ANNUAL REPORT

2016-2017

interventions for improved rural l i fe.. .

Sanitation & Hygiene | Skills Development | Studies & Evaluations

Bankers KARNATAKA BANK LIMITED, Dilshuknagar, HyderabadBANK OF BARODA,Banjarahills, Hyderabad

AuditorsM Sainath & AssociatesChartered Accountants

Secundrabad.

Organization Information

Registered OfficeC-206, Vijaya Hills11-4-646, AC GuardsHyderabad, Telangana 500 004

Project OfficesAndhra Pradesh: Chittoor | Tirupathi | Bapatla

Guntur | Vijayawada | VishakhapatnamTelangana: Sangareddy | Mancherial

Karnataka: BengaluruOdisha: Bhubaneswar

TABLE OF CONTENTS

01 About REEDS

04 Board of Governors

04 Advisory Council

04 Team

05 Secretary’s Annual Report

12 Financials

13 Partners

ANNUAL REPORT2016-2017

About REEDS

OrganizationRural Economic and Educational Development Society (REEDS), was established in 1989 at Baptla, Andhra Pradesh as a voluntary not-for-profit organization with an aim for comprehensive rural development. In the year 2004, REEDS by restructuring its resources, rededicated to its vision ‘sustainable and economic rural development’. Since then REEDS has been endeavoring with multi-sectoral action projects towards realizing its mission objective, touching various spheres of rural life towards empowering rural communities.

REEDS action programs/projects include Safe Drinking Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; Skills Development; Awareness & Education; and Monitoring & Evaluating Developmental Programs. REEDS is privileged to have extended its services in eight states - Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamilnadu, Telangana and West Bengal, has its regular presence in the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

RecognitionsREEDS is proud to have few but significant honors in its rural empowerment pursuit:

India Today Safaigiri Awards 2016 'Water Warrior' in acknowledgement of its development of cost-effective and easy-to-maintain drinking water filtration systems.

Government of Andhra Pradesh 'Letter of Appreciation' on 1 November 2008, for its extensive involvement in the area of Sanitation in the State.

01

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Drinking Water

Established low-cost and easy-to-maintain Water Filtration Systems in about 90 locations since 2005 in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha and Telangana and the combined capacity is over 70 million liters safe drinking water treatment per day covering over 1.8 million rural population.

Introduced first-of-its-kind Mobile Water Treatment Unit in June 2007 and about 10,000 rural people located in 14 habitations in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are able to access safe drinking water.

Sanitation

Piloted first-of-its-kind an Information Technology enabled Telephone based helpline to ‘Facilitate easy and widespread participation of the beneficiaries under Swachh Bharat Mission in Sattenapalle Assembly constituency of Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh in 2016.

Carried ‘Total Sanitation Campaign’ in 55 Gram Panchayats in Khammam District of Telangana towards making them ‘Nirmal Gram’ during 2007-08; 36 of these 55 GPs securing NGP Awards is a testimonial of REEDS dedication and commitment to the cause.

Awareness & Education

Carried Hygiene education campaigns ‘Promoting the usage of toilets among schoolchildren, creating awareness on hand washing at right times and sharing tasks among School Children’ covering over 300,000 school children at over 7,000 schools in 8 districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during

2006-10 attaining the status of ‘Organization which has carried such campaign in highest number of schools’.

Carried awareness campaigns on ‘Operation, maintenance and management of drinking water schemes’ in 1836 villages at 5 Districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during 2010-12 attaining the status of ‘Organization which has carried such campaign in highest number of villages’.

Monitoring Developmental Programs

REEDS as an empanelled Evaluation Agency with several State and Central Government agencies, has been involved with several prestigious surveys and evaluations. These include:

National level monitoring of Rural Development Programs in 39 Districts spread across 5 states – Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tamilnadu during 2010-17 for Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

National level monitoring of Open Defecation Free status under Swachh Bharat Mission - Gramin in 70 villages in West Bengal and Bihar for Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Government of India during 2016-17.

Impact Study of the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme in MGNREGS at Guntur District in Andhra Pradesh covering 16 Blocks & 59 GPs in 2013 for Commissioner of Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Skills Development

Initiated a series of Life Skills and Livelihood Skills International conferences aimed at developing the skill levels for sustainable rural economies and

02

general quality of life of rural India. As part of the conference series SKILLS2010, SKILLS2013 and SKILLS2015 held so far have presented 100 + leaders from Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, Srilanka South Africa, South Korea, Thailand & USA and all these conferences have been a success for having able to spur the ideas to build and sustain initiatives in skill development in scale among relevant stakeholders.

REEDS as an Assessing Body under Skills Development Initiative – SDI scheme of Directorate General of Employment and Training – DGET has conducted assessments for over 1500 persons in Modular Employable Skills – MES courses in Automotive, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration and Banking & Accounting Sectors at Andhra Pradesh and Telangana since 2013.

Leadership

REEDS have an experienced and high profiled management team that guides towards its organizational goals. Further, an Advisory Council comprising eminent persons in their respective fields and believe in REEDS philosophy extend their advice and guidance in REEDS activities. At REEDS, a core team comprising of specialists with multiple competencies would form for effective formulation and implementation it’s each of the project/programs, ably supported by committed resource personnel duly oriented for specific program.

Operational locations

REEDS worked across the geographies of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamilnadu, Telangana and West Bengal.

I am happy to present our 28th Annual Report 2016-17. During the year, we have had purposeful achievements at REEDS and there were challenges too. The year saw REEDS continuing its interventions to empower and ensure change in the quality of rural life.

ProgramsFocus areas of REEDS programs during the year have been primarily across - Sanitation & Hygiene; Monitoring & Evaluations; and Education & Awareness.

Sanitation & Hygiene

Documenting SKILLS2015 insights to disrupt the sanitation status quo

We were proud of the results of the SKILLS2015 conference held in November 2015. One step beyond

the conference that we believe REEDS along with LSLSI can take is to provide the compelling insights of the conference, along with the benefit of two years of reflection, in a book that succinctly, clearly and forcefully puts forward the argument for disruption of India's sanitation status quo.

Dr. Kodela Siva Prasad Rao, Speaker - Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament; Mr. Dan Coholan, Vice Chairman, RBC Wealth Management, Canada; Dr. Hemnath Rao H, Senior Professor and Dean, Development Management Institute, Patna, India; Prof. Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organization,

Singapore; Dr. Ravi K Reddy, Secretary, REEDS, India; and Dr. Richard W. Oliver, Founder and CEO, American Sentinel University, USA - all of them who have made stupendous contributions to the sanitation cause have consented to join us in this important task with their respective disquisitions

We expect the book would be ready and planning to schedule for release sometime in June 2017 as an eBook and in a print edition.

Conceptualization SKILLS2015 recommendations on Sanitation Education and Extension Services

As a way forward to realize possible solutions in the

critical area of skills development for a Clean India,

REEDS is endeavoring to conceptualize two of the

recommendations –

1) Establishing an apex State level Sanitation & Hygiene Training, Research and Development Institute in Public Private and International Partnerships in Andhra Pradesh with a focus to integrate sanitation issues with educational and training curriculum for grooming sanitation professionals and also to carry research;

2) Establishing a dedicated extension arm [Sanitation Extension Services] for the Clean India Mission to percolate down to the target households and communities, emanated from the SKILLS2015 International Conference to the government and other relevant agencies for their consideration.

We at REEDS trust that the outcomes of the initiative add a wing to the ongoing Clean India Mission.

Project Zero Open Defecation

We feel proud, despite challenges, to have led close to 1000 (200 households) rural populace with toilets at home during the year that help them with improved health and a greater sense of dignity through Project

Zero Open Defecation [PZOD], one of our current initiatives in furthering 'Clean India Mission' in association with ASV Resources. PZOD is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Together we aim to reaching out to 4,000 homes and some 20,000 residents in 11 villages in Kuppam, the assembly constituency of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, to make them totally open defecation free.

In this regard, we had also put a film together along with LSLSI on the transformational change in behaviors from the age old sanitation practices we could bring in among the communities. We feel delighted for many accolades on the film.

Monitoring & Evaluations

Rural Development Programs monitoring

As an institutional national level monitoring agency to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, we were assigned with 4 districts in Maharashtra, 2 districts in Odisha and 4 districts in Tamilnadu for regular monitoring of its major programs aimed at enhancing rural lives and livelihoods during the year.

This assignment has given us an opportunity to visit

100 villages and understand the aspects including the awareness and involvement of the communities, reach of programs, implementation environment, community involvement and the role of local body institutions of these salient rural welfare programs.

We find fulfillment for being part of the monitoring process aimed to strengthen and ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the rural development programs that target one-third of country’s population with a significant allocation of funds!

Open Defecation Free status under SBM (G) verification

We feel privileged to be one of the 29 Institutional National Level Monitors identified by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India to

assess the impact and sustainability of sanitation promotion in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages under Swachh Bharat Mission in the country.

During the year, REEDS carried verification of ODF status under SBM-G in 45 villages under Namami Gange Districts in Murshidabad District of West Bengal during February 2017.

