1

ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Page

1. About SRUTI 3

2. Note from the Executive Director 4

3. Activity Report for the year 2013-14

a. Fellowship Programme

i. SRUTI Fellows at a Glance

ii. New Fellowships and Fellowship Exits

iii. Sathi Milan

iv. Focus Areas of Fellows

5

b. Networking and Advocacy 17

c. Resource Mobilisation & Youth Outreach 18

d. Disaster Relief 19

e. SWSF

4. The SRUTI Team 20

5. Overview of Resource Mobilisation 21

Annexure 1 - Fellowship Disbursal Sheet

Annexure 2 Every Scrap Counts Contributors

Annexure 3 - Auditors Report | Balance Sheet 2013-14

3

ABOUT SRUTI

SOCIETY FOR RURAL, URBAN AND TRIBAL INITIATIVE

SRUTI Society for Rural, Urban and Tribal Initiative, was established in 1983, on the belief that individuals are powerful

instruments of social change and transformation. Founded by Bunker Roy, Dr. Ramalingaswami, Ela Bhatt, Lotika Sarkar,

Poonam Muttreja, Samir Chaudhuri & Tara Ali Baig SRUTI supports collective social action among some of India's most

marginalised communities. December 2013 marked the 30th year of SRUTI.

The Fellowship Programme, Advocacy and Outreach Programmes, and the Resource Mobilization Programme, form the

key pillars of SRUTI.

SRUTIs vision is to work towards a society based on the core values of

justice, equity, compassion, respect and dignity for all; it aims to harness

the power of individuals in doing so. SRUTIs core mission, therefore, is

to identify and invest in individuals - the SRUTI Fellows - armed with

zeal and a vision to work towards the ideals of a more equitable

democracy; individuals with idealism, staying power and the ability to

mobilize communities at the grassroots to seek solutions to address

their most pressing issues through the idea of the sangathan, a local

level peoples organisation.

The importance of collective social action and local leadership at

the grass root is the crux of the SRUTI Fellowship Programme.

SRUTI and its Fellows believe that social change and sustainable

economic development can be achieved by empowering oppressed and

vulnerable communities to access justice, equality and opportunity and

be true stakeholders in a democracy.

Some key issues addressed by the SRUTI Fellows and their sangathans

are: Jal, Jangal, Zameen (Land rights and Forest rights & Conservation);

Education; Panchayati Raj Insititutions; Governance; Welfare schemes

and Programs; and Agriculture and Livelihood.

SRUTI extends a mix of financial and non-financial support for training

and facilitation to a group of Fellows through a Fellowship Programme

that has evolved substantially over the decades. The Fellowship

Programme is financed by resources mobilized, to the extent possible,

from within the country, through support partnerships and a range of

fundraising efforts.

Jashn-e-Zindabad, India International Centre, Delhi, 2014.

4

NOTE FROM DIRECTOR

Friends,

2013 was a land mark year for SRUTI - Society for Rural, Urban and Tribal Initiative, having completed 30 years

since its inception in December 1983.

Founded by stalwarts of the social sector to support social change on the ground, the past 30 years of the SRUTI

Fellowships has woven a rich history of hope, effort, struggles, experience and victories. The commitment,

passion and resilience of the SRUTI Fellows, and the people in the sangathans, has countered and changed the

course of entrenched injustices and deprivation across 19 states in India; often at the cost of difficulty and

sacrifice in their own lives. SRUTIs existence is a tribute to these outstanding people, their selfless work, and

their spirit.

SRUTI and its Fellows believe that directional social change and sustainable economic development can be

achieved by empowering marginalized, oppressed & vulnerable communities to access justice, equality and

opportunity and be true stakeholders in an integrated and powerful democracy. The process of change also

critically integrates the productive convergence of forces government, judiciary, civil society, grass root

communities, media, academic, professional and business communities - to collectively and successfully create

change in society; not just through charity but true engagement and fair leveraging of resources in a

participatory democracy. For this, development - that delivers dignity and opportunity to all, sustains natural

and social resources, and simultaneously boosts the countrys economy - needs to be worked on as a common,

consultative, collaborative agenda. The SRUTI Fellowship Programme continuously works to integrate this vision

into its outreach. The importance of collective social action and local leadership at the grass root is the crux of

the SRUTI Fellowship at its heart is the idea of People for Change.

To celebrate the victories of various people's movements and their contribution to better governance and a more

participatory democracy over the last three decades, SRUTI - hosted an evening of music, theatre and poetry -

'Jashn-e-Zindabad' in collaboration with the India International Centre at the Gandhi-King Plaza on the 15th of

February 2014. The event also marked the celebration of SRUTIs 30 year journey and was followed by 2 days of

sharing of experiences by Fellows from across the country.

SRUTIs 30 years has had its share of trials and victories what endures is the rich experience of human

generosity and solidarity and a shared vision of hope and justice that binds all those associated with it through

these years the Founding Members, Fellows, Support Partners, Members of the Board, SRUTI personnel, well

wishers and friends. SRUTIs journey flows into the next decade as a powerful confluence of history and

experience and a fresh young surge of energy and determination.

The FY 2013-14 was also a watershed year for SRUTI as new partnerships were forged, new Fellowship

associations were evolved and new areas were reached out to, with Himachal Pradesh being added on to the

Fellowship outreach. The Resource Mobilisation effort was also stepped up and was rewarded with success. This

was also a critical time of growth for the SRUTI Team, with young team members emerging to lead the next phase

of stability and growth for the organization.

