Promoting Sustainbility across the value Chain

PrakruthiE n a b l i n g S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

TM

PrakruthiTM

2

Promoting Sustainability across the Value Chain

3


PrakruthiE n a b l i n g S u s t a i n a b i l i t y

TM

Promoting Sustainabilityacross the Value Chain

PrakruthiTM

2


Published by

Published: 2010

©2010

ISBN 978-81-908155-1-2


PrakruthiISO 9001:2008 Certified Organisation

Photographs: Pramod, Neelkant, Sreenath, SijoDesign and Layout by Rajesh M VPrinted at National Printing Press, Bangalore

#43, 2nd Cross, Ramaya LayoutSt. Thomas Town Post, KammanahalliBangalore 560 084, Karnataka, INDIA

Tel: +91 80 25438935/36Fax: 080 41732338

E-mail: [email protected]: www.prakruthi.org

TM

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Contents

Foreword 7Introduction 9-10

I. Sustainable GarmentsCorporate Social Responsibility – Benefits GarmentCompany and its Workers alike 16-17Made–By® Supplier Improvement Programme in Nepal 18Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives Garment Sector Bangalore 19-20

User Groups – A Concept and an Approach 21Improvement through Better Transparency in Certification– TSG Case 22-23

II. Sustainable TeaRaising the Bar 26

National Reference Group (NRG) 27-28III. Sustainable Coffee

Sustainable Livelihood for Smallholder CoffeeGrowers and Workers 30-31

IV. Better Sugar Initiative

Better Sugar, for Sure 34-35V. Education

Empowerment through Education 38-39

Training and Empowering the Poor 40-41VI. Environment

Model Eco-Centre 44-45

‘Burning’ Issue 46-47SEFT –Sustainable Economy and Fair Trade 48-49

VII. CSR Partnership

Prakruthi-RCML Apparel Training Centre 52-53VIII. Art, Culture and Heritage

Centre for Art, Culture and Heritage 56-57

Our Partners 58-59Location Map 60Prakruthi Team 61

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Prakruthi Founder Trustees - 30th November 1991

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Foreword

It gives me immense pleasure to be associatedwith Prakruthi and its visionary-founder,Pramod John. Over the years Prakruthi and all

those associated with it have transformedthemselves to address issues beyond the local. Themetamorphosis of Prakruthi, a child-centredorganisation in the 1990s to one that confrontsthe reality of children and their families in low-income groups in sectors such as tea, coffee, andcotton from the perspective of promoting corporatesocial responsibility is indeed a long trek that few can fathom. Whatgives me utmost satisfaction as Chair of Prakruthi and having moderatedthat transformation process is the fact that it has been a seamless onewith minimum pain for all those involved in the process, although theinterpretation often met with scepticism.

With the broadening of horizons through its involvement in as many asfive vital economic sectors whose roots are deeply planted in nature(prakruthi), Prakruthi tries to capture the essence of social responsibilitythrough its commitment to the environment. In its mission to bringabout accountable and sustainable farming practices that wouldultimately benefit not just the people who labour in them but also theplanet, Prakruthi has made a paradigm shift in defining its programmeobjectives. This shift is both welcome and relevant considering thechallenges that we face in the new millennium.

This publication is a consolidated version of that journey that made theparadigm shift and how the scenario looks as of the moment.

I am happy that Pramod and his enthusiastic team have decided todocument the process and make it available to a wider audience.

With all good wishes

(Koshy Mathew)President, Board of Trustees

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Prakruthi and CorporateSocial Responsibility

Prakruthi has actively campaigned for Corporate Social Responsibility with thosewho manage the coffee, tea, sugarcane and garment industries, and persuaded themto make some room for small growers and workers under their ample umbrellas.

Given the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility in Prakruthi’s activities and inthis report, we present a brief summary for the few uninitiated: Corporate SocialResponsibility is a concept of business ethics whose time has come, and which, especiallyafter the financial crisis of 2007-2008 that began on Wall Street, is the perfect idea toreplace the former ethos of unbridled capitalism that Greed is Good. According to thisconcept, corporations are responsible not just to their stockholders, but also to theirstakeholders: members of society and social groups affected by their decisions. They havean obligation to take into account the impact their actions have on the good of societyand of the Planet Earth, and to identify, engage with, and consult with their stakeholders.As more corporations recognize the importance of CSR, and the value of considering notjust the company’s financial bottom line, but also the community’s bottom line, thewelfare of humanity and of the planet will benefit.

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Introduction

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), alsocalled corporate citizenship, andincorporating as its Triple Bottom Line

People, Planet, and Profit, is like environmentalconsciousness and social justice, an ethical ideawhose time has resoundingly arrived. Embraced inprinciple by some of the world’s most admiredcorporations, it has yet to achieve center stage inIndia, and to catch up comprehensively and beyondpublic relations-speak.

This is why the transformative role of NGOs and of public advocacy, fromthe media as well as from influential Indians, is of vital importance. Ascorporations grow in power, exponentially, in an India increasinglyenamored of the private sector, with successive governments racing toclip the public sector and sell off government enterprises, the workbefore us is enormous.

And why is this even more crucial for India than for the developedcountries? Because India lacks a safety net for its citizens, and a safetynet for one billion souls, at least nine hundred million of whom are lessthan secure from a medical or financial emergency, could take decades.When corporations act responsibly, ethically, and justly, protecting theiremployees with health insurance as well as safe working environments,and resolutely resisting the urge to dump dangerous wastes into thebiosphere or to pursue profit regardless of the human cost, at least someof the government’s potential burden is relieved.

CSR can go even further in improving the quality of life for employeesand surrounding communities, enhancing literacy, public healthawareness, and job skills. There are corporations using their expertiseand outreach skills of NGOs to reach the community and benefit them,

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Pramod JohnExecutive DirectorPrakruthi

and many NGOs seize the initiative in persuading corporations to adoptCSR practices, often bringing together various stakeholders in what ispossibly the most democratic way of going about it, rather than CSRimposed from above or handed down like a charitable grant, this processof community negotiation makes every stakeholder feel like an equalparticipant in the process.

True, CSR in India has come a long way in just the last decade and a half,but given the size of India and the challenges posed by its immensepopulation of poor and unskilled citizens, the task before us is immenseas well as urgent.

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Prakruthi – Brief History

Prakruthi is a not-for-profit organizationheadquartered in Bangalore, where it isregistered as a charitable trust. ‘Prakruthi’

in Sanskrit means Nature in the wider sense.Prakruthi was established by developmentprofessionals and social entrepreneurs to provideemotional solace to underprivileged communitiesand also to train them in technical skills so theycould become dynamic members of society. Duringthese years, Prakruthi has trained thousands ofdeprived people to become self-sufficientcontributors to society.

