ORGANISATION PROFILE

Name of the Organisation: Gramin Vikas Kendra

Address of the Organisation:

Kumbhar Lake , Near Goroba Talkies,

Jamkhed, Tal. Jamkhed,

Dist. Ahmednagar (M.S.)

India

Pin – 413 201

Contact Person: Mrs. Uma Vilas Chincholikar (Patil) (Secretary)

Mr. Arun Jadhav (Project Director)

Contact Details: Ph. No. (02421) 221866

Fax No. (02421) 22303

Cell: 9422226066, 9421329466

E-mail – gvkjamkhed@gmail.com

Website: www.gvk.org.in

Registration Details:

•  Societies Registration Act, 1860: MAH-3323/Dt. 29/03/1995/ Ahmednagar

•  Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950: F-3147/Dt. 31/05/1995/ Ahmednagar

•  FCRA, 1976: 083720108 Dt: Oct 5, 2004

•  80G Act of 1961: Pn/CIT-I/12A(a)/261/2007-08/5653/Dt.31.01.2008

•  PAN Number: AAA TG 8457 B-2004

•  12AA(I) (b) (i) No. PN/CIT-I/Regn./12A(a)/101/2007-08/5652/Dt. 31.01.08

Staff Details:

Total Staff: 172 (Male - 44 & Female 42)

Board of Executive Committee:

Details of projects taken up in the last 10 years / Fund availability and its sources for implementation of the projects taken up:

Brief History of the Organization:

During the period of 1991 to 1994 the founder of the organization was actively involved in the activities of ‘Manvi Hakka Abhiyan' a campaign for human rights jointly initiated by the like minded organizations to address the issues related to Dalit, landless, Nomadic and Denotified tribes, women, children and weaker sections of the society especially in Maharashtra state of India. The participation of the founder in the movement was absolutely voluntary that remained remarkable to transfer the knowledge and change into reality. It was an excitement and thrill for him to contribute towards prevailing issues like exploitation, oppression, untouchability, corruption, atrocities and land for livelihood etc. during his involvement with ‘Manvi Hakka Abhiyan' movement in Maharashtra .

The involvement as an activist in the movement helped the founder to gain exhaustive knowledge and exposure in terms of the marginalized people, their values, norms, traditions and forms of discriminations at various levels as well as increased self-sense towards substandard treatments given to the poor and underprivileged. The founder was able to observe traumatic living very closely experiencing that the people especially belonging to the categories of Dalit, Nomadic and Denotified tribes as well as marginalized communities of the society in the daily life. The constructive intervention to assist poor and invisibles during the period consolidated and enhanced inspiration among him to be committed for the empowerment and development of most neglected and underprivileged tribal and Dalit communities. At the same time it was realized by him that the circumstances and the realities ware strongly rooted and it was absolutely difficult to remove within stipulated period of times. It was required long-term organized interventions with knowledge and skills along with financial support as it was difficult to manage the expenses from own and pockets of the friends.

The year 1994 was a turning point that forced the founder to think about substitute alternatives to enhance more constructive initiative in the interest of these communities. The involvement equipped, empowered and inspired him with thoughts of great reformers like Dr. Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule, Shahu maharaj and Dadasaheb Gaikwad etc. learned during the movement involvement. The founder identified the like-minded individuals from the field so that the more constructive service-rendering agency is constituted so that the thoughts are spread, applied for the benefit poor and marginalized people. Finally, in the brain storming sessions with the interested individuals the final draft of the Memorandum of Association was finalized and an organization called ‘Gramin Vikas Kendra' got registered on 29.05.1995 at Ahmdnagar.

Today, it is a well-recognized organization in the fields of women & child empowerment, youth development, agriculture, sanitation, watershed development, environment management, awareness, training, resource mobilization and education. It posses the team of trained staff, well equipped office, reference library and healthy relations with Govt. officials, like- minded organizations and target groups.

Vision:

“Gramin Vikas Kendra strives to promote unique society that will create developmental opportunities and raise access to mainstreams without discrimination of cast, creed, language, race and religion. We believe a society where in the poor, the marginalized and the under privileged enjoy equal opportunities and participate equally in the developmental process”.

Mission :

Gramin Vikas Kendra aims at building capacities of poor and needy people in general and youth, women, Dalits, tribes and small and marginal farmers with a view furthering their socio- economic conditions with special reference to health, natural resource management, livelihood, education, governance and constitutional rights

Abstracts of Organizational Aims and Objectives:

•  To attempt for the overall development of Dalit, tribal, Nomadic, Denotified tribes, farmers, land laborers, marginalized land holders belonging especially to the socio-economically weaker sections of the society as well as women and children from all categories.

•  To undertake studies and conduct research on different social, economical, cultural, and educational and health issues prevailing in the society.

•  To use available information and the innovations and create awareness at society level utilizing various campaign mediums as well as creating occasional and in-occasional material required for such campaigns.