Along with the various victories there were also challenges on many fronts in 2013-14. The most pressing were

the natural disasters in 2013. With the support of donors, SRUTI Fellows in the Himalayas and along Indias east

coast were able to respond to people affected in their areas - by the rain and landslides in Uttarakhand in June

2013, and Cyclone Phailin that struck the east coast in October 2013.

5

It is the courage and resilience of the people on the ground that builds hope for the days ahead. SRUTI salutes all

its co-travellers through these long years. We would like to acknowledge the inputs, guidance and support of the

individuals, support partners and networks that have added value and stood by SRUTI, at different times. A special

thanks to the Members of the General Body and Executive Board for their guidance and engagement. At the end, a

salute to all the SRUTI Fellows and the SRUTI Team, a group of young dedicated people, for their tireless energy

and selfless commitment.

With wishes for many victories ahead!

Shibani Chaudhury

Executive Director

March 2014

Activity Report for the year 2013-14

SRUTI

Fellowship

Programme

Resource Mobilisation

and Outreach

Programme

Emergency Relief

and Welfare

Fellowship

(Financial Support)

Training and

Facilitation

SRUTI team member, Shweta, with sangathan members at Bolangir, Odisha

Sathi Milan. USO House 16-17 Feb 2014, Delhi

6

FELLOWSHIP

SRUTI FELLOWS AT A GLANCE

Since its inception, SRUTI has supported the work of more than 128 Fellows and their teams of volunteers & activists

at the grass roots in 18 states across India.

SRUTI currently supports 30 Fellows, 117 karyakartas (volunteers/activists) in 13 states: Uttarakhand, Delhi,

Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka

and Himachal Pradesh.

The current combined outreach of SRUTI Fellows is over 7000 villages and 250 urban clusters covering nearly 7 lakh

families and over 30 lakh people.

ANDHRA PRADESH

1. B. Sunanda - Mitra Association for Social Service, Chittoor 2. K. Sehadevaiah Navjeevan, Nellore

BIHAR

3. Kailash Bharati Mazdoor Kisan Samiti, Gaya 4. Sanjeev Dom Bahishkrit Hitkari Sangathan, Khagaria

CHHATTISGARH

5. Alok Shukla Jan Abhi Vyakti, Korba and Sarguja 6. Jang Sai Gaon Ganrajya Sangathan, Sarguja and Ambikapur 7. Mamta Kujur - Adivasi Mahila Mahasangh, Jashpur 8. Rajim Ketwas - Dalit Adivasi Manch, Raipur and Mahasamund

DELHI

9. Anjali Bhardwaj Satark Nagrik Sangathan, South Delhi 10. Sadre Alam Peoples Foundation, North-west, South-west &

South Delhi

HIMACHAL PRADESH

11. Puran Chand Sirmaur Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Sirmaur

JHARKHAND

12. Arvind Anjum Visthapit Mukti Vahini, Singhbum

KARNATAKA

13. Sister Celia Karnataka Domestic Workers Union, Bangalore

MADHYA PRADESH

14. Amit and Jayashree Adharshila Learning Centre, Badwani 15. Lakhan Singh Bundelkhand Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, Damoh 16. Yousuf Beg - Patthar Khadan Mazdoor Sangh, Panna

MAHARASHTRA

7

17. Dashrath Jadhav Shramjeevi Sangathana, Latur 18. Pandurang Biradar Shoshit Kamgar Sangathana, Latur 19. Ulka Mahajan Sarvahara Jan Andolan, Raigad 20. Vilas Bhongade Kashkari Jan Andolan, Nagpur

ODISHA

21. A K Pany Adivasi Kranti Sangathan, Dhenkanal 22. Amulya Nayak - Adivasi Chetna Sangathan, Dhenkanal and Angul 23. Pradeep Dash Lok Chetna Sangathan, Rayagada 24. Prafulla Mishra Adima Adivasi Mukti Manch, Nayagarh 25. Rashmi Ranjan -Mati Maa Mahila Morcha, Nayagarh 26. Trilochan Punji Zindabad Sangathan, Bolangir

RAJASTHAN

27. Devendra and Sudhi - Manthan Shikshan Kendra, Jhalawar 28. Khemraj - Khetihar Khan Mazdoor Sangathan, Chittorgarh

TAMIL NADU

29. MS Selvaraj -Vyavasayigal Tozhilalargal Munnetra Sangham, Nilgiris

UTTARAKHAND

30. Basanti and Rekha - Maati Sangathan, Pithoragarh

NEW FELLOWSHIPS 2013-14

Four new Fellows were selected during this period from the states of Delhi, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Brief profiles of the new Fellows are given below.

Sadre Alam Peoples Foundation, Delhi

Work Area: Resettlement colonies in Delhi and Khagariya, Bihar

Issues: Rights to the City; Education; Gender; Migration and Identity; Communalism; Governance;

Youth Training

Originally from Bihar, Sadre Alam, 37, took an active part in urban social work from his days in

Jawaharlal Nehru University. Associated with Students Federation of India (SFI), he was Founder-Convener of the Dastak Cultural Group where he immersed himself in theatre and art.