The journey of Prakruthi was initiated by a smallgroup of youths with an objective to provideemotional solace to the children and youths. Withthe opening of a multipurpose learning centre, theball was set rolling. A delighting response fromthe local children was all that was needed to fillthe team with evermore zeal to take this further.

Prakruthi was able to provide early childhoodeducation to over 250 children per year whocompleted their education and were enrolled intothe mainstream schools. These education centreswere run in the slums of Bangalore. Furthermore,Prakruthi continued to run supportive educationalcentre to help children overcome the problem ofCore-curriculum miss-match with the existingeducational system. More than 150 youths weretrained and were benefitted each year in thesecentres. To encourage children and youths of poorneighbourhoods, Prakruthi took an initiative to

provide training regular classes on Performing andFine arts. Training on pottery, painting, drawingand performing arts such as Mohiniyattam, folkdances, Bharathanatyam and others were providedto the children.

In Ladakh region of Kashmir, In the year2001Prakruthi supported the Indian Indian ArmedForces initiated operation Sadbhavana, inimproving the lives and the financial security offamilies affected by the Kargil War. Along theIndo-Pakistan border, thirty volunteers worked withthe local population for a year forming women’sempowerment units which helped widows earnmoney while sponsoring their children’s education.Prakruthi-developed English-teaching educationalsoftware for lower grade students proved sosuccessful that it is now being enhanced andrefined for widespread use. In collaboration withSingapore International Foundation, we developedsoftware to teach English and Math to Grade 10students.

Prakruthi has involved in identifying Persons withDisability (PWD) to support them in any whichway they could improve or show excellence in thefield of their interest. A project was also carriedout for children with disability. Prakruthi nurtureda small team of five members to workindependently with these children, thus SAMAfoundation was born. Disabled children were helpedto overcome the unequal opportunities, educationand denial of personal and economic security.

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In its journey through the 18 years of existence,NGOs, CSOs, SMEs, and MNCs have helped,supported and partnered with us in their SocialResponsibility activities. It will not be appropriateif we do not mention the wholehearted supportgiven by philanthropic individuals who kindledthis voluntary spirit. Community-based trainingcentre has its origins from the sole computersystem donated by Mr. Bernard Carry and Ms Clairefrom UK, the space donated by Surender Singh ofSingh engineering works. Mr. Brijesh and his teamfrom Cognizant Technologies made sure that a low-income settlement youth group called SubhashChandrabose Society for all-round support for thepeople in the area is up and running. Lt. Gen. ArjunRay VSM, Mr. Anand Adkoli of Liqwid Krystal,Mr. T. P Vasanth of Akshar advertising, andMs. Sujatha Ganesh were the key players in ourvoluntary intervention in the war-torn areas ofKargil, in the Ladakh region. Mr. R RamachandranNuvent Capital, Bank of America, KPMG, Word

Makers and TTK Blood bank are some of the entitiesdonated equipments for the training centres.Mr. K C Samuel of Hindustan Aviation Academysupported us by allocating free seats for thePrakruthi students in his prestigious institutions.

NGOs like SICHEREM, RLHP, TLM, Praxis, SKIP, KNHGermany, Action Aid, National Foundation forIndia, and Dhwani Foundation supported ouractivities in different ways. There was support forthcoming, as always, from Y’s Men International, andthe Rotary clubs for actioning our differentactivities.

Prakruthi has a long way to go, Prakruthi willcontinue with this work and much more. The presentteam of Prakruthi has the motive of achievinghigher. It will move on to bring more and morefamilies to prosperity and promote growth in allwalks of life. The ultimate agenda of ENABLINGSUSTAINABILITY lies within.

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Touching Hearts along the LoC

In January 2001 the 14th Corps of the Indian Army invited Prakruthi to support theirSadbhavna Schools in the Ladakh region of Jammu & Kashmir by developinge-education software. This software is in use in 14 schools benefiting about 2000

children living in villages along the Line of Control (LoC).

Prakruthi team, after visits and interactions with people of the region, motivated a groupof volunteers from Bangalore to impart quality education using their professional skills.The volunteers spent six months at a stretch; four batches were trained in two years timeat Ladakh.

Prakruthi deems it as a glorious episode in its decade long voluntary work.

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It was worth recording the dedication of the volunteers who were prepared to face theextreme cold weather and challenging terrain to reach out to the children.

Prakruthi team was able to organise 250 volunteers and train them in different batches.The training included motivating, team building and crisis management.

The volunteers taught computers, English, Maths and Science subjects, while few otherstook care of the general health and hygiene of the children.

There was a tremendous response; especially women folk were more receptive to educationand development.

As the service provided was beyond expectations, there was huge campaign throughdifferent forms of media like TV channels, news papers, magazines both local and national.

Prakruthi made an impact in the minds of the people to dedicate their time for the noblecause. Prakruthi team is proud to have taken this initiative and the fond memorieslinger by.

This team is prepared to take up any such initiatives or assignments that come its way infuture.

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1

Sustainable Garments

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Corporate Social Responsibility– Benefits Garment Company

and its Workers alikeIntroduction

The Government of West Bengal has announced a new Textile Policyto create one million new jobs, setting up 20 integrated textile,apparel and hosiery parks, three jute parks, 50 additional handloom

clusters, silk parks, and one Integrated Silk Processing and PrintingComplex. It also plans to set up an ultra-modern Integrated TextileTownship in the State.

The Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills Ltd. (RCML), Calcutta, has been manufacturingcotton garments since 1995, using only organic cotton. With an annualturnover of Rs.40 crores (US$8 million), it employs about 700 workersand is reputed for its professionalism and its business ethics.

These developments present an excellent opportunity for a collaborativeproject in Corporate Social Responsibility between Solidaridad, NGOpartner Prakruthi, and The Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills Limited (RCML), anda case study in how the core business of RCML was used to addresspoverty and generate employment.

Prakruthi believes passionately that Fair Trade systems and CorporateSocial Responsibility infuse manufactured products with immeasurablevalue as well as a specific and bountiful harvest which includes betterprofits and productivity for small producers and manufacturers, betterwages for workers, and relief and protection for the environment. Toprove our point, witness the number of multinational companies thathave jumped on to the Corporate Social Responsibility bandwagon andare reviewing their supply chains for their social and environmentalcompliance.

Prakruthi’s core unit is the Sustainability Project which interacts atdifferent levels of the supply chain—from farmers to manufacturers—toensure social, economic and environmentally sustainable developmentwithin and outside the business.