Associating with monitoring of two flagship programs - provision of safe drinking water and improved sanitation in rural areas of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation is certainly a significant addition for REEDS in realizing its organizational Mission.

Educational Support

Though modest, one of the most fulfilling activities during the year was proffering financial support to a deserving child to continue her education. It is delighting to know that the girl child has secured over 90% in her IV standard.

Education & Awareness

Triggering awareness and positive behavioral changes among rural communities has always been an important intervention of REEDS.

Awareness, sensitization and motivation of rural

communities on hygiene & sanitation, safe drinking water and livelihood opportunities without doubt have phenomenal impact on their lives and livelihoods. REEDS during the year had carried various Education and Awareness Programs among rural communities for enhancing their knowledge regarding safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation. The objective has been to create awareness. sensitization and empowering communities to manage water and sanitation systems on protection and conservation of drinking water sources, safe handling of drinking water; trigger behavior change among individuals, families and communities to adopt improved health and hygiene practices and create awareness and demand for community participation.

The campaigns covered over 10000 households spread across in close to 50 Blocks in 4 Districts – Kadapa, Kurnool, SPSR Nellore and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh with the financial and motivational support of groups of diverse individuals sensitive to Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water. With focused coherent messaging combined with information regarding access to SBM (G), we were able to make several households consenting, to build and use toilets – our bit of contribution in achieving and realizing national sanitation targets.

REEDS believes that Rural Entrepreneurship is key for accelerating economic growth and entrepreneurship can be cultivated through proper training and connectivity to resources and sustained support systyems. During the year REEDS carried Rural Entrepreneurship Development Campaigns in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh and Adilabad District of Telangana. The program covered 48 Blocks. The focus of the campaign has been on enhancing financial literacy enabling to have better access to credit and financial, skills development, technical and marketing services apart from awareness on various developmental schemes for improving rural livelihoods especially among women and youth.

Skills Development

Considering Digital India is, by far, the most potent opportunity for the transformation of India by empowering nearly one billion rural Indians with advanced skills and the latest digital tools, enabling them to “leapfrog” into the Digital Age, as part of the series of conferences on Life Skills and Livelihood Skills, REEDS together with LSLSI, is gearing up to host the fourth of the conference series, SKILLS2017. To provide impetus to the ongoing Digital India programme that has potential to transform rural agricultural economies, the theme ‘Leveraging Digital India for Rural Empowerment for a Digital India’, was chosen.

SKILLS2017 would be organized jointly by REEDS and LSLSI and scheduled to be held on 16-17 November 2017 in Hyderabad in association with Telangana Academy for Skills and Knowledge, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Telangana.

LSLSI conferences have always been broadly supported by government, NGOs, universities, and private companies from around the world. Speakers included senior government and corporate officials, academics and social and business entrepreneurs from India, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries. Conference series have had a privilege of 30+ distinguished academicians, practitioners and professionals representing 13 countries to be on the respective International Advisory Committees guiding and advising the conferences.

We do expect SKILLS2017 with a diverse group of knowledgeable and committed stakeholders would provide a set of specific, constructive proposals to help achieve the Digital India program objective and propose supportive solutions for India’s digital empowerment.

A purposeful interaction took place during October with Dr. Richard Oliver and his team at American Sentinel University in Denver, USA, who have been our constant mentors and partners in our rural empowerment efforts. They helped us to firm-up the road map for the ensuing SKILLS2017 international conference. We greatly appreciate Dr. Richard Oliver, his team and American Sentinel University for their continual support, consenting to associate with SKILLS2017 and above all Dr. Oliver consenting to Chair the Conference.

Recognition

While we were reminiscing Mahatma Gandhi’s perception and his longing to make sanitation a priority for India in our Sanitation & Hygiene endevours, we had a pleasant surprise in store on his 148th birth day on 2nd October 2016! REEDS named as winner in 'Water Warrior' category of the India Today Safaigiri Awards 2016. The award was presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development, Aishwarya Rai, Popular Indian Actress and winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant and Aroon Purie, Editor-in-chief of India Today at the awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 2, 2016.

REEDS was chosen for this prestigious award in acknowledgement of its development of a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain filtration systems for those who rely on surface water for their drinking water needs and for the drinking water needs during

calamities as well as of small and remote communities.

We are both proud and excited to have this significant honor that boosts our inspiration in our bit of work to realize Clean India. We consider the Water Warrior Award as recognition to the outstanding team work and dedication of TEAM REEDS. In this context the efforts and support of two individuals needs to be specially accredited - Mr. Sudhir Paul, the founder member of REEDS and an expert in the design, development and management of Safe Drinking Water Treatment units, who first conceptualized the idea and Mr. DLV Sridhar, member of REEDS Advisory Council and a generous philanthropist who extended financial support in introducing the first-of-its-kind mobile drinking water treatment unit.

Board of Governors

In the 27th Annual General Meeting held on 29th June 2016, re-elected all the outgoing Board of Governors for a further period of two years i.e. until the 29th Annual General Meeting. We wish to place on record our appreciation and gratitude the members of the Board of Governors for providing valuable guidance in realizing the organizational goals.

Financial overview

Revenues for the year 2016-17 have been Rs. 10.276 million, a decrease of 30.25 % when compared to earlier year. Though the revenues were at par with those of earlier year in respect of other programs, the decrease is mainly attributable to the reduced contributions (36.12%) and lesser revenues of Skills Development endeavours (64.22 %).

Primarily due to excess expenditure than the revenues in Project Zero Open Defecation, the year had witnessed a deficit of Rs. 1.023 million income over

03

expenditure. However, this deficiency would not be deterring our commitment towards rural empowerment cause and shall endeavor to better the financial status.

Going forward

Looking back at 2016-17, it has been a year where we could deliver programs towards creating an actionable difference amidst challenges. We look forward to 2017-18 with more confidence and experience for higher operational growth, more adaptive to external situations, building stronger processes within programmes and create long term partnerships to have a larger outreach.

Acknowledgments

We remain committed to the rural empowerment cause and this perseverance of working is only made possible by valuable support and advice of many people and their trust in what we do. We take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Society, committed team within REEDS, leadership, Advisors and a wide range of partners, donors, and other organizations for their continued support. We thank our Bankers - Karnataka Bank and Bank of Baroda, for their cooperation. To take our cause further to make the change we count on your continued support.

Dr. Ravi K ReddySecretary

Hyderabad, 1 September 2017

Board of Governors

Ravindra Vikram M, ChairmanChartered Accountant and a Financial and management consultant.

Dr. Ravi K Reddy, SecretaryChartered Accountant and a Business Advisory Consultant

Ms. Sunanda, TreasurerGraduate of Arts and a Women Empowerment Enthusiast.

Mr. Raghuram Reddy, MemberGraduate of Commerce and retired Government Official

Mr. Sudhir Paul, MemberPostgraduate in Management and Water Technology Expert.

Advisory Council

Dr. SK HajelaGlobally acclaimed Telecommunications Expert.

Mr. Mohan ReddyChartered Accountant and a Renewable Energy Expert.

Mr. BN MurthyMechanical Engineer with diverse Business and Industrial Experience.

Professor R SadanandaEarliest initiator of Computer Science Education in India.

Mr. DLV SridharHeads South India’s largest fleet of heavy equipment transportation.

Team

Rahul Somkuwar

Ramesh Reddy Rachamalla

Ravi Suman Chintha

Reddy Prasad R

Santhosh Bharam

Santosh Parida

Srinivas Ambati

Vidyasagar Reddy Srirangapalle

I am happy to present our 28th Annual Report 2016-17. During the year, we have had purposeful achievements at REEDS and there were challenges too. The year saw REEDS continuing its interventions to empower and ensure change in the quality of rural life.

ProgramsFocus areas of REEDS programs during the year have been primarily across - Sanitation & Hygiene; Monitoring & Evaluations; and Education & Awareness.

Sanitation & Hygiene

Documenting SKILLS2015 insights to disrupt the sanitation status quo

We were proud of the results of the SKILLS2015 conference held in November 2015. One step beyond

the conference that we believe REEDS along with LSLSI can take is to provide the compelling insights of the conference, along with the benefit of two years of reflection, in a book that succinctly, clearly and forcefully puts forward the argument for disruption of India's sanitation status quo.

Dr. Kodela Siva Prasad Rao, Speaker - Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament; Mr. Dan Coholan, Vice Chairman, RBC Wealth Management, Canada; Dr. Hemnath Rao H, Senior Professor and Dean, Development Management Institute, Patna, India; Prof. Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organization,

Singapore; Dr. Ravi K Reddy, Secretary, REEDS, India; and Dr. Richard W. Oliver, Founder and CEO, American Sentinel University, USA - all of them who have made stupendous contributions to the sanitation cause have consented to join us in this important task with their respective disquisitions

We expect the book would be ready and planning to schedule for release sometime in June 2017 as an eBook and in a print edition.

