an effort to raise awareness about the issues in communities around us and produce a direct bridge to the grassroots. Learning from the communities that live sustainably, we try to live responsibly and as true partners, raising our voice again injustice.

Talks in 2013: Jan 1, 2013 : Vigil at Harvard Square Pit: Delhi rape and Violence Against

Women

Mar 2, 2013 : Discussion with director, Anand Patwardhan: Jai Bhim Comrade Documentary screening

Mar 3, 2013: Panel Discussion : Violence Against Women and the case of Soni Sori

Mar 11, 2013 : Talk by Shweta Narayan: Mercury In The Mist

April 18, 2013 : Discussion with director, Micha Peled : Bitter Seeds Documentary Screening

May 8, 2013 : Panel Discussion with Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Balmurli Natarajan and Sirisha Naidu: Development for Whom? Posco in India

May 10, 2013 : Talk by SR Hiremath: Illegal Mining in India and People’s struggle

May 18, 2013 : Talk by Dr. Jayanta Bandyopadhyay and Nazrul Islam: Water Futures of Bangladesh and India : Separated by borders, connected by rivers

May 22, 2013: Talk by Dr. Ilina Sen: Women and Democratic Movements in India

Talks in 2012: March 23, 2012: Talk by Prashant Bhushan : The Anti-Corruption

Movement in India : Its focus on participatory democracy

April 15, 2012: Talk by Aruna Roy : Transparency and Accountability in Governance: Challenges in India

June 12, 2012: Talk by Pankti Jog: Transforming lives via Right to Information

Bringing the voice of the voiceless to our community here ….

Speaker Series Voices from grassroot India

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Volunteer Perspectives

When I went to India for my friend’s wedding in December 2011, I was excited about meeting most of my friends who had moved back after graduation from university. I was also excited because I was going to do some sightseeing but what struck me were the hardships that people had to go through. After the trip, I decided to volunteer and find a way to make a difference in India. Being a part of AID has

given me a new perspective of the world around me. I have learnt more about the issues that the country faces. Every time I come to the chapter meetings, I am amazed at the depth of knowledge that the volunteers have and every time we meet, we learn about issues that people are working on. It’s very motivating to hear about people who work towards a better society everyday for others. Everyone in this chapter is so passionate that it will defi-nitely rub on you. Most of all, people are so welcoming that you really start to feel like you are part of a family.

~ Roshan Chandiramani

We are a family!

Photo: Mona Mandal AID volunteers at our table at IAGB Independence Day 2012

www.aidboston.org

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What inspired me to join AID is its holistic approach to problem solving, its vision of providing sustainable solutions to a variety of problems and social issues. Being a part of the AID-Boston chapter, I was amazed by the passion, optimism and dedication shown by its volunteers. Here are a group of individuals who get together every week and work hard to bring about desirable changes at the grassroots, back in India. The volunteers also play a great role in campaigning to spread awareness among people and raising funds to support some great initiatives. Working here makes volunteering a fun experience and I am truly honored to be a part of the AID family.

~ Nandini Shekhar

Working at AID has set a pattern in my life to help and serve my community. I have learnt two important things from the AID family: 1. Look at the positives in life 2. Never ignore poverty, corruption and injustice; instead make it a mission to eradicate these imperfections Earlier I used to complain about my life even when everything was smooth sailing but AID helped me evolve from being a self focused person to a humble

and empathetic one. Volunteering for AID has been a defining moment in my life. I am happy that I am able to contribute in my community though AID.

~ Shivang Mandalia

I like AID Boston because I like to be polite. I like to help with water support for the marathon runners in the summer. I like helping everyone in AID who works for India.

~ Adrita Mukherji

info@aidboston.org

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Financial Picture

Here is how you supported AID.

2012 Funds raised

2012 Project disbursals

www.aidboston.org

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Volunteer with us

Attend our weekly meeting on Sundays from 2-4pm in MIT and get involved with projects, campaigns, fundraisers, talks or community outreach efforts. Have an interesting idea - tell us.

Support us

Make a tax-deductible donation for developmental projects in India or support an ongoing campaign. Our federal tax-id is 04-3652609. You can also get your donation matched by your employer if your company has a matching program. Attend our fundraising events in the community.

Intern or Visit a project

Get in touch if you are interested in visiting a project or interning in India. Follow us

Sign up on our mailing list at aidboston.org, join our Facebook event page (www.facebook.com/pages/AID-Events-Boston/157174747753340) and follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/AIDBoston).

and become a part of the AID family

How can I get involved?

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

~ Margaret Mead

Printed responsibly using environmentally sustainable practices by a cooperatively managed print and graphic

design shop that has been supporting organizations for social and economic change.

Recently recognized in Boston as a "Sustainable Business Leader" for being

committed to environment sustainability.

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