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Objectives

� Facilitate RCML to move towards sustainable social compliance

� Capacity Building of the workers to the Management forsustainable practices

� Facilitate management to conduct monitoring and verificationindependently

� Support RCML in Corporate Social Responsibility practices andenable it to achieve SA-8000 certification

Achievements

� Conducted a GAP audit against the CSR policy of RCML

� Formed a task force for continuous improvement of themanagement systems within RCML and provided training on theseven thematic areas of RCMLs CSR policy

� Prepared and released SA-8000 manual and procedure

� Prepared a training materials on internal auditing systems andtrained to all the stakeholders

� Assisted RCML to prepare a CSR report

� Workshop has been conducted with the RCML management inEmployee wellbeing, Workplace issues, Supply Chain Management,Environmental Quality Enhancement, Community Development,Compliance, Monitoring and CSR Reporting

� In May 2008, the company received the SA-8000 Certificate

Outcomes

� Workers receive above minimum wages along with health insurance

� Overtime wages paid or compensatory time given for extra work

� Workers representatives regularly meet with the managementproviding Freedom of Association and collective bargaining

� No discrimination among workers since the management followingpolicies based on code of conducts minimizing any possibleharassment of workers

SA 8000 Certificate handing over Ceremony in RCML, Kolkatta, West Bengal

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Profile of the Company

Star fashion Kathmandu Ltd., based in Nepal is 18 years old and has300 employees, fashions clothing from organic cotton and otherenvironmental friendly fibres such as bamboo, hemp, Ramie, Soya

etc. More than 200,000 garments are exported to Europe and the USA.The factory is supported by Prakruthi to join the new ethos of CorporateSocial Responsibility.

Prakruthi has drawn up a plan to get the factory SA-8000 Certified.

Achievements

� Conducted a GAP audit as per SA-8000 Code of Conducts

� Formed a task force for continuous improvement of themanagement systems within Star Fashion and provided training onEmployee wellbeing, Workplace issues, Supply chain management,Environmental Quality Enhancement, Community Development,Compliance Monitoring and Workers Committee

� Prepared and released SA-8000 manual and procedure

� Prepared a training materials on internal auditing systems andtrained to all the stakeholders

� Displayed of policy, procedure and other required legalinformation

Outcomes

� The management of Star Fashion has understood the benefits ofSA-8000 certification for the factory and its impact on workermorale. Our intervention persuaded them to take a more positiveattitude towards Corporate Social Responsibility

� SA-8000 certification final audit will be conducted on middle ofJanuary 2010, after continuous interventions from PrakruthiManagement Star Fashion are eligible for SA-8000 certification

Made–By® SupplierImprovement Programme in

Nepal

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Introduction

After the beedi industry, the garment industry is the largest industrialemployer of women workers in Karnataka. Karnataka LabourDepartment statistic for 2002 show that there were 788 statewide

garment manufacturing units, 729 of which were in the city of Bangalore.The industry employed 1,53,978 workers statewide, of whom 1,10,019were women; while in, the corresponding numbers were 1,46,855 and1,03,039 respectively.

Naturally, because of their gender and the near total absence ofunionization, this workforce is highly vulnerable. The level ofcollectivisation among workers in the Bangalore garment sector ispractically non-existent. Earlier attempts at unionisation in the Ninetiesin some factories in Bangalore, particularly by CITU, ultimately proveddisastrous for participating workers. Factories closed down and shiftedproduction elsewhere, and the striking workers were left jobless andsimultaneously blacklisted from new jobs by the well-knit garmentindustry’s employers. The memory of this period of failed unionisationattempts is still fresh in workers’ minds, leaving them hesitant to takethe initiative to unionise.

The large proportion of women workers also hinders unionization, becausewomen are often obliged, after long hours of work, to return home andsatisfy domestic obligations—which leaves little time to participate inorganisation and collectivisation.

The workers are also very vulnerable because of the lack of job security.In many factories there are no written contracts or appointment lettersfrom the management to workers. In some factories, the managementmakes workers hand over signed resignation letters at the time of joiningwork.

On the other hand, the Bangalore garment sector has seen completepolarisation of views vis-à-vis issues of Corporate Social Responsibility.The NGOs and labour unions are on one side, and often the factory owners,

Multi-Stakeholder InitiativesGarment Sector Bangalore

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and other actors in the supply chain are on the other. While the codesand standards enhance the competitiveness of the Indian garment exportersand simultaneously improve the living and working conditions of themarginalised and vulnerable stakeholders, there is a need for acomprehensive and accountable mechanism.

There is a need for developing the capacity of the Bangalore garmentcluster stakeholders on codes and standards. There is also a need fordeveloping the capacity of women workers to join trade unions whileenhancing knowledge about codes and standards. This would graduallybring the polarised stakeholders under one umbrella to find collectivesolutions to social and environmental challenges.

Project Goal

To encourage and enable India’s textile enterprises to have a positiveimpact on the people’s quality of life by adopting improved CSR practicesand International Standards.

Objectives

� To have a comprehensive understanding of the labour andenvironmental concerns in the garment sector of Bangalore

� Develop the capacity of the employers as well as labour unions toreach International Standard like SA-8000, WRAP etc.

� Form a Multi-stakeholder Steering Group for developing acollective and coherent response on key social and environmentalissues

Achievements

� Conducted a participatory research on prevailing social andenvironmental issues, and concerns in the Bangalore garmentcluster

� Orientation workshop organised to educate workers about theirrights

� Training and capacity-building workshops, particularly for thewomen workers done

� Initiated process for formation of Bangalore Steering Group inGarment Sector

� A Stakeholder workshop has organised on “Prevailing social andenvironmental issues and concerns” in Bangalore garment cluster

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User Groups – A Conceptand an Approach

A Bangalore Experiment

Introduction

User groups, which played such a vital role in the development ofthe Internet and of software, are a revolutionary and democraticidea that can enhance areas of social existence that were once

polarized. User groups suggest partnership, collaboration, teamwork,camaraderie, and synergy, and are the opposite of antagonism,separateness, and rivalry. Prakruthi wishes to introduce the concept ofUser Groups into the world and ecosystem of Bangalore garment factoriesas a way of supporting and stimulating groups, companies, andorganisations in a new way of solving internal issues.

Objectives

� To introduce the methodology of User Group in Bangalore GarmentSector as an innovative way to support & stimulate companies tosolve issues they face in their garment factories

Achievements

� Facilitated formation of User Group of 10 interested factories

� ‘Absenteeism among workers in garment industry’ was selected astopic for discussion and remedial action

� Provided information on key criteria contributing to the successfulpreparation and implementation of User Groups

� Promoted the methodology of User Groups to companies andbrands

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The synergy that is released when stakeholders in a particular industryget together for the common good is beautifully illustrated by thisproject. While its main goal was to enable the Made–By® knitwear

supply chain to build a flagship chain of suppliers from India for optimalachievement of fair trade objectives, it had some very useful secondaryoutcomes as well. This was a specific project to cater only to cutting,making, trimming (CMT) units.