Sadre went on to work in Bihar to help with flood relief efforts. He was actively involved in the rehabilitation process of

families relocated from 50 slums near JNU to Pappankalan in South-West Delhi. Following this, Sadre decided to focus

on core urban rights - matters of housing, minimum wages, social security and basic facilities across slums and

resettlement colonies in the city. He recognized youth knowledge-building to be a long-term solution to curb

disillusionment and lumpenisation among young people and saw it as an opportunity to creatively channel the energies of

unemployed and disadvantaged children and youth living in these areas.

8

It was here that Sadre used his theatre experience as a vital tool to connect with youngsters using theatre, along with

other forms of cultural expression. He has led several street theatre interventions on issues that concern youth with a

focus on gender equations and unorganised labour under the banner of Delhi Young Artists Forum a membership-based cultural network. To consolidate all these efforts, Peoples Foundation was founded in 2009 with one chapter each in Delhi (Centre for Community Support and Social Development) and Bihar, and one joint cultural forum called

Peoples Canvas. Sadre became a SRUTI Fellow in 2013.

Trilochan Punji Zindabad Sangathan, Odisha

Work Area: Balangir district

Issues: Jal, Jangal, Zameen; Labour; Displacement; Migration; PRI and Governance; Agriculture

Trilochan Punji, 44, began his engagement with grassroots work at the young age of 11 as part of

the mass movement to protect the Gandhamardhan mountain range, one of Indias most bio-diverse areas. Punji has led powerful movements concerning the survival of tribal communities in

a region that has witnessed violent conflicts over resource control and subsequent alienation of

traditionally resource-dependent local communities. Movements such as Chasi Mulia Sangathan, Shramik Sewa Sangha

and Lower Sukhtel Anchal Budi Sangram Parishad successfully claimed peasant, labour, tribal and dalit rights over natural

resources and wage entitlements. This has established Punji as a focused and powerful grassroots worker.

A practicing advocate, Punji organizes legal trainings for community members; provides legal assistance to local

communities and represents their issues at state and national level platforms. He was one of the founder members of

the Gadhamardan Surakshya Action Committee and worked as its convener for 3 years. Zindabad Sangathan was

formed in 2000 and is now actively working in 269 villages of Balangir District with a vision of building a mass

organization of vulnerable communities to enable their political assertion. Working in collaboration with state and

national-level solidarity networks such as Lok Shakti Abhiyan, Campaign for Survival and Dignity and other like-minded

groups and individuals, Punji is committed to the collective assertion of communities to access a just and equitable space

in society. He became a SRUTI Fellow in 2013.

Yousuf Beg - Patthar Khadan Mazdoor Sangh, MP

Work Area: Panna district

Issues: Jal, Jangal, Zameen; Displacement; Labour rights; Governance; Migration; Mining

43 year old Yousuf Beg was a petty mining contractor for the majority of his professional life.

Alongside managing his inherited family business, he was a recognized social worker in Panna

town working on issues of communal harmony as part of Aman Ekta Committee. In 2006, he

was approached by Mines, Minerals and People, an alliance of individuals, institutions and

communities affected by mining, to conduct a study on the situation of mine labourers in the region. The findings of this

report shocked Beg and forced him to re-evaluate mining and its real human and environmental implications. Nearly 80%

of the workers, majority of them adivasi, were suffering from silicosis, the most common occupational lung disease. This

led Beg to take up the issue of mineworker rights for safe work conditions and fair wages.

Begs substantial insider experience of the mining industry has provided critical understanding of the issues faced by mineworkers and enabled him to identify ways to mobilize them. He highlighted the dire reality of children taking up the

back-breaking work to support ill parents and having to drop out of school, perpetuating the cycle of ill-health

generation after generation. Realising that only ownership of resources can provide lasting security, Beg has been

tirelessly campaigning for adivasi resource rights and labour entitlements through capacity and perspective building of

youth. He is attempting to bring effective attention to this widely prevalent social and environmental hazard that has the

backing of powerful mining lobbies and political sanction. Beg became a SRUTI fellow in 2013.

9

Puran Chand Renukaji Baandh Jan Sangharsh Samiti, HP

Work Area: Sirmour District

Issues: Jal, Jangal, Zameen; Displacement; Gender; Governance; Food security; Employment

Puran Chand began his public life by playing an active part in student politics during his first year

of college in Nahan. Forced to drop-out due to financial constraints, Puran Chand worked in a

dairy farm for 10 years to support his family. He fought for farmers rights, raising demands for better minimum support price, supply of seeds and fertilizers and compensation for crops. In

2008, he was able to dedicate himself once again to grassroots social action taking up pressing issues of displacement,

mining, exploitation of natural resources, poor governance and lack of opportunities for unemployed youth of the region.

Puran Chand led the formation of Renukaji Baandh Jan Sangharsh Samiti, in 2008 to oppose the construction of a dam

on Renuka river as there were no mechanisms to ensure proper rehabilitation and fair compensation for those who

were adversely affected. The project was stalled due to peoples resistance, but dams continue to be commissioned across the state without a comprehensive understanding of their human and environmental cost in the ecologically

sensitive Himalayan region. Puran Chand spent three years in several parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand to

understand the region as an active member of Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, a state-level network of grassroot organisations.

His key focus currently is to mobilize people to exercise their access to, and control over natural resources as provided

for under various laws. Puran Chand became a SRUTI Fellow in 2014.