•  To conduct and impart trainings to the craftsmen, artisans and activists at various levels engaged in social development as well as achieve the tasks of rural development through the science, technologies and the informal education as well as initiating activities to solve the basic problems like education, health and culture faced by the deprived lives in rural areas.

•  To organize, conduct and participate in the discussions, conversations, trainings, people's collective programmes and the meets that could be helpful to achieve / fulfill the organizational aims.

Organizational Primary Areas of Focus:

•  Poverty Alleviation & Capacity Building

•  SHG Promotion and Micro Finance

•  Health, Trafficking and General Education

•  Government Schemes, Livelihood & Agricultural Extension

•  Water, Sanitation & Natural Resources Management

•  Legal Aid and Women Empowerment

•  CBO Consolidation & Advocacy

•  Landless and Right to Land

The Focus Areas

•  Strengthening movement towards land development and right to land, and creating an opportunities of livelihood for landless Dalits, Nomadic & Denotified tribes and marginalized.

•  Empowerment and capacity building of women and strengthening their organizations through SHGs approach / Federation as a micro-finance institution.

•  Dalit & Tribal governance and promoting Dalit & Tribal women to participate in Panchayat Raj institutions as well as building the capacities of Gramsabhas.

•  Rights of the children, child labour and education opportunities for them as well as conducting value education and personality development programme for children.

•  Action project towards promotion of people's movement and organization of the people through Lokjivan activities towards rights to employment, education, rationing and health issues.

•  Liaisons between people and the government on the developmental issues and the opportunities.

Target Groups Addressed:

•  Nomadic & Denotified Tribes, Scheduled Casts and Marginalized Communities

•  Women and Children / Destitute, Deserted Women / Street & Orphan Children

•  Landless, Labour, Craftsman, Small and Marginal Farmers

•  Disables in all Types

•  Unemployed Youths and Senior Citizens

Strategy and Approach:

•  Conducting village level meetings, Gramsabhas, Ward meetings, focus group discussions, training programmes, workshops, Seminars

•  Organizing get together, poster exhibitions, people's hearings, interaction sessions on different issues and subjects

•  Supporting landless, marginalized, Dalits, Tribal, children, women and youth to hold democratically agitations, strikes and long march etc. against injustices, oppressions, violence so that the poor and invisibles could live with dignities and survive with self esteem.

•  Establishing solid/sound network and alliance with local NGOs for lobbying on the social issues and also established meaningful rapport and alliance with government and other agencies so that the opportunities are explored for people's development.

•  Promotion and consolidation of CBOs in the form of community groups, SHGs and federation of SHGs involving especially poor and women in the rural area

•  Liaisoning between government and other agencies

•  Pre-schooling programmes for children

Areas of Expertise:

•  Technical support for water and sanitation, watershed development.

•  Community mobilization and training for small NGO and CBOs.

•  Capacity building especially for youth, women and farmers.

•  Advocacy for rights and entitlements

•  Research and documentation.

•  Livelihoods and micro-finance.

Organizational Structure

The deputies of the president, secretary and treasurer extend their support to superior to fulfill the expected tasks in time. The elected executive committee consists of about 9 members comprising 3 women. Almost all the members are belonging to the Tribal and Dalit categories. The project director monitors management and arrange for the programme implementation aspects of the organization in association with executive committee members. The executive committee meeting is held regularly on quarterly basis whereas the key actors from field play an important roll for policy formulation.

Projects implemented so far

• Project for Widows, Destitute and Deserted women
• Project to train, create awareness and increase participation of Women, Marginalized, Tribal and Dalit in Panchayat Raj Institutions
• Project for Justice for Dalit, Tribal and Minorities against Injustices and Oppressions.
• Research on Government grazing Land in Marathwada
• Women Empowerment through SHG approach
• Balwadi – for education and rights of the children
• Building network of NGOs as Regional Agency Resources
• Vocational Inputs to the targets and promotion of income generation activities
• Livelihood promotion project For Dalit, Tribal and Marginalized people
• Establishing Legal Rights on Natural Resources of Landless Dalits, Tribals in Ahmednagar, Osmanabad and Solapur Districts of Maharashtra , etc.

Network / Collaborating Partners:

Gramin Vikas Kendra always believes in collective efforts and works in alliance and organizational networks. In view of this the organization is an active partner of the networks namely SOS for trafficking, Drought Forum, Lokjivan for Nomadic & Denotified Tribes, Lokdhara, NCDHE Delhi, Jamin Adhikar Andolan, Bal Hakka Abhiyan, NACDOR-Delhi, Dalit Hakka Abhiyan, PASANI-Bhopal and Committee for Securing Forest, Land and Water.

Lokjivan, NGO Network for Mahrashtra.

The network involving 23 likeminded NGOs is established and lead by Gramin Vikas Kendra to combat abuse, exploitation oppression and human trafficking all over Mahrashtra and bring about economic development of vulnerable families of Nomadic and Denotified tribes through advocacy, livelihood assurance, consolodation of CBOs, and promotion of SHG and increasing access to financial sources. The network works for capacity building of tribal families and extend advocacy support towards rights, livelihood, entitlements and equal participation in governance.