Objectives

� To provide support throughout the SA 8000 audit process

� To facilitate the TSG in understanding and using the complaintfiling mechanism within SA 8000 process

� Continue building the capacity of workers in the SA 8000 certifiedfactories on SA 8000 standard along with experts and SteeringGroup members

� To promote corporate community investment programmes in theTirupur region in association with the steering group

Achievements

� First pre-audit and post audit consultation and trainingcompleted

� Study on Sumangali scheme completed

� Withdrawal of orders by brands and its impacts study is completed

� Three training programmes for the labourers working in SA 8000factories have been conducted covering 150 participants duringthese training programmes

� A Website for Tirupur Steering Group has been developed andinaugurated in the presents of SAI International officials andother stakeholders

Steering Social Responsibility

Improvement throughBetter Transparency in

Certification – TSG Case

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Outcomes

� The beneficiaries realised the importance of SA 8000certification and thoroughly understood the purpose of Auditas not merely a fault-finding process, but as a social approachwith corrective measures for worker welfare

� All parties acknowledge that the SA 8000 will bring cordialrelationships amongst various stakeholders including the NGOsand Trade Unions

� The social audit process opened a direct and non-confrontational communication between Trade unions andcompany owners

� International agencies like Solidaridad could also work directlywith people’s groups and civil society groups if Steering Groupis engaged in the social audit process

� The modesty and wisdom amply illustrated by TSG’sparticipation in the social audit has earned the respect ofcompany owners for Trade Unions. The company’s brand imageand value have risen

TSG Members with Ms. Rochelle Zaid, SAI International

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Resources

Sustainability in the Tea Sector

Consultative Workshop on UTZ®Tea Certification in India –A Report

Tea Argentino

Base Scan of SustainabilityIssues in Argentine TeaIndustry

Steering Corporate SocialResponsibility

Making Social Audit Work in theTirupur Garment Cluster

Bargaining Beans

India’s Small Coffee GrowersReadying to go Global withCertification - A Report

Phased out and Stitched Up

State of the ReadymadeGarment Sector in Nepal

Identifying Feasibility ofFair Trade Initiatives inthe Co-operative TeaSector in Sri Lanka

Eco Centre

Organic Farming Support System

‘Burning’1 Issue

A pilot study on theconsumption of Firewood inthe garment cluster ofTirupur, Tamil Nadu

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2

Sustainable Tea

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Raising the Bar

The Wayanad Story

Small is beautiful, but not necessarily in the cutthroat world ofunrestrained markets, where big fish get fatter by gobbling up thelittle fish. But WAM and Prakruthi managed to bring the taste of

the tea of Wayanad’s small growers to the international markets.

Enter the Wayanad Agro Movement (WAM) Tea Co.Ltd., which was formedby CST with the help of Wayanad Charitable Organisation in Mananthavadytaluk. In 2003, CST Congregation floated a tea factory for small teagrowers, boasting of more than 200 farmers as its shareholders. However,this laudable venture was in a crisis due to high competition from themarket, low quality of made tea, low prices from action, lack of localmarket, and unstable quality and quantity of green leaves.

Now, Prakruthi has supported the WAM Tea Company Ltd., in reachingsustainable growth with their initiative, and to help bring small teagrowers under the UTZ® certification.

Objectives

� Capacity building of workers and small tea producers

� Developing sustainable market access

Achievements

� Enhanced capacity of the 500 farmers related to UTZ® certificationand its process

� Started four Leaf-Collection Centres

� WAM Tea company has become the first UTZ® Certified tea companyin the World

Outcomes

� Sustainable assurance of better quality green tea leaves and betterprice for producers

� Skill development of management, farmers and workers

� Better quality of made tea by better management in the factory

� Enabled small producers to become players in the internationalvalue chain

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“Indian”ising UTZ® Tea Code

Aworkshop on the purpose and meaning of UTZ® certification washeld on May 2008 at Darjeeling, West Bengal.

Forty participants from India, China, Indonesia, the Netherlands and SriLanka representing the interests of planters, tea auctioneers, leaf buyers,small and marginal farmers, trade unions, non-governmental organizations,civil society organizations and statutory bodies such as the Tea Board,took part in the consultative process.

Five panels have been formed consisting of following agencies/representatives in each panel:

� Panel One: Planters, Tea Companies and Auctioneers/Buyers

� Panel Two: Small tea growers

� Panel Three: Trade Unions

� Panel Four: NGOs and CSOs

� Panel Five: Sharing of international experiences

Members in each Panel

Representatives from each panel have aired their views and experiencesand concluded as follows:

Panel 1: Indian Tea plantations are already following good socialpractices as enshrined in the plantations Labour Act andother legislation governing the Tea industry, and this wouldbe further highlighted during the certification process.

However, we must pay more attention to the actualimplementation of different codes in the Indian Tea Industry

Panel 2: Collectivization works for the benefit of small grower, whomust learn from each other and from similar experiments inthis direction. Post-collectivization, certifications like UTZ®could be a useful tool for small holders to get access toquality markets.

National Reference Group(NRG)

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Panel 3: UTZ® Tea code is a positive and welcome step.

Panel 4: All panelists touched on the importance of having acertification support network, and this was endorsed by thefloor at the open discussion.

Panel 5: They have welcomed the certification of tea product sandhoped that once the idea catches on, retail outlets wouldvie with each other to stock certified commodities.

A National Reference Group to take the agenda forward, and also aCertification Support Network was formed.

Mr. Koshy Mathew addressing 1st National Reference Group meeting for UTZ®certification held in Darjeeling, India

Fr. James, Managing Director, WAM Tea exhibiting World’s first UTZ® Certificatefor small growers

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Sustainable Coffee

3

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The Real Aroma

Introduction

Indians may be surprised to learn that India is not known in mostother countries as a coffee producer. Our marketing projection hasbeen as good as that of other countries (who hasn't heard of Jamaican

Blue Mountain or Kenyan coffee, for example?), and we are also oftensubject to the vagaries of world markets, such as overproduction inBrazil causing the sale of coffee at distress prices.

However, Indian coffee has its own unique flavor, and India is the onlycountry that grows all of its coffee under shade. Typically mild and nottoo acidic, these coffees possess an exotic full-bodied taste and a finearoma. Coffee in India is more than an agricultural export product; it isa social, institutional and cultural fabric that is at the heart of the ruralsocieties in the traditional coffee-growing areas such as Karnataka, Kerala,and Tamil Nadu, and in the emerging areas in the tribal belts of AndhraPradesh/Orissa and North-East India. It offers work opportunities tothousands in areas where there is no alternative occupation. It is also anindispensable part of a fragile eco-system in the Western and EasternGhats.

Given the importance of coffee both to the country and to the smallgrowers whose livelihoods depend on it, Prakruthi have entered into astrategic partnership with different stakeholders in forming andstrengthening farmer groups to provide a sustainable market access.