Conceptualization SKILLS2015 recommendations on Sanitation Education and Extension Services

As a way forward to realize possible solutions in the

critical area of skills development for a Clean India,

REEDS is endeavoring to conceptualize two of the

recommendations –

1) Establishing an apex State level Sanitation & Hygiene Training, Research and Development Institute in Public Private and International Partnerships in Andhra Pradesh with a focus to integrate sanitation issues with educational and training curriculum for grooming sanitation professionals and also to carry research;

2) Establishing a dedicated extension arm [Sanitation Extension Services] for the Clean India Mission to percolate down to the target households and communities, emanated from the SKILLS2015 International Conference to the government and other relevant agencies for their consideration.

We at REEDS trust that the outcomes of the initiative add a wing to the ongoing Clean India Mission.

Project Zero Open Defecation

We feel proud, despite challenges, to have led close to 1000 (200 households) rural populace with toilets at home during the year that help them with improved health and a greater sense of dignity through Project

Zero Open Defecation [PZOD], one of our current initiatives in furthering 'Clean India Mission' in association with ASV Resources. PZOD is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Together we aim to reaching out to 4,000 homes and some 20,000 residents in 11 villages in Kuppam, the assembly constituency of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, to make them totally open defecation free.

In this regard, we had also put a film together along with LSLSI on the transformational change in behaviors from the age old sanitation practices we could bring in among the communities. We feel delighted for many accolades on the film.

Monitoring & Evaluations

Rural Development Programs monitoring

As an institutional national level monitoring agency to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, we were assigned with 4 districts in Maharashtra, 2 districts in Odisha and 4 districts in Tamilnadu for regular monitoring of its major programs aimed at enhancing rural lives and livelihoods during the year.

This assignment has given us an opportunity to visit

100 villages and understand the aspects including the awareness and involvement of the communities, reach of programs, implementation environment, community involvement and the role of local body institutions of these salient rural welfare programs.

We find fulfillment for being part of the monitoring process aimed to strengthen and ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the rural development programs that target one-third of country’s population with a significant allocation of funds!

Open Defecation Free status under SBM (G) verification

We feel privileged to be one of the 29 Institutional National Level Monitors identified by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India to

assess the impact and sustainability of sanitation promotion in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages under Swachh Bharat Mission in the country.

During the year, REEDS carried verification of ODF status under SBM-G in 45 villages under Namami Gange Districts in Murshidabad District of West Bengal during February 2017.

Associating with monitoring of two flagship programs - provision of safe drinking water and improved sanitation in rural areas of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation is certainly a significant addition for REEDS in realizing its organizational Mission.

Educational Support

Though modest, one of the most fulfilling activities during the year was proffering financial support to a deserving child to continue her education. It is delighting to know that the girl child has secured over 90% in her IV standard.

Education & Awareness

Triggering awareness and positive behavioral changes among rural communities has always been an important intervention of REEDS.

Awareness, sensitization and motivation of rural

communities on hygiene & sanitation, safe drinking water and livelihood opportunities without doubt have phenomenal impact on their lives and livelihoods. REEDS during the year had carried various Education and Awareness Programs among rural communities for enhancing their knowledge regarding safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation. The objective has been to create awareness. sensitization and empowering communities to manage water and sanitation systems on protection and conservation of drinking water sources, safe handling of drinking water; trigger behavior change among individuals, families and communities to adopt improved health and hygiene practices and create awareness and demand for community participation.

The campaigns covered over 10000 households spread across in close to 50 Blocks in 4 Districts – Kadapa, Kurnool, SPSR Nellore and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh with the financial and motivational support of groups of diverse individuals sensitive to Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water. With focused coherent messaging combined with information regarding access to SBM (G), we were able to make several households consenting, to build and use toilets – our bit of contribution in achieving and realizing national sanitation targets.

REEDS believes that Rural Entrepreneurship is key for accelerating economic growth and entrepreneurship can be cultivated through proper training and connectivity to resources and sustained support systyems. During the year REEDS carried Rural Entrepreneurship Development Campaigns in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh and Adilabad District of Telangana. The program covered 48 Blocks. The focus of the campaign has been on enhancing financial literacy enabling to have better access to credit and financial, skills development, technical and marketing services apart from awareness on various developmental schemes for improving rural livelihoods especially among women and youth.

Skills Development

Considering Digital India is, by far, the most potent opportunity for the transformation of India by empowering nearly one billion rural Indians with advanced skills and the latest digital tools, enabling them to “leapfrog” into the Digital Age, as part of the series of conferences on Life Skills and Livelihood Skills, REEDS together with LSLSI, is gearing up to host the fourth of the conference series, SKILLS2017. To provide impetus to the ongoing Digital India programme that has potential to transform rural agricultural economies, the theme ‘Leveraging Digital India for Rural Empowerment for a Digital India’, was chosen.

SKILLS2017 would be organized jointly by REEDS and LSLSI and scheduled to be held on 16-17 November 2017 in Hyderabad in association with Telangana Academy for Skills and Knowledge, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Telangana.

LSLSI conferences have always been broadly supported by government, NGOs, universities, and private companies from around the world. Speakers included senior government and corporate officials, academics and social and business entrepreneurs from India, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries. Conference series have had a privilege of 30+ distinguished academicians, practitioners and professionals representing 13 countries to be on the respective International Advisory Committees guiding and advising the conferences.

We do expect SKILLS2017 with a diverse group of knowledgeable and committed stakeholders would provide a set of specific, constructive proposals to help achieve the Digital India program objective and propose supportive solutions for India’s digital empowerment.

A purposeful interaction took place during October with Dr. Richard Oliver and his team at American Sentinel University in Denver, USA, who have been our constant mentors and partners in our rural empowerment efforts. They helped us to firm-up the road map for the ensuing SKILLS2017 international conference. We greatly appreciate Dr. Richard Oliver, his team and American Sentinel University for their continual support, consenting to associate with SKILLS2017 and above all Dr. Oliver consenting to Chair the Conference.

Recognition

While we were reminiscing Mahatma Gandhi’s perception and his longing to make sanitation a priority for India in our Sanitation & Hygiene endevours, we had a pleasant surprise in store on his 148th birth day on 2nd October 2016! REEDS named as winner in 'Water Warrior' category of the India Today Safaigiri Awards 2016. The award was presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development, Aishwarya Rai, Popular Indian Actress and winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant and Aroon Purie, Editor-in-chief of India Today at the awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 2, 2016.

REEDS was chosen for this prestigious award in acknowledgement of its development of a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain filtration systems for those who rely on surface water for their drinking water needs and for the drinking water needs during

calamities as well as of small and remote communities.

We are both proud and excited to have this significant honor that boosts our inspiration in our bit of work to realize Clean India. We consider the Water Warrior Award as recognition to the outstanding team work and dedication of TEAM REEDS. In this context the efforts and support of two individuals needs to be specially accredited - Mr. Sudhir Paul, the founder member of REEDS and an expert in the design, development and management of Safe Drinking Water Treatment units, who first conceptualized the idea and Mr. DLV Sridhar, member of REEDS Advisory Council and a generous philanthropist who extended financial support in introducing the first-of-its-kind mobile drinking water treatment unit.

Board of Governors

In the 27th Annual General Meeting held on 29th June 2016, re-elected all the outgoing Board of Governors for a further period of two years i.e. until the 29th Annual General Meeting. We wish to place on record our appreciation and gratitude the members of the Board of Governors for providing valuable guidance in realizing the organizational goals.

Financial overview

Revenues for the year 2016-17 have been Rs. 10.276 million, a decrease of 30.25 % when compared to earlier year. Though the revenues were at par with those of earlier year in respect of other programs, the decrease is mainly attributable to the reduced contributions (36.12%) and lesser revenues of Skills Development endeavours (64.22 %).

Primarily due to excess expenditure than the revenues in Project Zero Open Defecation, the year had witnessed a deficit of Rs. 1.023 million income over

04

expenditure. However, this deficiency would not be deterring our commitment towards rural empowerment cause and shall endeavor to better the financial status.

Going forward

Looking back at 2016-17, it has been a year where we could deliver programs towards creating an actionable difference amidst challenges. We look forward to 2017-18 with more confidence and experience for higher operational growth, more adaptive to external situations, building stronger processes within programmes and create long term partnerships to have a larger outreach.

Acknowledgments

We remain committed to the rural empowerment cause and this perseverance of working is only made possible by valuable support and advice of many people and their trust in what we do. We take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Society, committed team within REEDS, leadership, Advisors and a wide range of partners, donors, and other organizations for their continued support. We thank our Bankers - Karnataka Bank and Bank of Baroda, for their cooperation. To take our cause further to make the change we count on your continued support.

Dr. Ravi K ReddySecretary

Hyderabad, 1 September 2017

Secretary’s Annual Report

I am happy to present our 28th Annual Report 2016-17. During the year, we have had purposeful achievements at REEDS and there were challenges too. The year saw REEDS continuing its interventions to empower and ensure change in the quality of rural life.

ProgramsFocus areas of REEDS programs during the year have been primarily across - Sanitation & Hygiene; Monitoring & Evaluations; and Education & Awareness.