SATHI MILAN

The two-day Sathi Milan (Fellows Meet) was organised on 16th and 17th February at USO House in Delhi. The meet was

unique as it focused on the individual journeys and struggles of the Fellows and karyakartas. The experiences shared

were hard hitting, poignant and telling of the circumstances and

strength with which the Sathis have lived their lives, contributed to society and held together their families.

Subjection to atrocities, discrimination and struggles were

narrated along with the motivation, strengths and social nets

that enabled them to work directly with people over a number

of years, constantly battling extremely difficult internal and external conflicts.

Devendra from Rajashtan, coming from a middle-class family

started working in the villages after finishing his engineering,

without any idea or knowledge about the development sector. He gave up a lucrative career and faced severe opposition from

the family. He went on to work for over 20 years with

marginal farmers raising issues of land rights and starting a

handloom cooperative which gives employment to many households.

Rajim Ketwas, mentored by renowned trade unionist Shankar Guha Niyogi in Chhattisgarh, has always been a fiery

advocate for the oppressed. Born in a dalit household in Odisha and having migrated to then Madhya Pradesh, she

witnessed her father dying of an explosion in a factory where he worked. She began working with SHGs and mine

Fellow Rajim Ketwas from Chhattisgarh sharing her stories of struggle at the Sathi Milan

10

workers, mobilizing them and organizing meetings with Niyogi ji. She was married as a child but fought against it and left

her husband, marrying later out of her own choice. She was unfortunately widowed when her husband died of illness.

She raised two daughters single-handedly, bravely standing up to difficult times including being imprisoned. Today, she has been actively advocating the issues of violence against women and dalits across the state of Chhattisgarh.

Kailash Bharti from Bihar, born in the feudal region of Gaya, was part of the historic decade-long peaceful struggle in the

70s against the illegal occupation of 9,700 acres of agricultural land by Bihars biggest landlord, the feudal Sankaracharya Math in Bodhgaya. He was imprisoned several times on false charges and faced many atrocities in and out of jail. He continues to raise crucial issues of land rights today and is a leading face in the struggle against feudal practices in Bihar.

Basanti from Uttarakhand comes from an agricultural family but was married and became a mother very young. She was

ostracized for marrying outside her caste but her continued resilience eventually persuaded the community. She later

joined the campaign against alcoholism and domestic violence, both rampant issues in the area. While her husband and

family were supportive, she mentioned how it was never possible for her or other women in the area to move beyond

the gendered household responsibilities of cooking, cleaning and caretaking. Through the sangathan, she has attained valuable economic independence by running a home stay program for tourists.

WORK UNDERTAKEN BY FELLOWS: THEMATIC AREAS

Right to life with dignity for vulnerable groups is a central thrust of the Fellowship Programme. In keeping with this, the

focus of Fellows in 2013-14 was to ensure control over natural resources; explore sustainable livelihood opportunities;

enhance agricultural productivity; and rejuvenate traditional socio-cultural forms and expressions. Follow-up with

concerned administrative bodies at local and state-level to ensure implementation and proper functioning of welfare

schemes was carried out.

The work undertaken by the Fellows during this period contributed towards achieving the overall objective of

preventing alienation of resources and forming pressure groups to guarantee basic entitlements for exploited groups.

More specifically, the work undertaken by the Fellows during the period under report may be grouped into the

following thematic areas:

Jal, jangal, zameen

o Forest rights and conservation

o Land rights

Education

Panchayati Raj Institutions

Governance

Welfare schemes and Programs

Agriculture and livelihood

11

Jal, jangal, zameen

For a majority of the population, survival directly depends on access to land, water and forest resources. Where communities have

had long-term rights to these resources, they have often regulated their use to prevent over-exploitation and abuse, ensuring their

own subsistence while conserving nature. However, this relationship between local people and their natural environment has been

ruptured by policies that have accelerated exploitation and deprived village communities of their right to subsistence, destroying the

natural base on which all life depends.

Several SRUTI Fellows are engaged in campaigns to defend jal-jangal-zameen (water, forests, land) against projects that entail

large-scale displacement without suitable livelihood alternatives. They also mobilize communities to stake a claim to resources that

are rightfully theirs, using laws like the Forest Rights Act and schemes such as Common Land Development Program. Still others

are working with villagers to establish fair and sustainable ways of managing natural resources as local control over these

resources is a key element in achieving socially just and ecologically stable development.

o Forest rights and conservation

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was passed in 2006, but

overall awareness and understanding about its provisions is still unsatisfactory. The SRUTI Fellows and karyakartas

worked towards spreading greater awareness regarding rights and entitlements guaranteed by the Act. Capacities of

grassroot volunteers, activists and the community as a whole were strengthened. The sangathans have been focusing on

resubmission of community claims over forests as per the September 2012 amendments to the legislation as well as GPS

training to substantiate such claims. Collection of Non-Timber Forest Produce (such as mahua, herada, behada, amla);

trainings/shivirs on Forest Rights Act; and forest conservation programs were undertaken in Jharkhand, Odisha,

Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, AP, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and MP.