Goal

� To improve the living standards of small and marginal coffeegrowers by adopting sustainable practices towards internationalstandards

Sustainable Livelihood forSmallholder Coffee Growers

and Workers

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Specific Objectives

� Strengthening small coffee growers' organizations in India andbuild their capacity to improve their market position and increaseand stabilize their income from coffee production

� Improved competitiveness and higher income for the smallholdersthrough access to higher-value markets by means of certificationand better adherence to social and environmental standardsleading to improved living and working conditions in the coffeefields

� Link up with quality coffee market in India and increaseawareness and consumption of sustainable coffee

Achievements

� Completed a base-line analysis of small growers in South India toidentify with existing practices and socio-economic condition ofsmall growers

� Organized common platform for the coffee producers groups,buyers, other marketing companies and NGO's, explored thepossibilities for improving productivity, quality and sustainabilityof Indian coffee

� Prakruthi launched the process to organize National Level CoffeeProducers Forum and organized three national level workshopsdiscussing;

� Relevance of certification

� Group certification procedures

� Different certifications and standards

� Demand for the certified coffee in International market

� Prakruthi established partnership with NedCommodities to certifythe producers in Coorg area. About 980 acres of coffee farmsidentified, which is located in different parts of Coorg andsupported them to certify under UTZ® standards

� Partnership with ECOM (Coffee trading company)to produce andprocure responsible coffee from small growers from Tamil Nadu(Bodi, Lower Palani Hills, Theni) and in Kerala (North Wayanad,Kattappana)

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Representing Prakruthi inInternational Forums

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4

Better Sugar Initiative

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Better Sugar, for Sure

Sugarcane cultivation is one of the biggest employment generatorsfor India with 50 million farmers involved in producing around 26million MT of Sugar making it one of the largest sugar-producing

countries in the world. In addition to farmers, 0.5 million workers aredirectly employed as agricultural labour involved in Sugarcane cultivationand harvesting. Tamil Nadu is the third largest sugar-producing state inIndia.

The well-known South Indian company E.I.D. Parry, which nowparticipates in the Better Sugar Initiative (BSI) as its steering groupmember, seeks to take forward its ethical leadership in the sugar industryby providing support to the sugarcane farmers, enabling them toimplement BSI standards and eventually get certified under thosestandards. Prakruthi joined hands with Parry and Solidaridad for thisintiative.

Objectives

� To certify at least 1000 Sugarcane farmers who will supply certifiedSugarcane to E.I.D. Parry

� To train at least 40,000 smallholder sugarcane farmers and workersin Best Farm Management Practices (BFMP) and in the principlesof sustainable chain management

� To contribute to MDG 1, MDG 7 and MDG 8 targets

Activities Planned

� Base scan research of target smallholders – identifying the GAPs infirm management practices as well as the sustainability challenges

� GAP analysis for certification to the BSI standards, and providingfeedback about the convergences and divergences to Indiansugarcane realities

� Improvement and remediation programmes to meet the GAPsincluding setting up of systems and providing technical supportfor 1000 farmers

Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative

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� Certification of the sugarcane farmers and the factories. Providingnational inputs to the BSI. Certification/traceability standardsthrough consultative workshops at regional and national levels.

� Development of a manual on sustainable sugarcane and factory ongood agricultural practices as per standard

� Capacity building workshops for the selected farmers, leaders andstaff who in turn would pass on the knowledge to other farmers

� Magazine/Newsletter on BSI standards and other relateddevelopments for sugarcane farmers to be accessed through Parry’sE-Kiosks

Better Sugar Initiative Annual General Body Meet

BSI Field Visit

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‘Support a Child - Campaign’

Education is the basic prerequisite for the development of any society. We are tryingto assure the participation of local community in the process of improving theeducation standard of the underprivileged children in India. As an individual one

can sponsor a child for his/her basic education and life skill training. The donor will getprogress report of the child s/he supports. Prakruthi supports the education of theunderprivileged children living in urban and rural areas of India. We support basic educationof the children along with life skill training. We believe in making them independent andgrow them as socially and environmentally responsible citizen. This aligns with our effortsto achieve Millenium Goals (MDGs II & III).

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Education

5

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Introduction

With its high tribal population, Adilabad district in AndhraPradesh lags far behind Millennium Development Goal targets.The cotton growers in this district are badly affected by the

high cost of farming concomitant with low returns. Several studies haveurged low-cost farming as a better strategy for survival.

With cotton farmers being part of a global supply chain for major garmentand textile companies worldwide, this situation could pose serious risksfor the companies, who may stop procuring Indian cotton, thus riskingloss of the farmers’ livelihood. These farmers are organized under theumbrella of COFA (Chetna Organic Farmers Association) and are supportedby Solidaridad in their effort to become part of a movement that istaking up organic farming and producing organic cotton, which will besold through MACS (Mutually Aided Cooperative Society) with thecooperation of COFA.

Prakruthi is playing a key role in supporting COFA in implementingcorporate-community development projects. As part of their educationaloutreach, Prakruthi conducted a pilot study to get a clear picture of theexisting education system and the reasons for high dropout rates,especially among girls.

Objectives

� Achieve universal primary education (MDG 2) and

� Promote gender equality and empower women (MDG 3)

Achievements

� Rapport built with Government agencies, other NGOs and thecommunity

Promote Universal Primary Education and

Gender Equality

Empowerment throughEducation

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� Qualified persons have been identified from OCGRA (Organiccotton growers association) and within the community wereappointed as Teachers

� A Learning-cum-Resource centre at Asifabad is functioning inconsultation with the locals and village heads. This ResourceCentre motivates students, promote health awareness and developskills among tribal children

� Four Education Centres established at Belgam-G, Kahpri,Malangundi and Koutaguda covering around eight villages withmore than hundred students

� Within a year, seven students joined mainstream residential school

Recreational activities in Koutaguda Education Centre

Students in Kahpri Education Centre

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Training and Empoweringthe Poor

Community Based Training Centre, Byrathi, Bangalore

Introduction

In Bangalore, air-conditioned hothouse of India’s InformationTechnology revolution and one of India’s richest cities, the bonanzahas bypassed quite a few silent members of the population, including

orphan and underprivileged children, who cannot afford to learn modern-day life skills due to their financial constraints. Mere possession of anacademic certificate from their schools with their low educationalstandards doesn’t mean much in the job market in degree-rich, certificate-rich India.

So Prakruthi decided to give wings to the dreams of at least a few ofthese children by starting a learning centre in modern day life skills ataffordable prices. Thus was born the Community Based Training Centre(CBTC) in the year 1998. Children are free to choose their own learningcourse and pace to suit their individual tastes and learning curves,depending on their level of education, age and other background.

Computer classes charge a nominal fee, which help to instill in the studentsa sense of ownership in their learning, while the fees collected help runthe centre.

Objective

� Educating & Empowering children with IT based training

Strategies

� Technical and soft skill development

� Support to livelihood by providing placement and re-training

� Linking CSR programmes of business with the Centre

Programs/Activities

� Computer training and other skill developmental courses

� Basic computer skills Programs/Activities

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� Course on programming language

� Youth training workshops

� Children’s clubs

� Reading centers

� Remedial/Supplementary teaching

� Spoken English classes

� Personality development workshops

� Retail Management courses

� Basic Management courses

� Career counseling and leadership training

� Networking with schools/community

Outcomes/Achievements

� Several youth and students have been trained in various computerskills like Microsoft Office, Tally, DTP, PhotoShop, CorelDraw etc.