Sanitation & Hygiene

Documenting SKILLS2015 insights to disrupt the sanitation status quo

We were proud of the results of the SKILLS2015 conference held in November 2015. One step beyond

the conference that we believe REEDS along with LSLSI can take is to provide the compelling insights of the conference, along with the benefit of two years of reflection, in a book that succinctly, clearly and forcefully puts forward the argument for disruption of India's sanitation status quo.

Dr. Kodela Siva Prasad Rao, Speaker - Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament; Mr. Dan Coholan, Vice Chairman, RBC Wealth Management, Canada; Dr. Hemnath Rao H, Senior Professor and Dean, Development Management Institute, Patna, India; Prof. Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organization,

Singapore; Dr. Ravi K Reddy, Secretary, REEDS, India; and Dr. Richard W. Oliver, Founder and CEO, American Sentinel University, USA - all of them who have made stupendous contributions to the sanitation cause have consented to join us in this important task with their respective disquisitions

We expect the book would be ready and planning to schedule for release sometime in June 2017 as an eBook and in a print edition.

Conceptualization SKILLS2015 recommendations on Sanitation Education and Extension Services

As a way forward to realize possible solutions in the

critical area of skills development for a Clean India,

REEDS is endeavoring to conceptualize two of the

recommendations –

1) Establishing an apex State level Sanitation & Hygiene Training, Research and Development Institute in Public Private and International Partnerships in Andhra Pradesh with a focus to integrate sanitation issues with educational and training curriculum for grooming sanitation professionals and also to carry research;

2) Establishing a dedicated extension arm [Sanitation Extension Services] for the Clean India Mission to percolate down to the target households and communities, emanated from the SKILLS2015 International Conference to the government and other relevant agencies for their consideration.

We at REEDS trust that the outcomes of the initiative add a wing to the ongoing Clean India Mission.

Project Zero Open Defecation

We feel proud, despite challenges, to have led close to 1000 (200 households) rural populace with toilets at home during the year that help them with improved health and a greater sense of dignity through Project

Zero Open Defecation [PZOD], one of our current initiatives in furthering 'Clean India Mission' in association with ASV Resources. PZOD is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Together we aim to reaching out to 4,000 homes and some 20,000 residents in 11 villages in Kuppam, the assembly constituency of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, to make them totally open defecation free.

In this regard, we had also put a film together along with LSLSI on the transformational change in behaviors from the age old sanitation practices we could bring in among the communities. We feel delighted for many accolades on the film.

Monitoring & Evaluations

Rural Development Programs monitoring

As an institutional national level monitoring agency to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, we were assigned with 4 districts in Maharashtra, 2 districts in Odisha and 4 districts in Tamilnadu for regular monitoring of its major programs aimed at enhancing rural lives and livelihoods during the year.

This assignment has given us an opportunity to visit

100 villages and understand the aspects including the awareness and involvement of the communities, reach of programs, implementation environment, community involvement and the role of local body institutions of these salient rural welfare programs.

We find fulfillment for being part of the monitoring process aimed to strengthen and ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the rural development programs that target one-third of country’s population with a significant allocation of funds!

Open Defecation Free status under SBM (G) verification

We feel privileged to be one of the 29 Institutional National Level Monitors identified by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India to

assess the impact and sustainability of sanitation promotion in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages under Swachh Bharat Mission in the country.

During the year, REEDS carried verification of ODF status under SBM-G in 45 villages under Namami Gange Districts in Murshidabad District of West Bengal during February 2017.

Associating with monitoring of two flagship programs - provision of safe drinking water and improved sanitation in rural areas of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation is certainly a significant addition for REEDS in realizing its organizational Mission.

Educational Support

Though modest, one of the most fulfilling activities during the year was proffering financial support to a deserving child to continue her education. It is delighting to know that the girl child has secured over 90% in her IV standard.

Education & Awareness

Triggering awareness and positive behavioral changes among rural communities has always been an important intervention of REEDS.

Awareness, sensitization and motivation of rural

communities on hygiene & sanitation, safe drinking water and livelihood opportunities without doubt have phenomenal impact on their lives and livelihoods. REEDS during the year had carried various Education and Awareness Programs among rural communities for enhancing their knowledge regarding safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation. The objective has been to create awareness. sensitization and empowering communities to manage water and sanitation systems on protection and conservation of drinking water sources, safe handling of drinking water; trigger behavior change among individuals, families and communities to adopt improved health and hygiene practices and create awareness and demand for community participation.

The campaigns covered over 10000 households spread across in close to 50 Blocks in 4 Districts – Kadapa, Kurnool, SPSR Nellore and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh with the financial and motivational support of groups of diverse individuals sensitive to Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water. With focused coherent messaging combined with information regarding access to SBM (G), we were able to make several households consenting, to build and use toilets – our bit of contribution in achieving and realizing national sanitation targets.

REEDS believes that Rural Entrepreneurship is key for accelerating economic growth and entrepreneurship can be cultivated through proper training and connectivity to resources and sustained support systyems. During the year REEDS carried Rural Entrepreneurship Development Campaigns in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh and Adilabad District of Telangana. The program covered 48 Blocks. The focus of the campaign has been on enhancing financial literacy enabling to have better access to credit and financial, skills development, technical and marketing services apart from awareness on various developmental schemes for improving rural livelihoods especially among women and youth.

Skills Development

Considering Digital India is, by far, the most potent opportunity for the transformation of India by empowering nearly one billion rural Indians with advanced skills and the latest digital tools, enabling them to “leapfrog” into the Digital Age, as part of the series of conferences on Life Skills and Livelihood Skills, REEDS together with LSLSI, is gearing up to host the fourth of the conference series, SKILLS2017. To provide impetus to the ongoing Digital India programme that has potential to transform rural agricultural economies, the theme ‘Leveraging Digital India for Rural Empowerment for a Digital India’, was chosen.

SKILLS2017 would be organized jointly by REEDS and LSLSI and scheduled to be held on 16-17 November 2017 in Hyderabad in association with Telangana Academy for Skills and Knowledge, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Telangana.

LSLSI conferences have always been broadly supported by government, NGOs, universities, and private companies from around the world. Speakers included senior government and corporate officials, academics and social and business entrepreneurs from India, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries. Conference series have had a privilege of 30+ distinguished academicians, practitioners and professionals representing 13 countries to be on the respective International Advisory Committees guiding and advising the conferences.

We do expect SKILLS2017 with a diverse group of knowledgeable and committed stakeholders would provide a set of specific, constructive proposals to help achieve the Digital India program objective and propose supportive solutions for India’s digital empowerment.

A purposeful interaction took place during October with Dr. Richard Oliver and his team at American Sentinel University in Denver, USA, who have been our constant mentors and partners in our rural empowerment efforts. They helped us to firm-up the road map for the ensuing SKILLS2017 international conference. We greatly appreciate Dr. Richard Oliver, his team and American Sentinel University for their continual support, consenting to associate with SKILLS2017 and above all Dr. Oliver consenting to Chair the Conference.

Recognition

While we were reminiscing Mahatma Gandhi’s perception and his longing to make sanitation a priority for India in our Sanitation & Hygiene endevours, we had a pleasant surprise in store on his 148th birth day on 2nd October 2016! REEDS named as winner in 'Water Warrior' category of the India Today Safaigiri Awards 2016. The award was presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development, Aishwarya Rai, Popular Indian Actress and winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant and Aroon Purie, Editor-in-chief of India Today at the awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 2, 2016.

REEDS was chosen for this prestigious award in acknowledgement of its development of a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain filtration systems for those who rely on surface water for their drinking water needs and for the drinking water needs during

calamities as well as of small and remote communities.

We are both proud and excited to have this significant honor that boosts our inspiration in our bit of work to realize Clean India. We consider the Water Warrior Award as recognition to the outstanding team work and dedication of TEAM REEDS. In this context the efforts and support of two individuals needs to be specially accredited - Mr. Sudhir Paul, the founder member of REEDS and an expert in the design, development and management of Safe Drinking Water Treatment units, who first conceptualized the idea and Mr. DLV Sridhar, member of REEDS Advisory Council and a generous philanthropist who extended financial support in introducing the first-of-its-kind mobile drinking water treatment unit.

Board of Governors

In the 27th Annual General Meeting held on 29th June 2016, re-elected all the outgoing Board of Governors for a further period of two years i.e. until the 29th Annual General Meeting. We wish to place on record our appreciation and gratitude the members of the Board of Governors for providing valuable guidance in realizing the organizational goals.

Financial overview

Revenues for the year 2016-17 have been Rs. 10.276 million, a decrease of 30.25 % when compared to earlier year. Though the revenues were at par with those of earlier year in respect of other programs, the decrease is mainly attributable to the reduced contributions (36.12%) and lesser revenues of Skills Development endeavours (64.22 %).

Primarily due to excess expenditure than the revenues in Project Zero Open Defecation, the year had witnessed a deficit of Rs. 1.023 million income over

05

expenditure. However, this deficiency would not be deterring our commitment towards rural empowerment cause and shall endeavor to better the financial status.