Forest rights and conservation Outcomes:

More than 3600 individual forest pattas and 70

community forest rights (CFR) entitlements

successfully received by people in Odisha,

Chhattisgarh, AP and MP

5245 individual and 70 CFR claims applications

facilitated in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, AP and MP

Rights over 3000 hectares of forest land and over

315 hectares of land for common land-use

facilitated in Chhattisgarh, providing livelihood

security for 600 families

10,000 bamboo plants processed for plantation in

Odisha

More than 404 Forest Rights Committees followed

up with verification process of over 24,513

individual and community forest claims in 8 states

Meeting on forest and resource rights of communities living in Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu organised by VTMS sangathan

12

o Land rights

The Fellows and their sangathans actively participated in drafting of rules for the newly passed Land Bill - Right to Fair

Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Discussions and

perspective sharing meetings were organised once the bill was passed. The Fellows based in Bihar and Tamil Nadu have

been working on equitable redistribution of land that has been specifically earmarked by the government for members of

the dalit community. Identification of wasteland in Maharashtra, Odisha and Bihar was also done during the period for

the same purpose. Land conservation practices are being adopted in AP, Odisha and Jharkhand through consultations

with community members and land development initiatives that would aid in increasing land productivity. Common Land

Development Program scheme is being implemented in AP as part of ensuring community rights over land to primarily

adivasi communities.

Education

In our unequal society, access to education has mostly been the monopoly of already-privileged upper classes. It has helped further

entrench and consolidate prior social advantage, converting economic and political capital into upward mobility and status; instead

of bridging the gap between the rich and the poor, public education has in effect, widened the social distance between the well-off

and the poor, dalit and adivasi. Additionally, conventional education systems in India promote narrow career paths driven by

Land cleared for cultivation by yanadi adivasi community under Common Land Development Program in AP

Land rights Outcomes:

Rights over more than 1133 acres of land enabled, benefiting over 662 landless families with pattas and homestead land in Odisha,

AP, Maharashtra and Rajasthan

Over 2300 acres of grazing and homestead land regularized, benefiting more than 2000 landless families in AP, Maharashtra, Odisha and MP

A sangathan in Maharashtra worked to achieve cultivation rights over 86,407 hectares of shrub land in Vidarbha area (recently recognised as non-forest land by the government) for marginalized communities

Follow-up of land redistribution for 1000 families in Odisha and MP under land reform programs

13

competition, exclusion and largely urban aspiration, often resulting in disillusionment and frustration for those that dont make the

cut. For most students from a disadvantaged background, the experience of formal education is oppressive, alienating and

eventually useless for improving their life chances.

Improving access to, and the quality of, education for a majority of deprived Indians requires sustained interventions in public

schooling processes and persistent engagement with government policy and relevant delivery mechanisms. Some SRUTI Fellows

have also started independent schools that provide an alternative philosophy and practice of holistic, socially-conscious education,

models that can help enrich and influence the way government schools are run.

Enrollment of children in government schools has been another focus area for Fellows in AP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha,

Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra and Bihar during this period. Monitoring overall school functioning, the condition of school

infrastructure and mid-day meals was done through Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs). Initiatives such as scholarships

for under-privileged children in and re-enrollment of school drop-outs were started in Maharashtra, MP, Bihar,

Rajasthan, Odisha and AP. Establishment of more Kasturba Kanya Ashrams for girl students of primitive tribal

communities was demanded with the help of PRI members in Odisha. Child Protection Committees (community based

groups at village-level linked to Child Welfare Committee and Juvenile Justice Board at the district-level) comprising

SHG members, PRI members, youth, adolescent girls and parents were formed. Due to continuous follow-up with

concerned administrative bodies, proper implementation of

anganwadi program could be ensured in the Fellows areas in AP.

Monitoring the functioning of government hostels for adivasi

children and ensuring availability of basic facilities was also done by

Fellows in this period.

Panchayati Raj Institutions

A fundamental principle of democracy is that people should have control over the crucial decisions affecting their lives.

Decentralized governance in India was enabled by the 72nd and 73rd Amendments to the Indian Constitution which granted

wider powers to village panchayats and town municipalities. In regions designated under Schedule V of the Constitution because of

Children at Adharshila Shikshan Kendra in MP learn about alternative energy by maintaining a gobar gas plant

Education Outcomes:

Over 3,151 children enrolled in schools in

Odisha, Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra and

Bihar

550 children enrolled in 3 alternative

education schools run by Fellows in

Rajasthan and MP with a pass rate of

been 100%

400 students availed of scholarships worth

almost Rs.14.40 lakhs in Chhattisgarh, AP,

Odisha and Maharashtra

Follow-up with 1,140 drop-out children

from schools in Odisha is ongoing

Awareness on RTE raised amongst

migrant workers in 77 brick kilns in

Rajasthan employing labor from UP,

Jharkhand and Bihar

14

their large Scheduled Tribe population, the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act 1996 (PESA) empowers village

communities to exercise a range of rights over land, water, forests and other commons. Government programmes for rural

employment, education, health, public works and distribution of subsidized provisions now depend on the direct involvement of

local communities in monitoring and execution.

Fellows monitored the effective functioning of Palli / Gram Sabhas and municipal wards in urban areas with active

peoplesparticipation in Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, AP and MP.

Corruption and lapses in implementation of MGNREGA, FRA, PDS,and issuing ofland pattas were taken up with the

Gram Sabhas in the sangathans areas of operation. Various training programmes and workshops were organized to build

the legal understanding and socio-political and economic perspectives of the elected Panchayati Raj representatives.

Village Development Planning sessions were organized with PRI representatives and the local communities in Odisha and

Chhattisgarh.