� Job placements for more than 40 beneficiaries of the centre invarious organization like Ambara Software Technologies, CromaPvt.Ltd., Café Coffee Day, etc.

� Entrepreneurship trainings were conducted for prospective youngneedy entrepreneurs for their sustainable livelihood

� A library of useful books are available in the centre

� Promoted youth association among youths in the name of “YuvaSneha Jeevi Sangha” as Self Help Group to develop socialawareness skill

� Established Networking with schools/communities

Impact on the Community

� Increases awareness of IT-training among youths

� Job Placement has transformed the lives of youths and theirfamilies

� The centre and its alumni, the youth and children have createdsuch an impact that the attitude of the villagers has changed,now garnering remarkable support, and attracting students fromneighbouring areas

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‘Plant a Tree’

Prakruthi’s campaign to plant one

crore trees in India over a period of

ten years

Trees are not onlyimportant to humanbeing it also essential

for the very existence forany other species in theplanet. Unfortunately weare cutting millions of treesevery day without givingmuch importance to replaceit. “Plant a Tree today andsave our planet” is a uniqueproject Prakruthi hasinitiated to plant trees inboth urban and rural areasof India. The project aimsat protecting the fragileenvironment of India byplanting 10 million trees inIndia over a period of tenyears.

Prakruthi organizes theindividuals, organisations, companies,government, NGOs and educational institutionsacross the country and facilitate the process ofplanting trees in both, public and private lands.Prakruthi identifies the place and types ofsapling, plant, put a shelter, water it, and careit for three years for better sustenance. Later it

will be given to the concerned individual ororganisation to protect. We just don’t believe

in planting trees, insteadPrakruthi plant, protectand educate the localcommunity/ institution totake care of it.

Prakruthi is in the processof finding crediblepartners like companies,institutionsand individualsfrom different parts of theworld to come forward andsupport in our mission tosave our plant for the futuregenerations.

As an individual one cansponsor any number oftrees according to yourconvenience. We will plantthe trees protect the sameand also replace in case ofany mortality. As a socially

responsible corporate house, a company can takea project of planting a minimum of 5000 trees.Prakruthi will plant, protect and replace thetrees the company. The project will be namedwith Donor Company. Prakruthi also provide thedonor GPS position to track the trees andunderstand its growth.

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6

Environment

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Model Eco-Centre

Introduction

The cow is central in Indian village life and culture, and anyenvironmental plan must, sooner or later, come to grips with cows(as indeed, it must on a universal scale, considering the bovine

role in global warming). Thus it was that Prakruthi proposed a livestockdevelopment project for promoting organic farming of cotton in Adilabaddistrict, where the Chetna Organic Cotton Programme is under operation.

The project train organic farmers on how to prepare and apply organicmanures like vermi compost and bio pesticides from cow manure forbetter productivity.The implementation of livestock developmentproject made to understand that the necessity of a resource centre, whichcan demonstrate natural resource management and better agriculturepractices to the organic cotton growers.

Objectives

Improve standard of living of farmers' households by increasing incomethrough:

� Reuse natural resources by making rain water harvesting structuresand using bio-gas for the eco centre activities

� Rejuvenate soil fertility by adopting soil management practicesand applying organic inputs like on farm manures, bio-mass,vermi-compost, bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides and nutrients

� To give other income through pisciculture in rain pond andvegetable cultivation on the canopy

� To demonstrate the methodical usage of by-products of cattle bycollecting and producing crop protection and micro nutrientproducts

� To demonstrate nutritious fodder production, which wouldovercome the physical weakness among cattle and their highsusceptibility to diseases

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Achievements

� Four acres of land provided by the community in two villages(Chouppanguda and Belgam G in Adilabad)

� Two cow sheds were built and 30 cows and calves have beenprovided under the group ownership in two eco centres with Roofwater harvesting, Rain pond, bio-gas plant, vermin compost pitand bio-pesticide/nutrient unit.

� Groups were able to produce vegetables by using canopy and fishin the rain pond generating extra income for the farmers

� The Eco centre has become a model for promoting organic farmingas well as a laboratory for solving farmers' problems

Multi-Stakeholder Partnership

� Cooperation among Agencies: The project involved differentgroups/agencies such as Cultivators (Chetna organic cottonproducers), Industries (RCML), Corporate (Organic cotton buyers/business groups), governmental agencies (ITDA, IKP and Forestdepartment), Non-governmental organizations (Solidaridad andCOFA) and grass root level bodies (OCGRAs, Women and Youthgroup of the community) by contributing their resources

Rainpond supporting food security- vegetables and fish farming

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‘Burning’ Issue

Environmental Concerns of Firewood Consumption in

Tirupur's Industries

Introduction

What is the social and environmental impact of firewood beingused in the garment industries,and would alternate energysources like solar power and wind energy work instead? Prakruthi

decided to investigate and research firewood usage in Tirupur District inTamil Nadu.

Objectives

� Identify the amount of firewood consumption in garmentindustries in Tirupur and sources of firewood supply

� Explore social-political dynamics of the firewood market

� Assess the environmental implications of firewood usage andexplore alternatives

� Assess the readiness of the industry owners to look at alternatives,or to minimise on the current quantities used by enhancingefficiency

� Generate research studies, reports, and pamphlets on key corporateand community responsibilities and spread this knowledge andawareness in the community

Achievements

Visits were made to different firewood-consuming Industries, woodsuppliers, heads of associations from steam calendaring, dyeing andbleaching sectors and heads of Institutions such as PSG Institute ofTechnology, Textiles Council and Pollution Control Board in Tirupur. Wealso met researchers from institutions such as TIDE to get insight intoboiler use efficiency and available options to optimize usage of firewood.

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Outcomes

� Tirupur industries are able to understand environmental concernsof wood cutting

� Sensitized all the stakeholders by a training programme forfirewood users

� Since Firewood supply chain touches the lives of about 50,000 to75,000 persons, They have understood the need of prudent use offirewood

� Network established among the woodcutters, users, farmers andsuppliers to avoid exploitation

� The supply chain of firewood from cultivator to end user was speltout and the role of each in the industry was outlined

� Plans to encourage the farmers to cultivate shrubs such askaruvellam, mulveli, velavela, vembu, unjal in lands where there isshortage of water for irrigation

Mr. Dandapani, Convener of TSG presenting Stakeholder Consultation on Usageof Firewood in Tirupur Garment Cluster

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SEFT –Sustainable Economy and

Fair Trade

In South-East Asia millions of people, most of them women, work ontea plantations. Labour conditions are often poor and hours arelong, with few breaks. Their wages are low, and lower than those of

men. Profit margins are small and on some plantations a lot of chemicalpesticides are used.