Going forward

Looking back at 2016-17, it has been a year where we could deliver programs towards creating an actionable difference amidst challenges. We look forward to 2017-18 with more confidence and experience for higher operational growth, more adaptive to external situations, building stronger processes within programmes and create long term partnerships to have a larger outreach.

Acknowledgments

We remain committed to the rural empowerment cause and this perseverance of working is only made possible by valuable support and advice of many people and their trust in what we do. We take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Society, committed team within REEDS, leadership, Advisors and a wide range of partners, donors, and other organizations for their continued support. We thank our Bankers - Karnataka Bank and Bank of Baroda, for their cooperation. To take our cause further to make the change we count on your continued support.

Dr. Ravi K ReddySecretary

Hyderabad, 1 September 2017

I am happy to present our 28th Annual Report 2016-17. During the year, we have had purposeful achievements at REEDS and there were challenges too. The year saw REEDS continuing its interventions to empower and ensure change in the quality of rural life.

ProgramsFocus areas of REEDS programs during the year have been primarily across - Sanitation & Hygiene; Monitoring & Evaluations; and Education & Awareness.

Sanitation & Hygiene

Documenting SKILLS2015 insights to disrupt the sanitation status quo

We were proud of the results of the SKILLS2015 conference held in November 2015. One step beyond

the conference that we believe REEDS along with LSLSI can take is to provide the compelling insights of the conference, along with the benefit of two years of reflection, in a book that succinctly, clearly and forcefully puts forward the argument for disruption of India's sanitation status quo.

Dr. Kodela Siva Prasad Rao, Speaker - Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament; Mr. Dan Coholan, Vice Chairman, RBC Wealth Management, Canada; Dr. Hemnath Rao H, Senior Professor and Dean, Development Management Institute, Patna, India; Prof. Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organization,

Singapore; Dr. Ravi K Reddy, Secretary, REEDS, India; and Dr. Richard W. Oliver, Founder and CEO, American Sentinel University, USA - all of them who have made stupendous contributions to the sanitation cause have consented to join us in this important task with their respective disquisitions

We expect the book would be ready and planning to schedule for release sometime in June 2017 as an eBook and in a print edition.

Conceptualization SKILLS2015 recommendations on Sanitation Education and Extension Services

As a way forward to realize possible solutions in the

critical area of skills development for a Clean India,

REEDS is endeavoring to conceptualize two of the

recommendations –

1) Establishing an apex State level Sanitation & Hygiene Training, Research and Development Institute in Public Private and International Partnerships in Andhra Pradesh with a focus to integrate sanitation issues with educational and training curriculum for grooming sanitation professionals and also to carry research;

2) Establishing a dedicated extension arm [Sanitation Extension Services] for the Clean India Mission to percolate down to the target households and communities, emanated from the SKILLS2015 International Conference to the government and other relevant agencies for their consideration.

We at REEDS trust that the outcomes of the initiative add a wing to the ongoing Clean India Mission.

Project Zero Open Defecation

We feel proud, despite challenges, to have led close to 1000 (200 households) rural populace with toilets at home during the year that help them with improved health and a greater sense of dignity through Project

Zero Open Defecation [PZOD], one of our current initiatives in furthering 'Clean India Mission' in association with ASV Resources. PZOD is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Together we aim to reaching out to 4,000 homes and some 20,000 residents in 11 villages in Kuppam, the assembly constituency of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, to make them totally open defecation free.

In this regard, we had also put a film together along with LSLSI on the transformational change in behaviors from the age old sanitation practices we could bring in among the communities. We feel delighted for many accolades on the film.

Monitoring & Evaluations

Rural Development Programs monitoring

As an institutional national level monitoring agency to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, we were assigned with 4 districts in Maharashtra, 2 districts in Odisha and 4 districts in Tamilnadu for regular monitoring of its major programs aimed at enhancing rural lives and livelihoods during the year.

This assignment has given us an opportunity to visit

100 villages and understand the aspects including the awareness and involvement of the communities, reach of programs, implementation environment, community involvement and the role of local body institutions of these salient rural welfare programs.

We find fulfillment for being part of the monitoring process aimed to strengthen and ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the rural development programs that target one-third of country’s population with a significant allocation of funds!

Open Defecation Free status under SBM (G) verification

We feel privileged to be one of the 29 Institutional National Level Monitors identified by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India to

assess the impact and sustainability of sanitation promotion in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages under Swachh Bharat Mission in the country.

During the year, REEDS carried verification of ODF status under SBM-G in 45 villages under Namami Gange Districts in Murshidabad District of West Bengal during February 2017.

Associating with monitoring of two flagship programs - provision of safe drinking water and improved sanitation in rural areas of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation is certainly a significant addition for REEDS in realizing its organizational Mission.

Educational Support

Though modest, one of the most fulfilling activities during the year was proffering financial support to a deserving child to continue her education. It is delighting to know that the girl child has secured over 90% in her IV standard.

Education & Awareness

Triggering awareness and positive behavioral changes among rural communities has always been an important intervention of REEDS.

Awareness, sensitization and motivation of rural

communities on hygiene & sanitation, safe drinking water and livelihood opportunities without doubt have phenomenal impact on their lives and livelihoods. REEDS during the year had carried various Education and Awareness Programs among rural communities for enhancing their knowledge regarding safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation. The objective has been to create awareness. sensitization and empowering communities to manage water and sanitation systems on protection and conservation of drinking water sources, safe handling of drinking water; trigger behavior change among individuals, families and communities to adopt improved health and hygiene practices and create awareness and demand for community participation.

The campaigns covered over 10000 households spread across in close to 50 Blocks in 4 Districts – Kadapa, Kurnool, SPSR Nellore and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh with the financial and motivational support of groups of diverse individuals sensitive to Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water. With focused coherent messaging combined with information regarding access to SBM (G), we were able to make several households consenting, to build and use toilets – our bit of contribution in achieving and realizing national sanitation targets.

REEDS believes that Rural Entrepreneurship is key for accelerating economic growth and entrepreneurship can be cultivated through proper training and connectivity to resources and sustained support systyems. During the year REEDS carried Rural Entrepreneurship Development Campaigns in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh and Adilabad District of Telangana. The program covered 48 Blocks. The focus of the campaign has been on enhancing financial literacy enabling to have better access to credit and financial, skills development, technical and marketing services apart from awareness on various developmental schemes for improving rural livelihoods especially among women and youth.

Skills Development

Considering Digital India is, by far, the most potent opportunity for the transformation of India by empowering nearly one billion rural Indians with advanced skills and the latest digital tools, enabling them to “leapfrog” into the Digital Age, as part of the series of conferences on Life Skills and Livelihood Skills, REEDS together with LSLSI, is gearing up to host the fourth of the conference series, SKILLS2017. To provide impetus to the ongoing Digital India programme that has potential to transform rural agricultural economies, the theme ‘Leveraging Digital India for Rural Empowerment for a Digital India’, was chosen.

SKILLS2017 would be organized jointly by REEDS and LSLSI and scheduled to be held on 16-17 November 2017 in Hyderabad in association with Telangana Academy for Skills and Knowledge, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Telangana.

LSLSI conferences have always been broadly supported by government, NGOs, universities, and private companies from around the world. Speakers included senior government and corporate officials, academics and social and business entrepreneurs from India, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries. Conference series have had a privilege of 30+ distinguished academicians, practitioners and professionals representing 13 countries to be on the respective International Advisory Committees guiding and advising the conferences.

We do expect SKILLS2017 with a diverse group of knowledgeable and committed stakeholders would provide a set of specific, constructive proposals to help achieve the Digital India program objective and propose supportive solutions for India’s digital empowerment.

A purposeful interaction took place during October with Dr. Richard Oliver and his team at American Sentinel University in Denver, USA, who have been our constant mentors and partners in our rural empowerment efforts. They helped us to firm-up the road map for the ensuing SKILLS2017 international conference. We greatly appreciate Dr. Richard Oliver, his team and American Sentinel University for their continual support, consenting to associate with SKILLS2017 and above all Dr. Oliver consenting to Chair the Conference.

Recognition

While we were reminiscing Mahatma Gandhi’s perception and his longing to make sanitation a priority for India in our Sanitation & Hygiene endevours, we had a pleasant surprise in store on his 148th birth day on 2nd October 2016! REEDS named as winner in 'Water Warrior' category of the India Today Safaigiri Awards 2016. The award was presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development, Aishwarya Rai, Popular Indian Actress and winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant and Aroon Purie, Editor-in-chief of India Today at the awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 2, 2016.

REEDS was chosen for this prestigious award in acknowledgement of its development of a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain filtration systems for those who rely on surface water for their drinking water needs and for the drinking water needs during

calamities as well as of small and remote communities.

We are both proud and excited to have this significant honor that boosts our inspiration in our bit of work to realize Clean India. We consider the Water Warrior Award as recognition to the outstanding team work and dedication of TEAM REEDS. In this context the efforts and support of two individuals needs to be specially accredited - Mr. Sudhir Paul, the founder member of REEDS and an expert in the design, development and management of Safe Drinking Water Treatment units, who first conceptualized the idea and Mr. DLV Sridhar, member of REEDS Advisory Council and a generous philanthropist who extended financial support in introducing the first-of-its-kind mobile drinking water treatment unit.