Welfare Schemes and Programs

To effectively realize the powers granted for decentralized governance and to implement the welfare programmes now entrusted

to the community requires collective mobilization. SRUTI Fellows have been working on various aspects of community

empowerment, enabling people to exercise their rights as active citizens and organizing them to take control over their resources

and state welfare funds, to secure the benefits of development.

o Right to work

Outcomes:

Meetings with PRI members regarding roles

and responsibilities conducted in 8 states with

more than 700 elected Panchayati Raj

members

18 village development planning training

sessions organized with PRI representatives in

Odisha and Chhattisgarh

Sangathans played lead role in pressurizing the

Odisha government to enact State Rules for

Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act

1996 (PESA)

Perspective building programs and workshops

done on PRI issues

Village map prepared by sangathan members in consultation with the community as part of village development planning in adivasi areas in Odisha

15

Effective implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

continues to be a major concern among Fellows. Proper distribution of wages for the mandated number of days was

facilitated by SRUTI Fellows in AP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Odisha. Bank accounts were opened

for labourers to receive wages, since most of them live in remote areas with no access to banks. Micro-plans prioritising

land development, plantations, farm ponds, boundary walls and other agricultural projects were prepared and

collectively sanctioned by Gram Sabhas thanks to the Fellows initiatives. Pending wages were also monitored by Fellows

in 9 states and arrears recovered. Fellows in Odisha also kept a watch over facilities such as crches, drinking water and

shade mandated to be provided to workers under MGNREGA.

o Right to Food

Fellows in Rajasthan, Odisha, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra continued their involvement in state and nation-level

campaigns to demand universal food security. Public meetings and village

shivirs were organized to discuss and understand provisions of the proposed

Food Bill. It is generally felt that the proposed Bill is a dilution of the various

demands made by the marginalized and vulnerable sections as there are high

chances of exclusion of the eligible members because of its targeted nature.

Virtually all the SRUTI Fellows monitor welfare schemes on a regular basis

and assist eligible persons to avail of them. This includes old age pensions,

widow pensions and health insurance (Aam Admi Bima Yojana) in the above

mentioned states. The Fellows also assisted families to get BPL/Aadhar cards

made and helped in the preparation and updation of beneficiary lists along

Outcomes:

Over Rs.39.7 crores distributed as wages

under MGNREGA for 26,67,382 man days

of work among 52,038 (including 16,963

new) job card holders in AP, Bihar,

Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra,

Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. Over 55% of

these were women.

More than 1194 micro-plans sanctioned by

the Gram Sabhas

Rs 1.40 crore sanctioned in Odisha for

land development, water and irrigation

facilities in 20 villages

Village meeting being conducted by Fellow Khemraj on MGNREGA in Chittorgarh

district, Rajasthan

People assemble in Dhonkwadi village in Raigad district, Maharashtra, to demand corruption-free PDS

16

with the Gram Sabhas to keep exclusion to the minimum as provided in the National Food Security Act 2013.

Agriculture and Livelihood

Fellows in Tamil Nadu, AP, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan

and Odisha devoted considerable attention to the issue of

agriculture and livelihood. Several meetings were held with

farmer club for an assessment of agricultural issues faced by

them. In several areas, development of irrigation facilities

was undertaken through MGNREGA. In some of these

states, initiatives to preserve seeds and create seed banks

were also started. In addition, training sessions on climate

change adaptation were organised in Tamil Nadu, AP, Bihar,

Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Odisha. Livelihood

opportunities were also provided through agricultural

initiatives such as silk worm and vegetable cultivation and

processing of NTFP produce and herbal medicine in

Odisha, AP and Uttarakhand. Grain banks were mobilized

by sangathans in Odisha and Uttarakhand. Organic farming

and low-cost farming are being encouraged and follow-up

work is being done with farmers across states.

Outcomes:

319 Public Distribution System (PDS) Monitoring Committees

with membership of over 1000 sangathan members ensuring

better and transparent functioning of ration shops in AP,

Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, MP and Odisha

Issuing of over 4,000 new ration cards facilitated by Fellows

working in Chhattisgarh and Odisha

5000 missing Antyodaya cards re-issued by administration

after sangathans intervention in Maharashtra

Sangathans in Odisha pressed demands for enactment of state

Food Security Act along the lines of the Chhattisgarh model

which allows for larger quotas of rice, edible oils, cereals, dal

etc.

Outcomes:

21 farmer clubs with more than 400 members

formed in AP, enabling them to negotiate for

better prices for fertilizers, seeds and equipment

10,000 plants including saplings of custard apple,

guava, sagwan and mahogany distributed in 30

villages in Jharkhand

Organic farming done on 170 acres of land In

Maharashtra

1805 families from 125 villages benefitted from

NABARD-aided credit loan, horticulture and

livelihood schemes in AP

Cooperative loans worth Rs.42 lakhs were availed

of by 98 SHG members

3 new womens cooperatives set up for processing

mahua, turmeric and tamarind formed in Odisha

with an investment of Rs. 12,000.

Workshops and meetings conducted with

agricultural workers, landless workers and bonded

labour on sustainable and organic agriculture

17

NETWORKING AND ADVOCACY

Events organised:

National Consultation on Agrarian Reform and Land Rights, Delhi | 16th December 2013

Four day Panchayati Raj Institution training and capacity building workshop, Delhi | 12-15 August 2013

FRA 2006 and GPS training workshops in AP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharastra, MP, Odisha and Tamil

Nadu (held through the year)

Sathi Milan (Annual Fellows meet), Delhi (as detailed above)

Jashn-e-Zindabad celebration to commemorate 30 years of SRUTI, Delhi

Advocacy:

Lobbying: Parliamentarians (focus on land rights and

agrarian reform) and Ministries such Ministry of Tribal

Affairs, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of

Environment and Forests, National Commission for

Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Scheduled

Castes, etc.