Due to lack of transparency in the sector and low tea prices, both small-scale farmers and large plantations have difficulty keeping their headsabove water.

Since 2008, Solidaridad has been working with local partners to maketea production more sustainable, starting in Malawi, Indonesia, Indiaand Sri Lanka. Thanks to improvements to farming techniques and self-management, and the introduction of UTZ® certified, small-scale teafarmers and tea pickers can look forward to a better and healthier future.

So Solidaridad is working on an UTZ® code for plantations and small-scale farmers. Certification for small-scale farmers is the challenge.

The Aims of the Programme

• To introduce and provide information about UTZ® certified onplantations and in cooperations

• To support cooperations with self-management, market access andfarming techniques, paying particular attention to women

• To interest and involve tea companies in a sustainable tea chain

• To develop a sustainable tea market in producer countries

• To set up multi-stakeholder National Reference Groups in India,Indonesia and Sri Lanka, with an emphasis on the participation ofwomen’s organizations

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Achievements

Capacity building at 12 tea cooperations in India that together represent45,000 Small-scale tea farmers from West Bengal, Assam, Kerala andTamil Nadu.

2,502 Labourers (50% women) in Java, Indonesia, are getting UTZ®certification.

2,000 Plantation workers in Malawi are in the process of certification.

5 Civil society organizations in Europe and/or producing countries arecooperating in the tea programme.

Oxfam, SOMO (Netherlands) for joint work on tea through the DutchSustainable Trade Initiative (IDH).

Multi-stakeholder National Reference Groups (NRG) comprising of teaboards, tea cooperations, traders, auction houses, large plantations,small-scale farmers, tea research institutes, trade unions and NGO’sprovided feedback in the development and implementation of the UTZ®certified tea code.

Indonesia: the secretariat for a multi stakeholder platform is hosted bythe NGO Business Watch.

Sri Lanka: the secretariat for a multi stakeholder platform is hosted bythe NGO Institute of Social Development.

Conduct two base scans identifying sustainability challenges for small-scale farmers within the tea sector.

Base scans in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Argentina.

Training tools have been developed for international use, such as trainingfor trainers, checklists and information and training material for producers.

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Stakeholders Speak...

Shatadru Chattopadhayay

Director, Solidaridad-South and South East Asia

The NGOs have been traditionally the biggest driver of CSR everywhere inthe world closely followed by the Government and companies themselves.Acknowledging this reality, Solidaridad-South and South East Asia has beenactively supporting a network of CSR organisations in the region. In Indiathere are hundreds of thousands of NGOs but those which looks at CSR astheir main focus area are very rare either due to capacity issues or because ofideological barriers from both NGO as well as business side. In this context, we are happyto see that Prakruthi has emerged as one of the leading Indian NGOs working dedicatedlywith different stakeholders on CSR issues across the supply chains. Prakruthi is perhapsamongst the few Indian organisations which has the capacity to implement programmeson the ground and simultaneously occupy the space of policy advocacy on CSR. We inSolidaridad, look forward to join Prakruthi in this exciting journey of making the worldmore sustainable.

Sjoerd Panhuysen

Senior Policy Advisor, Tropical Coffee Coalition, The Netherlands

In recent years, TCC and Prakruthi jointly developed a coffee trainingprogramme addressing small-scale producers in the three main coffeeproducing departments in India. Linking up Prakruthi’s local network toTCC’s international coffee programme has given this project an added value.Together we are creating an enabling environment for different stakeholdersto take part in the sustainable coffee debate in India. It’s not just aboutsustainable production, it’s about understanding the coffee market too, nationally andinternationally, to make the right business decisions and identify the best partners toimprove the social, environmental and economic situation. Today, Prakruthi’s coffee projecthas become a bridge between producers, traders, roasters and others, bringing them togetherto improve the sustainability of the coffee chaín.

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7

CSR Partnership

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Prakruthi-RCMLApparel Training Centre

Introduction

Worker absenteeism and frequent turnover pose major problemsfor RCML, and the root cause is the shortage of skilled and trainedlabour. In turn the low-skilled or unskilled workers and their

families suffer insecurity, unemployment, and destitution.

What the workers need is to be well-trained in textile manufacturing,which in turn will enhance the quality and quantity of production,while ideal workplace standards of safety will increase worker securityand welfare.

The Apparel Training Centre upgrade workers’ technical skills of the humanresource employed in Garment industry, while the company also volunteersto provide training in this centre.

Prakruthi supported RCML to get SA-8000 certification, developed itsCorporate Social Responsibility policy, trained workers in workplacestandards including safety.

Objectives

� To create a pool of technically and socially sound workforce drawnfrom people living below poverty line in West Bengal throughsustainable process and provide employment

� To involve the business in such a way that the volunteering spiritof the employees is reinforced

� Newly learned technical skills will help the marginalized sectionsof people to be gainfully employed and come out of poverty

Addressing Poverty and Unemployment through CSR in

Garment Sector of West Bengal

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Achievements

� The training centre Building has been constructed and furnished

� Trainees have been selected, and faculty from the Apparel Trainingand Design Centre have been arranged

� Curriculum has been prepared including training modules,community development training kits and overall courseguidelines

The Training Centre is fully functional; and formally opened on 14th

September 2009.

RCML–Prakruthi Apparel Training Centre Kolkatta, West Bengal

Solidaridad Board of Directors visits to RCML–Prakruthi Apparel Training CentreKolkatta, West Bengal

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Stakeholders Speak...

Liesbeth UngerProgramme Manager, Business and Human Rights at Aim for Human Rights,

The Netherlands

“Since I worked for many years on the promotion of sustainability in supplychains to countries like mine (The Netherlands), I met Pramod John andlearned about his organization Prakruthi. His organization is able to puttheory into practice and works on the implementation of internationalstandards for more sustainable value chains. For a Western organizationpromoting with companies to use these standards in their supply chainsand trying to convince them that it is really possible to do so, Prakruthi gives us inspiringexamples. Prakruthi is one of the rare NGOs, which is able to work at grassroots level, atnational level and at international level, with many different stakeholders, includingbusiness. This is what makes their work so effective. I hope they will continue their somuch needed work for a long time.”

Subramaniyam

Secretary, Tamil Manila Kattida Tholilalar Sangam (TMKTS)

I am associated with Prakruthi in many perspectives especially involved inactivities pertaining to construction and garment workers in Tamil Naduand Karnataka. It gives me immense satisfaction and feeling of completenesswhile working with Prakruthi team. The proficiency of the team, sharingknowledge, effective coordination & team work is commendable and hasincreased my cumulative individual experience. I know Prakruthi and Pramodsince last eight years and have worked together in support of the worker community andthe trade unions in garment and construction sectors. Prakruthi has always set examples inthe fields of CSR, especially being one of the best in this field. The team can ground thingsby challenging all odds. The achievements in Tirupur, working with the trade unions &local NGOs is exemplary. I wish the team great success in all their efforts.