Board of Governors

In the 27th Annual General Meeting held on 29th June 2016, re-elected all the outgoing Board of Governors for a further period of two years i.e. until the 29th Annual General Meeting. We wish to place on record our appreciation and gratitude the members of the Board of Governors for providing valuable guidance in realizing the organizational goals.

Financial overview

Revenues for the year 2016-17 have been Rs. 10.276 million, a decrease of 30.25 % when compared to earlier year. Though the revenues were at par with those of earlier year in respect of other programs, the decrease is mainly attributable to the reduced contributions (36.12%) and lesser revenues of Skills Development endeavours (64.22 %).

Primarily due to excess expenditure than the revenues in Project Zero Open Defecation, the year had witnessed a deficit of Rs. 1.023 million income over

06

expenditure. However, this deficiency would not be deterring our commitment towards rural empowerment cause and shall endeavor to better the financial status.

Going forward

Looking back at 2016-17, it has been a year where we could deliver programs towards creating an actionable difference amidst challenges. We look forward to 2017-18 with more confidence and experience for higher operational growth, more adaptive to external situations, building stronger processes within programmes and create long term partnerships to have a larger outreach.

Acknowledgments

We remain committed to the rural empowerment cause and this perseverance of working is only made possible by valuable support and advice of many people and their trust in what we do. We take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Society, committed team within REEDS, leadership, Advisors and a wide range of partners, donors, and other organizations for their continued support. We thank our Bankers - Karnataka Bank and Bank of Baroda, for their cooperation. To take our cause further to make the change we count on your continued support.

Dr. Ravi K ReddySecretary

Hyderabad, 1 September 2017

I am happy to present our 28th Annual Report 2016-17. During the year, we have had purposeful achievements at REEDS and there were challenges too. The year saw REEDS continuing its interventions to empower and ensure change in the quality of rural life.

ProgramsFocus areas of REEDS programs during the year have been primarily across - Sanitation & Hygiene; Monitoring & Evaluations; and Education & Awareness.

Sanitation & Hygiene

Documenting SKILLS2015 insights to disrupt the sanitation status quo

We were proud of the results of the SKILLS2015 conference held in November 2015. One step beyond

the conference that we believe REEDS along with LSLSI can take is to provide the compelling insights of the conference, along with the benefit of two years of reflection, in a book that succinctly, clearly and forcefully puts forward the argument for disruption of India's sanitation status quo.

Dr. Kodela Siva Prasad Rao, Speaker - Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament; Mr. Dan Coholan, Vice Chairman, RBC Wealth Management, Canada; Dr. Hemnath Rao H, Senior Professor and Dean, Development Management Institute, Patna, India; Prof. Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organization,

Singapore; Dr. Ravi K Reddy, Secretary, REEDS, India; and Dr. Richard W. Oliver, Founder and CEO, American Sentinel University, USA - all of them who have made stupendous contributions to the sanitation cause have consented to join us in this important task with their respective disquisitions

We expect the book would be ready and planning to schedule for release sometime in June 2017 as an eBook and in a print edition.

Conceptualization SKILLS2015 recommendations on Sanitation Education and Extension Services

As a way forward to realize possible solutions in the

critical area of skills development for a Clean India,

REEDS is endeavoring to conceptualize two of the

recommendations –

1) Establishing an apex State level Sanitation & Hygiene Training, Research and Development Institute in Public Private and International Partnerships in Andhra Pradesh with a focus to integrate sanitation issues with educational and training curriculum for grooming sanitation professionals and also to carry research;

2) Establishing a dedicated extension arm [Sanitation Extension Services] for the Clean India Mission to percolate down to the target households and communities, emanated from the SKILLS2015 International Conference to the government and other relevant agencies for their consideration.

We at REEDS trust that the outcomes of the initiative add a wing to the ongoing Clean India Mission.

Project Zero Open Defecation

We feel proud, despite challenges, to have led close to 1000 (200 households) rural populace with toilets at home during the year that help them with improved health and a greater sense of dignity through Project

Zero Open Defecation [PZOD], one of our current initiatives in furthering 'Clean India Mission' in association with ASV Resources. PZOD is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Together we aim to reaching out to 4,000 homes and some 20,000 residents in 11 villages in Kuppam, the assembly constituency of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, to make them totally open defecation free.

In this regard, we had also put a film together along with LSLSI on the transformational change in behaviors from the age old sanitation practices we could bring in among the communities. We feel delighted for many accolades on the film.

Monitoring & Evaluations

Rural Development Programs monitoring

As an institutional national level monitoring agency to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, we were assigned with 4 districts in Maharashtra, 2 districts in Odisha and 4 districts in Tamilnadu for regular monitoring of its major programs aimed at enhancing rural lives and livelihoods during the year.

This assignment has given us an opportunity to visit

100 villages and understand the aspects including the awareness and involvement of the communities, reach of programs, implementation environment, community involvement and the role of local body institutions of these salient rural welfare programs.

We find fulfillment for being part of the monitoring process aimed to strengthen and ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the rural development programs that target one-third of country’s population with a significant allocation of funds!

Open Defecation Free status under SBM (G) verification

We feel privileged to be one of the 29 Institutional National Level Monitors identified by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India to

assess the impact and sustainability of sanitation promotion in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages under Swachh Bharat Mission in the country.

During the year, REEDS carried verification of ODF status under SBM-G in 45 villages under Namami Gange Districts in Murshidabad District of West Bengal during February 2017.

Associating with monitoring of two flagship programs - provision of safe drinking water and improved sanitation in rural areas of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation is certainly a significant addition for REEDS in realizing its organizational Mission.

Educational Support

Though modest, one of the most fulfilling activities during the year was proffering financial support to a deserving child to continue her education. It is delighting to know that the girl child has secured over 90% in her IV standard.

Education & Awareness

Triggering awareness and positive behavioral changes among rural communities has always been an important intervention of REEDS.

Awareness, sensitization and motivation of rural

communities on hygiene & sanitation, safe drinking water and livelihood opportunities without doubt have phenomenal impact on their lives and livelihoods. REEDS during the year had carried various Education and Awareness Programs among rural communities for enhancing their knowledge regarding safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation. The objective has been to create awareness. sensitization and empowering communities to manage water and sanitation systems on protection and conservation of drinking water sources, safe handling of drinking water; trigger behavior change among individuals, families and communities to adopt improved health and hygiene practices and create awareness and demand for community participation.

The campaigns covered over 10000 households spread across in close to 50 Blocks in 4 Districts – Kadapa, Kurnool, SPSR Nellore and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh with the financial and motivational support of groups of diverse individuals sensitive to Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water. With focused coherent messaging combined with information regarding access to SBM (G), we were able to make several households consenting, to build and use toilets – our bit of contribution in achieving and realizing national sanitation targets.

REEDS believes that Rural Entrepreneurship is key for accelerating economic growth and entrepreneurship can be cultivated through proper training and connectivity to resources and sustained support systyems. During the year REEDS carried Rural Entrepreneurship Development Campaigns in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh and Adilabad District of Telangana. The program covered 48 Blocks. The focus of the campaign has been on enhancing financial literacy enabling to have better access to credit and financial, skills development, technical and marketing services apart from awareness on various developmental schemes for improving rural livelihoods especially among women and youth.

Skills Development

Considering Digital India is, by far, the most potent opportunity for the transformation of India by empowering nearly one billion rural Indians with advanced skills and the latest digital tools, enabling them to “leapfrog” into the Digital Age, as part of the series of conferences on Life Skills and Livelihood Skills, REEDS together with LSLSI, is gearing up to host the fourth of the conference series, SKILLS2017. To provide impetus to the ongoing Digital India programme that has potential to transform rural agricultural economies, the theme ‘Leveraging Digital India for Rural Empowerment for a Digital India’, was chosen.

SKILLS2017 would be organized jointly by REEDS and LSLSI and scheduled to be held on 16-17 November 2017 in Hyderabad in association with Telangana Academy for Skills and Knowledge, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Telangana.

LSLSI conferences have always been broadly supported by government, NGOs, universities, and private companies from around the world. Speakers included senior government and corporate officials, academics and social and business entrepreneurs from India, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries. Conference series have had a privilege of 30+ distinguished academicians, practitioners and professionals representing 13 countries to be on the respective International Advisory Committees guiding and advising the conferences.

We do expect SKILLS2017 with a diverse group of knowledgeable and committed stakeholders would provide a set of specific, constructive proposals to help achieve the Digital India program objective and propose supportive solutions for India’s digital empowerment.

A purposeful interaction took place during October with Dr. Richard Oliver and his team at American Sentinel University in Denver, USA, who have been our constant mentors and partners in our rural empowerment efforts. They helped us to firm-up the road map for the ensuing SKILLS2017 international conference. We greatly appreciate Dr. Richard Oliver, his team and American Sentinel University for their continual support, consenting to associate with SKILLS2017 and above all Dr. Oliver consenting to Chair the Conference.