Networking with peoples organizations and movements

such as SANGHARSH, NFFPFW, NAPM, INSAF,

Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, Samajwadi Jan Parishad,

CSD, Delhi Solidarity Group, etc. in various states of India

Campaign to protect right to expression and association

in FCRA as part of Jan Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti

National Consultation on Agrarian Reform and Land Rights

A National Consultation on Agrarian Reform and Land Rights was organized by SRUTI together with National Alliance

of Peoples Movements (NAPM), Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), Delhi Solidarity Group (DSG), and All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP). The 2-day consultation was held at the Constitution Club of India and the Indian

Social Institute on the 16th and 17th of December, 2013, respectively.

The meeting was attended by more than 130 people working at the grassroots and activists based in Delhi, including

SRUTI Fellows. There were extensive deliberations about various ongoing struggles over land and the access and right

to natural resources. Divided into four sessions with open discussions, the meeting discussed the historical Indian and global context of land rights and social movements around land and agriculture.

As an outcome of the 2-day consultation the need for groups involved in issues of natural resources to work closely was

established. The need to address the issue of landlessness, ensure food sovereignty, develop leadership amongst women,

promote smaller strategic working groups/camps and develop pro-poor and pro-farmer knowledge in legal, social and

political arenas was stressed. It was further decided that concrete action plans will be planned at regional levels, taking cognizance of the aforementioned focus areas.

National Consultation on Agrarian Reform and Land Rights, 16th- 17thDecember, 2013, New Delhi

Network meeting with members of Delhi Solidarity Group (DSG) on land issues

18

RESOURCE MOBILISATION AND YOUTH OUTREACH

Resource mobilisation through Scrap Collection is one of the major fundraising activities of SRUTI. Old newspapers,

magazines, books, junk, useless machines/furniture/old wires or any other items that can be recycled or reused are

collected on a monthly, fortnightly or weekly basis. The money generated from this scrap goes directly to support

SRUTI Fellows in carrying out their grassroots work.

A total of Rs.12,81,080/- was raised through this effort in 2013-14. SRUTI interns also helped organise the Summer

Cheer event in July where clothes, handloom products from Rajasthan and homemade toffees were exhibited. (A

complete list of institutional and household srcap donors is included in Annexure 2)

(L-R) Handloom products from Rajasthan based group Adarsh Hathkargha Cooperative Society, SRUTI Interns organising the Summer Cheer Fundraising event

A new Maruti Eeco purchased to replace one of the two Scrap Collection vehicles that was facing multiple repair problems

(L-R) Screening of films by Pankaj Rishi Kumar and ParomitaVohra as part of Now Showing at ChorMinar initiative in the SRUTI office. Started in January 2014, the program includes monthly screenings of independent films and discussions with the filmmakers.

19

DISASTER MANAGEMENT & RELIEF WORK UTTARAKHAND DISASTER RELIEF WORK

In response to the devastating floods faced by Uttarakhand in June last

year, Maatisangathan provided immediate relief in the form of rations

(flour, rice, sugar, pulses) and raincoats to people in the flood affected

GoriGhati area in Pithoragarh district. Continuous rains had caused

extensive damage in the upper reaches of GoriGhati, where entire

villages had been destroyed, fields washed away and livelihood wiped

out. In the first phase of relief efforts, 133 affected families (741 people)

received 20kgs rice, 10kgs flour, 5kgs pulses and 5kgs sugar each. 474

solar lights were distributed as well.

The sangathan organized a mass procession at the Sub-Divisional

Magistrates office to demand quick rehabilitation by the administration.

As part of the second phase of relief, training on construction of low-

cost temporary shelters using locallyavailable naturalmaterials such as bamboo and mud was organised. By March 31st,

Maati had facilitated construction of 30 shelters.

SRUTI WELFARE AND SOLIDARITY FUND (SWSF) The SWSF was constituted with the idea of providing financial assistance to individuals and communities for medical

emergencies, higher education, house construction, welfare and relief during natural and other calamities. The assistance

is extended to SRUTI Fellows; staff members; associates in SRUTIs solidarity network, and communities supported

through SRUTIs Fellowship programme. A total of 16 individuals and grassroots groups benefitted from the Fund during

the year.

Sr.

No

Name Reason for SWSF support Amount

1 Swathi Vadlamudi Medical Support for Nagaraju Koppula, New Indian Express

journalist, suffering from lung cancer

10,000

2 Ramakant Banjare Educational support for daughters 4000

3 A.K. Pany Educational support for son Biplab Panys MBA 50,000

4 C.A. Priyadarshi Medical support for Priyadarshis son treatment 30,000

5 Sanjeev Kumar Emergency medical & other relief support for the flood affected

area of Parbatta, Bihar

10,000

6 Sajal Sarkar Support to cover medical expenses of Baroda artist Chinmoy 10,000

Relief work by Maati sangathan members in Uttarakhand

20

Pramanick

7 Nadim Ali Ansari Medical support 20,000

8 L.R. Sarin Medical support for sons treatment 30,000

9 Arvind Anjum Support to cover medical expenses 10,000

10 Purwa Bharadwaj Relief support for families displaced by communal riots in

Muzaffarnagar, Shamli & Baghpat districts

10,000

11 Jang Sai Poya Support for fathers treatment (stomach & liver infection) 12,000

12 T.S. Chauhan Support for karyakarta Ram Lals family 10,000

13 Devendra Educational support for Jitendra in NIT 10,000

14 Mohini Devi Medical support to cover expenses incurred during treatment 8,136

15 Prashant Paikray Rehabilitation for cyclone affected areas in Jagatsinghpur, Odisha 10,000

PEOPLE

SRUTI Executive Board

An Annual General Body Meeting was held on 25

November 2011 where the Executive Board for the

period 2011-14 was constituted.