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8

Art, Culture and Heritage

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Introduction

Prakruthi conceptualized and initiated Centre for Art Culture and Heritage(CACHe) with vision and goal to identify and nurture the creative talentsof children from the lower strata of society. These children and youth aredeprived of resources and access to the elite arts like classical dances orpainting. Since their extracurricular activities and personal interests arenot catered, they would tend to fall into the viles of social evils or turnto be idle minds and become a threat to the society. In this contextPrakruthi took initiative to train the talented youth who can be realpromises to the future.

Background

Children and youth from the slums and suburbs of Bangalore are deprivedof the classical art forms. These art forms were exclusively meant for theupper class /castes who can easily afford to access the facilities. Even ifthey are talented, the classical arts were denied to the less privileged, inturn, they can perform the folk arts which is more of a group performance.So generally, no individual talents are appreciated. To bridge this gapPrakruthi initiated art classes for the children of slums and suburbs ofBangalore.

Prakruthi team could identify the budding artists and train them in theirrelevant areas. The students could perform on various stages and thesestages gave them more confidence and improved their self esteem. Thesekinds of trainings are like catalysts to personality development of youngminds and adds to their life skills.

Programmes

Over the period of time Prakruthi students had staged several programmes.We celebrate National festivals and religious festivals irrespective of casteor religion. Based on the occasions we choreograph dances, songs andspeeches. Besides, we observe religious festivals with the true spirits.These acitivities give the children the exposure to all religious practicesand helpes to understand the cultural differences.

Centre for Art, Culture andHeritage

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The performances included Indian classical dances like Bharathanatyam(the traditional dance form with systematic rhythms and set music), Thepopular filmy numbers, folk dances of different tribes of India and skitsand short plays. There were quite a few singers also in the group whoentertained the audience with their best performances.

Trainings

Regular trainings are going on at the centre in painting and drawing,classical and folk dances other than computer based education. Thestudents will get trained in pencil sketching, shading, water colouringand oil painting. Some of the students are excellent in drawing andshading and they come out with beautiful pictures. Mostly the girls gettraining in classical dances and folk dances. But at the same time boysshow interests in western dances fast numbers. Anyways, these kinds oftrainings will definitely boost up their confidence and discipline. Thechildren as well as the youth will imbibe the cultural values of ourtradition, heritage and understand the value systems in a better manner.

International Cultural Exchange Programmes

As a part of the cultural exchange programme, CACHe is tying up withDANSA a school based in Venlo, Netherlands. DANSA share the sameideas and spirits to promote the culture and heritage through performingarts in Netherlands. They cater to the youngsters of Venlo and surroundingareas and help them to nurture their talents by exposing them to variousart and cultural forms from different parts of the Globe.

CACHe is in the process of establishing cultural linkages with differentlike-minded groups from differenrt parts of the world to promote andpropagate the power of culture and heritage of different societiesworld wide.

CACHe operates from;

# 207, 1st 'E' Cross, HRBR Layout, 3rd Block,St. Thomas Town P.O, Bangalore 84,Karnataka, INDIAPh: +91 80 25465569Email: [email protected]: www.cacheglobal.org

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Our Partners

Individual Partners

Prakruthi receives the support of individuals from different parts of Indiaand abroad who is concerned about the social and environmental issues.We basically get support for Education, Environment protection andsustainable agriculture. This support is also helping us to expand ourinterventions to different parts of India and other countries of SouthAsia. We strongly believe in the power of individual donors in making adifference together. Prakruthi is grateful to all the individuals, companiesand institutions from different parts of India who is instrumental inhelping us in the process of making the world a better place to live.

Solidaridad

Solidaridad is an initiator and driving force behind Fair Trade, and anactive player in organic agriculture. Solidaridad is intensively involvedin CSR models such as Utz® Certified, Social Accountability International(SAI) and the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), and is activein Round Tables for responsible soy and sustainable biofuels. Solidaridadis a pioneer, developer and innovator in the field of fair trade. We believethat sustainable economic development is the best solution to structuralpoverty in developing countries. And it’s meeting with more and moresuccess. Companies are taking more and more responsibility for the socialimpact of their business. Consumers are becoming more critical aboutwhere their purchases come from and the conditions under which theywere produced.

Tropical Commodity Coalition

The Tropical Commodity Coalition consists of eight non-governmentalorganisations: Hivos, Oxfam-Novib, Solidaridad, Oikos, Somo, Fairfood,India Committee of the Netherlands, BothEnds and two trade unions:FNV Bondgenoten and CNV BedrijvenBond. It cooperates with NGOs andtrade unions in coffee, tea and cocoa producing countries to improvethe social, environmental and economic conditions at the beginning ofthese value chains.

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Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is a National Level Development Organisation, registeredas an Indian Charitable Trust, initiated by a group of young professionalsfrom corporate and business sectors. The Foundation supports childrencentric welfare initiatives of NGOs across 21 States of India. TheFoundation, itself a living example of Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR), very genuinely believes in and passionately advocates for a moreproactive and vital role of corporate organisations in the developmentalplane for greater mutual benefits.

Everychild UK

For over 25 years, and in over 15 countries around the world, EveryChildhas been fighting to protect children without the care of a family, andthose at risk of ending up on their own. By working with families,communities and governments, Everychild UK ensure that the simpleand practical initiatives are put in place to reach and protect vulnerablechildren will last long into the future.

HIVOS

A fair, free and sustainable world - that is what Hivos, the HumanistInstitute for Development Cooperation, wants to contribute to. Togetherwith local organisations in developing countries, Hivos strives for aworld in which all citizens - both men and women - have equal access toresources and opportunities for development. Hivos is a Dutch non-governmental organisation guided by humanist values. A number of itscore values are human dignity and self determination, an aversion todogmas and totalitarian regimes, and a sense of mutual solidarity.

IDH

The objective of the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) is to improvethe sustainability of international supply chains, by tackling social,ecological and economical bottlenecks for the first chain actors indeveloping countries. The Initiative is a multi-stakeholder process inwhich actors from both Northern and Southern (production) countriesactively participate.

Singapore International Foundation

The Singapore International Foundation is a non-profit organisationfounded in 1991. SIF aim to build a better world through shared ideas,skills and experiences, so as to uplift lives and create greater understandingbetween Singaporeans and world communities. Its activities are organisedaround three strategic thrusts: working with communities for sustainabledevelopment, exchanging ideas for greater understanding, and showcasingSingapore to build ties.

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Location Map

Kathmandu (Nepal)

Kolkatta

Adilabad

TirupurWayanadCoorg

Bangalore

Delhi

TrichyPalani HillsIdukki

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Prak

ruth

i Tea

m

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Promoting Sustainbility across the value Chain

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