Recognition

While we were reminiscing Mahatma Gandhi’s perception and his longing to make sanitation a priority for India in our Sanitation & Hygiene endevours, we had a pleasant surprise in store on his 148th birth day on 2nd October 2016! REEDS named as winner in 'Water Warrior' category of the India Today Safaigiri Awards 2016. The award was presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development, Aishwarya Rai, Popular Indian Actress and winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant and Aroon Purie, Editor-in-chief of India Today at the awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 2, 2016.

REEDS was chosen for this prestigious award in acknowledgement of its development of a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain filtration systems for those who rely on surface water for their drinking water needs and for the drinking water needs during

calamities as well as of small and remote communities.

We are both proud and excited to have this significant honor that boosts our inspiration in our bit of work to realize Clean India. We consider the Water Warrior Award as recognition to the outstanding team work and dedication of TEAM REEDS. In this context the efforts and support of two individuals needs to be specially accredited - Mr. Sudhir Paul, the founder member of REEDS and an expert in the design, development and management of Safe Drinking Water Treatment units, who first conceptualized the idea and Mr. DLV Sridhar, member of REEDS Advisory Council and a generous philanthropist who extended financial support in introducing the first-of-its-kind mobile drinking water treatment unit.

Board of Governors

In the 27th Annual General Meeting held on 29th June 2016, re-elected all the outgoing Board of Governors for a further period of two years i.e. until the 29th Annual General Meeting. We wish to place on record our appreciation and gratitude the members of the Board of Governors for providing valuable guidance in realizing the organizational goals.

Financial overview

Revenues for the year 2016-17 have been Rs. 10.276 million, a decrease of 30.25 % when compared to earlier year. Though the revenues were at par with those of earlier year in respect of other programs, the decrease is mainly attributable to the reduced contributions (36.12%) and lesser revenues of Skills Development endeavours (64.22 %).

Primarily due to excess expenditure than the revenues in Project Zero Open Defecation, the year had witnessed a deficit of Rs. 1.023 million income over

07

expenditure. However, this deficiency would not be deterring our commitment towards rural empowerment cause and shall endeavor to better the financial status.

Going forward

Looking back at 2016-17, it has been a year where we could deliver programs towards creating an actionable difference amidst challenges. We look forward to 2017-18 with more confidence and experience for higher operational growth, more adaptive to external situations, building stronger processes within programmes and create long term partnerships to have a larger outreach.

Acknowledgments

We remain committed to the rural empowerment cause and this perseverance of working is only made possible by valuable support and advice of many people and their trust in what we do. We take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Society, committed team within REEDS, leadership, Advisors and a wide range of partners, donors, and other organizations for their continued support. We thank our Bankers - Karnataka Bank and Bank of Baroda, for their cooperation. To take our cause further to make the change we count on your continued support.

Dr. Ravi K ReddySecretary

Hyderabad, 1 September 2017

I am happy to present our 28th Annual Report 2016-17. During the year, we have had purposeful achievements at REEDS and there were challenges too. The year saw REEDS continuing its interventions to empower and ensure change in the quality of rural life.

ProgramsFocus areas of REEDS programs during the year have been primarily across - Sanitation & Hygiene; Monitoring & Evaluations; and Education & Awareness.

Sanitation & Hygiene

Documenting SKILLS2015 insights to disrupt the sanitation status quo

We were proud of the results of the SKILLS2015 conference held in November 2015. One step beyond

the conference that we believe REEDS along with LSLSI can take is to provide the compelling insights of the conference, along with the benefit of two years of reflection, in a book that succinctly, clearly and forcefully puts forward the argument for disruption of India's sanitation status quo.

Dr. Kodela Siva Prasad Rao, Speaker - Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament; Mr. Dan Coholan, Vice Chairman, RBC Wealth Management, Canada; Dr. Hemnath Rao H, Senior Professor and Dean, Development Management Institute, Patna, India; Prof. Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organization,

Singapore; Dr. Ravi K Reddy, Secretary, REEDS, India; and Dr. Richard W. Oliver, Founder and CEO, American Sentinel University, USA - all of them who have made stupendous contributions to the sanitation cause have consented to join us in this important task with their respective disquisitions

We expect the book would be ready and planning to schedule for release sometime in June 2017 as an eBook and in a print edition.

Conceptualization SKILLS2015 recommendations on Sanitation Education and Extension Services

As a way forward to realize possible solutions in the

critical area of skills development for a Clean India,

REEDS is endeavoring to conceptualize two of the

recommendations –

1) Establishing an apex State level Sanitation & Hygiene Training, Research and Development Institute in Public Private and International Partnerships in Andhra Pradesh with a focus to integrate sanitation issues with educational and training curriculum for grooming sanitation professionals and also to carry research;

2) Establishing a dedicated extension arm [Sanitation Extension Services] for the Clean India Mission to percolate down to the target households and communities, emanated from the SKILLS2015 International Conference to the government and other relevant agencies for their consideration.

We at REEDS trust that the outcomes of the initiative add a wing to the ongoing Clean India Mission.

Project Zero Open Defecation

We feel proud, despite challenges, to have led close to 1000 (200 households) rural populace with toilets at home during the year that help them with improved health and a greater sense of dignity through Project

Zero Open Defecation [PZOD], one of our current initiatives in furthering 'Clean India Mission' in association with ASV Resources. PZOD is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Together we aim to reaching out to 4,000 homes and some 20,000 residents in 11 villages in Kuppam, the assembly constituency of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, to make them totally open defecation free.

In this regard, we had also put a film together along with LSLSI on the transformational change in behaviors from the age old sanitation practices we could bring in among the communities. We feel delighted for many accolades on the film.

Monitoring & Evaluations

Rural Development Programs monitoring

As an institutional national level monitoring agency to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, we were assigned with 4 districts in Maharashtra, 2 districts in Odisha and 4 districts in Tamilnadu for regular monitoring of its major programs aimed at enhancing rural lives and livelihoods during the year.

This assignment has given us an opportunity to visit

100 villages and understand the aspects including the awareness and involvement of the communities, reach of programs, implementation environment, community involvement and the role of local body institutions of these salient rural welfare programs.

We find fulfillment for being part of the monitoring process aimed to strengthen and ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the rural development programs that target one-third of country’s population with a significant allocation of funds!

Open Defecation Free status under SBM (G) verification

We feel privileged to be one of the 29 Institutional National Level Monitors identified by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India to

assess the impact and sustainability of sanitation promotion in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages under Swachh Bharat Mission in the country.

During the year, REEDS carried verification of ODF status under SBM-G in 45 villages under Namami Gange Districts in Murshidabad District of West Bengal during February 2017.

Associating with monitoring of two flagship programs - provision of safe drinking water and improved sanitation in rural areas of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation is certainly a significant addition for REEDS in realizing its organizational Mission.

Educational Support

Though modest, one of the most fulfilling activities during the year was proffering financial support to a deserving child to continue her education. It is delighting to know that the girl child has secured over 90% in her IV standard.

Education & Awareness

Triggering awareness and positive behavioral changes among rural communities has always been an important intervention of REEDS.

Awareness, sensitization and motivation of rural

communities on hygiene & sanitation, safe drinking water and livelihood opportunities without doubt have phenomenal impact on their lives and livelihoods. REEDS during the year had carried various Education and Awareness Programs among rural communities for enhancing their knowledge regarding safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation. The objective has been to create awareness. sensitization and empowering communities to manage water and sanitation systems on protection and conservation of drinking water sources, safe handling of drinking water; trigger behavior change among individuals, families and communities to adopt improved health and hygiene practices and create awareness and demand for community participation.

The campaigns covered over 10000 households spread across in close to 50 Blocks in 4 Districts – Kadapa, Kurnool, SPSR Nellore and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh with the financial and motivational support of groups of diverse individuals sensitive to Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water. With focused coherent messaging combined with information regarding access to SBM (G), we were able to make several households consenting, to build and use toilets – our bit of contribution in achieving and realizing national sanitation targets.

REEDS believes that Rural Entrepreneurship is key for accelerating economic growth and entrepreneurship can be cultivated through proper training and connectivity to resources and sustained support systyems. During the year REEDS carried Rural Entrepreneurship Development Campaigns in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh and Adilabad District of Telangana. The program covered 48 Blocks. The focus of the campaign has been on enhancing financial literacy enabling to have better access to credit and financial, skills development, technical and marketing services apart from awareness on various developmental schemes for improving rural livelihoods especially among women and youth.

Skills Development

Considering Digital India is, by far, the most potent opportunity for the transformation of India by empowering nearly one billion rural Indians with advanced skills and the latest digital tools, enabling them to “leapfrog” into the Digital Age, as part of the series of conferences on Life Skills and Livelihood Skills, REEDS together with LSLSI, is gearing up to host the fourth of the conference series, SKILLS2017. To provide impetus to the ongoing Digital India programme that has potential to transform rural agricultural economies, the theme ‘Leveraging Digital India for Rural Empowerment for a Digital India’, was chosen.