SHG Federation:

So as to decentralize the micro finance systems and bring about capacity building of SHG members Gramin Vikas Kendra had taken an initiative to constitute about two federations of SHGs in Ahmednagar district. Similar activities have also been under consideration of the organisation in two more districts namely Solapur and Jalna as well. These networks for the benefit of SHGs are in primary stage and needs concrete intervention.

SYSTEMS AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENTS:

Administration

As described in organizational structure there is a proper system for management established at organizational level. Executive committee meet once in three months and staff meeting is conducted on every second day of the month that is chaired by project director in presence of executive committee members with special attendance of organizational staff. The case study and monthly progress report formats have been developed for the village level workers and are submitted in the monthly meetings where as the village activity register is maintained in the respective village. The VLWs use to maintain daily dairy and a copy of monthly action plan. At organizational level staff salary register and staff meeting register is maintained as per the requirements of the funding agencies the reports are submitted.

FINANCE

There is a proper accounting system and separate cash, ledger and bank account for every project are maintained. Formats for advance demand, traveling expenses, programme expenses and project vouchers are developed and maintained regularly.

All the Payment above Rs. 500/- is made by cheque and cash up to Rs.500/- is kept as cash in hands. The CA does audit on yearly basis i.e. Every 31st March and the audited statements are submitted to all the concern funding agencies, donors and concerned government officials. The yearly finance and annual activity reports are made available to all trustees, interested from civil societies, government officials and donor agencies.

Future Planning –

The organization is desirous to strengthen the activities and consolidate its efforts towards the following ongoing and new issues in future.

1) Empowerment about Panchayat Raj –

•  Increasing participation of deprived landless Dalits & Tribales in the governance and the decision-making processes.

•  Increasing participation of women, Tribal and Dalits communities in the Panchayat Raj system and the village level decision-making processes.

•  Creating conducive environment at village level for self-governance and strengthening P.R.I. procedures.

•  Striving for social equalities eliminating the cast, creed discrepancies and creating uniform dignified society with respects towards each other

2) Rights to land, employment and livelihood resources –

•  Attempting to legitimate the rights of women, Tribales and landless Dalits over lands and the resources

•  Establishing ownerships over land, forest, water and natural resources

•  Increasing securities for livelihood with the help of natural resources, and therefore, undertaking land developmental programmes along with right to land i.e. promotion of organic farming, wormicompost, compost fertilizer, dairy development, goat raring as well as searching and applying new ideas and technologies of livelihood for the benefit of the people.

3) Rights and Entitles of the Children –

•  Awareness on rights and entitlements of the children

•  Education for development and rights of the children

•  Improvement of educational standards of the children through qualitative education

•  Precautionary measures against women and child violence, abuse, exploitation, harassments and injustices

•  Alleviation of child labour tradition

•  Involvement of children in the processes of child development

4) Women Empowerment – Rights, Gender equalities and Development -

•  Participation of Nomadic and Denotified tribal women in PRI

•  Participation of women in the decision making at the level of family and society as a whole.

•  Rights of women over house, land, resources and freedom for its usage and enjoyment

•  Social prestige, respect, dignities and securities for the women

•  Gender equalities and the honor towards education, economy and society as a whole

5) Empowerment of Nomadic and Denotified Tribes, Landless Dalit and their Rights -

•  Freedom from social discrepancies, exploitations and violence

•  Social integrity

•  Promotion and consolidation of social and community organizations

•  Benefits under government schemes and securities

•  Empowerment and strengthenance

6) Economical Empowerment of women through SHG and Federation approaches -

•  Stabilization and empowerment of women SHGs

•  Economic development of women through federation

7) Livelihood Promotion School (LPS) –

The organization has reached at the conclusion after its rich working experiences with different target groups in the field that there is a desperate need to opt and apply innovative ideas and strategies for the socio-economic development of most backward Tribal, Dalit, women, landless and marginalized sections of the society. Hence, it is under consideration to initiate concrete actions towards economical stabilities by providing assured employment options and opportunities for these people along with social securities and dignities. The proposed LPS will disseminate the appropriate information and impart essential knowledge, skills and technologies on potential avenues that will encourage them to undertake income generation activities as an additional or even permanent income source. The LPS will be formulated under KIT (K- Knowledge, I – Information and T- Technologies) strategies to be adopted at the organizational level.

K – Knowledge – Improving knowledge of the people regarding agriculture, employment, social justice, legislations, health, education etc. as well as educating them about matters useful in their daily life that will promote social development.

I – Information – Creating awareness and educating the society in terms of the government, administration, its functioning, limitations, schemes, governance and the various systems that has welfare and developmental meaning like PDS, RTI, EGS etc.

T – Technologies – Promotion of new technologies and innovations so as to be adopted by the people as an entrepreneurships, occupations as well as imparting skills and techniques to execute the functioning at SHG and federation level.