1. Enakshi Ganguly Thukral, President 2. Prabhu Mohapatra, Vice President

3. Amita Joseph, Treasurer 4. Abha Singhal Joshi, Member 5. Kanika Satyanand, Member 6. Ravi Rebbapragada, Member 7. Shubhalaxmi Pande Iyer, Member 8. Amita Baviskar, Member

9. Shibani Chaudhury, Ex-officio member

SRUTI General Body Members

1. Ela Bhatt (Founder Member) 2. Bunker Roy (Founder Member) 3. Poonam Muttreja (Founder Member) 4. Samir Chaudhuri (Founder Member) 5. Uma Chakravarti

6. Vijay Sardana 7. Apoorvanand 8. Anju Talukdar 9. L.R. Sarin

10. Enakshi Ganguly Thukral 11. Prabhu Mohapatra 12. Amita Joseph 13. Abha Singhal Joshi 14. Kanika Satyanand 15. Ravi Rebbapragada

16. Shubhalaxmi Pande Iyer 17. Amita Baviskar 18. Shibani Chaudhury

SRUTI Team

1. Shibani Chaudhury, Executive Director 2. L.R. Sarin, Financial Advisor 3. Baldew Thakur, Finance Officer

4. Jojy Mathew, Assistant Officer Finance and Admin

21

5. Rakesh Sharma, Assistant Manager Resource Mobilisation

6. Sanjay Verma, Assistant Manager Resource Mobilisation

7. Mahipal Singh, Admin Assistant 8. Satyam Srivastava, Senior Programme Executive 9. Shweta Tripathi, Senior Programme Executive 10. Manisha Lath, Programme Executive **

11. Sukruta Alluri, Programme Executive Communications and Advocacy

12. Nadim Ali Ansari, Assistant Programme Executive*

13. Saurabh Sinha, Assistant Programme Executive*

* From July 2013 ** Till July 2013

Salary Structure of the SRUTI Team (2013-14)

Slabs of gross monthly salary

(Rs) plus benefits paid to

staff

No. of male staff No. of female

staff Total staff

Year 2012-13 2013-14 2012-13 2013-14 2012-13 2013-14

100,000 0 0 0

Total 7 9 5 4 12 13

Team Capacity Building

Sukruta Alluri is pursuing her M.A. in Sociology from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)

Rakesh Sharma & Sanjay Kumar Verma participated in a one day training workshop on fundraising organised by Gyan

iVolunteer.

FUNDRAISING OVERVIEW

Total Income

SRUTI Income for the financial year 2013-2014

S.no. Details Amount (Rs.)

1 Interest (Investment and other funds)

34,51,279

2 Donations 69,26,310

3 Scrap Donation 12,81,080

4 Grants from Donors (inc.

previous year's)

85,35,696

5 SWSF including revolving contribution

8,20,413

6 Other Income 27,383

Total Income 2,10,25,687

22

Total Expenditure

SRUTI Expenditure for the financial year 2013-14

Details Amount (Rs.)

1 Fellowship Programme

1,16,34,189

2 Resource Mobilisation 18,43,587

3 Emergency relief and welfare

13,00,122

4 Administrative Expenditure

35,81,881

6 Other expenditure Depreciation and loss

of fixed assets

4,39,890

Total expenditure 1,87,99,669

23

CONTRIBUTORS We thank our institutional, individual and scrap donors for their continued support and trust in SRUTI.

SRUTI was also chosen as recipient organisation on Satyamev Jayate, the TV show hosted by Aamir Khan on

Star Network. The episode was aired on 23rd March, 2014.

Institutional Donors

24

Contributions from Caring Friends Associates

Individual Donors

Individual Institutional

Ashit Chandrakant

Kothari

Dars Business Finance Pvt. Ltd.

Prashant Kumar Jain Suryavanshi Commotrade Pvt. Ltd.

Rishikesh Joshi Lucky Investment Managers Pvt. Ltd.

Ashish Kacholia Agarwal Foundation

Sudhakar Ram Shubhamangal Credit Capital Pvt. Ltd.

Apoorva L Shah

Anirban Lahiri

Kirti Sheth

S.

no.

Name S.

no.

Name

1 Adish Bamba 9 Shikha Rai

2 RKP Shankar

Dass

10 Kanika Satyanand

3 RK Dheer 11 Kiran Karnik

4 Sanjay Nagar 12 Pushpa Sundar

5 Munish Garg 13 HL Kapoor

6 BM Dalal 14 Rakesh Sharma

7 Shekhar Bajaj 15 Shibani Chaudhury

8 Daman Kapoor 16 Shashi Garg

25