SKILLS2017 would be organized jointly by REEDS and LSLSI and scheduled to be held on 16-17 November 2017 in Hyderabad in association with Telangana Academy for Skills and Knowledge, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Telangana.

LSLSI conferences have always been broadly supported by government, NGOs, universities, and private companies from around the world. Speakers included senior government and corporate officials, academics and social and business entrepreneurs from India, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries. Conference series have had a privilege of 30+ distinguished academicians, practitioners and professionals representing 13 countries to be on the respective International Advisory Committees guiding and advising the conferences.

We do expect SKILLS2017 with a diverse group of knowledgeable and committed stakeholders would provide a set of specific, constructive proposals to help achieve the Digital India program objective and propose supportive solutions for India’s digital empowerment.

A purposeful interaction took place during October with Dr. Richard Oliver and his team at American Sentinel University in Denver, USA, who have been our constant mentors and partners in our rural empowerment efforts. They helped us to firm-up the road map for the ensuing SKILLS2017 international conference. We greatly appreciate Dr. Richard Oliver, his team and American Sentinel University for their continual support, consenting to associate with SKILLS2017 and above all Dr. Oliver consenting to Chair the Conference.

Recognition

While we were reminiscing Mahatma Gandhi’s perception and his longing to make sanitation a priority for India in our Sanitation & Hygiene endevours, we had a pleasant surprise in store on his 148th birth day on 2nd October 2016! REEDS named as winner in 'Water Warrior' category of the India Today Safaigiri Awards 2016. The award was presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development, Aishwarya Rai, Popular Indian Actress and winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant and Aroon Purie, Editor-in-chief of India Today at the awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 2, 2016.

REEDS was chosen for this prestigious award in acknowledgement of its development of a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain filtration systems for those who rely on surface water for their drinking water needs and for the drinking water needs during

calamities as well as of small and remote communities.

We are both proud and excited to have this significant honor that boosts our inspiration in our bit of work to realize Clean India. We consider the Water Warrior Award as recognition to the outstanding team work and dedication of TEAM REEDS. In this context the efforts and support of two individuals needs to be specially accredited - Mr. Sudhir Paul, the founder member of REEDS and an expert in the design, development and management of Safe Drinking Water Treatment units, who first conceptualized the idea and Mr. DLV Sridhar, member of REEDS Advisory Council and a generous philanthropist who extended financial support in introducing the first-of-its-kind mobile drinking water treatment unit.

Board of Governors

In the 27th Annual General Meeting held on 29th June 2016, re-elected all the outgoing Board of Governors for a further period of two years i.e. until the 29th Annual General Meeting. We wish to place on record our appreciation and gratitude the members of the Board of Governors for providing valuable guidance in realizing the organizational goals.

Financial overview

Revenues for the year 2016-17 have been Rs. 10.276 million, a decrease of 30.25 % when compared to earlier year. Though the revenues were at par with those of earlier year in respect of other programs, the decrease is mainly attributable to the reduced contributions (36.12%) and lesser revenues of Skills Development endeavours (64.22 %).

Primarily due to excess expenditure than the revenues in Project Zero Open Defecation, the year had witnessed a deficit of Rs. 1.023 million income over

08

expenditure. However, this deficiency would not be deterring our commitment towards rural empowerment cause and shall endeavor to better the financial status.

Going forward

Looking back at 2016-17, it has been a year where we could deliver programs towards creating an actionable difference amidst challenges. We look forward to 2017-18 with more confidence and experience for higher operational growth, more adaptive to external situations, building stronger processes within programmes and create long term partnerships to have a larger outreach.

Acknowledgments

We remain committed to the rural empowerment cause and this perseverance of working is only made possible by valuable support and advice of many people and their trust in what we do. We take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Society, committed team within REEDS, leadership, Advisors and a wide range of partners, donors, and other organizations for their continued support. We thank our Bankers - Karnataka Bank and Bank of Baroda, for their cooperation. To take our cause further to make the change we count on your continued support.

Dr. Ravi K ReddySecretary

Hyderabad, 1 September 2017

I am happy to present our 28th Annual Report 2016-17. During the year, we have had purposeful achievements at REEDS and there were challenges too. The year saw REEDS continuing its interventions to empower and ensure change in the quality of rural life.

ProgramsFocus areas of REEDS programs during the year have been primarily across - Sanitation & Hygiene; Monitoring & Evaluations; and Education & Awareness.

Sanitation & Hygiene

Documenting SKILLS2015 insights to disrupt the sanitation status quo

We were proud of the results of the SKILLS2015 conference held in November 2015. One step beyond

the conference that we believe REEDS along with LSLSI can take is to provide the compelling insights of the conference, along with the benefit of two years of reflection, in a book that succinctly, clearly and forcefully puts forward the argument for disruption of India's sanitation status quo.

Dr. Kodela Siva Prasad Rao, Speaker - Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament; Mr. Dan Coholan, Vice Chairman, RBC Wealth Management, Canada; Dr. Hemnath Rao H, Senior Professor and Dean, Development Management Institute, Patna, India; Prof. Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organization,

Singapore; Dr. Ravi K Reddy, Secretary, REEDS, India; and Dr. Richard W. Oliver, Founder and CEO, American Sentinel University, USA - all of them who have made stupendous contributions to the sanitation cause have consented to join us in this important task with their respective disquisitions

We expect the book would be ready and planning to schedule for release sometime in June 2017 as an eBook and in a print edition.

Conceptualization SKILLS2015 recommendations on Sanitation Education and Extension Services

As a way forward to realize possible solutions in the

critical area of skills development for a Clean India,

REEDS is endeavoring to conceptualize two of the

recommendations –

1) Establishing an apex State level Sanitation & Hygiene Training, Research and Development Institute in Public Private and International Partnerships in Andhra Pradesh with a focus to integrate sanitation issues with educational and training curriculum for grooming sanitation professionals and also to carry research;

2) Establishing a dedicated extension arm [Sanitation Extension Services] for the Clean India Mission to percolate down to the target households and communities, emanated from the SKILLS2015 International Conference to the government and other relevant agencies for their consideration.

We at REEDS trust that the outcomes of the initiative add a wing to the ongoing Clean India Mission.

Project Zero Open Defecation

We feel proud, despite challenges, to have led close to 1000 (200 households) rural populace with toilets at home during the year that help them with improved health and a greater sense of dignity through Project

Zero Open Defecation [PZOD], one of our current initiatives in furthering 'Clean India Mission' in association with ASV Resources. PZOD is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Together we aim to reaching out to 4,000 homes and some 20,000 residents in 11 villages in Kuppam, the assembly constituency of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, to make them totally open defecation free.

In this regard, we had also put a film together along with LSLSI on the transformational change in behaviors from the age old sanitation practices we could bring in among the communities. We feel delighted for many accolades on the film.

Monitoring & Evaluations

Rural Development Programs monitoring

As an institutional national level monitoring agency to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, we were assigned with 4 districts in Maharashtra, 2 districts in Odisha and 4 districts in Tamilnadu for regular monitoring of its major programs aimed at enhancing rural lives and livelihoods during the year.

This assignment has given us an opportunity to visit

100 villages and understand the aspects including the awareness and involvement of the communities, reach of programs, implementation environment, community involvement and the role of local body institutions of these salient rural welfare programs.

We find fulfillment for being part of the monitoring process aimed to strengthen and ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the rural development programs that target one-third of country’s population with a significant allocation of funds!

Open Defecation Free status under SBM (G) verification

We feel privileged to be one of the 29 Institutional National Level Monitors identified by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India to

assess the impact and sustainability of sanitation promotion in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages under Swachh Bharat Mission in the country.

During the year, REEDS carried verification of ODF status under SBM-G in 45 villages under Namami Gange Districts in Murshidabad District of West Bengal during February 2017.

Associating with monitoring of two flagship programs - provision of safe drinking water and improved sanitation in rural areas of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation is certainly a significant addition for REEDS in realizing its organizational Mission.

Educational Support

Though modest, one of the most fulfilling activities during the year was proffering financial support to a deserving child to continue her education. It is delighting to know that the girl child has secured over 90% in her IV standard.

Education & Awareness

Triggering awareness and positive behavioral changes among rural communities has always been an important intervention of REEDS.

Awareness, sensitization and motivation of rural

communities on hygiene & sanitation, safe drinking water and livelihood opportunities without doubt have phenomenal impact on their lives and livelihoods. REEDS during the year had carried various Education and Awareness Programs among rural communities for enhancing their knowledge regarding safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation. The objective has been to create awareness. sensitization and empowering communities to manage water and sanitation systems on protection and conservation of drinking water sources, safe handling of drinking water; trigger behavior change among individuals, families and communities to adopt improved health and hygiene practices and create awareness and demand for community participation.

The campaigns covered over 10000 households spread across in close to 50 Blocks in 4 Districts – Kadapa, Kurnool, SPSR Nellore and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh with the financial and motivational support of groups of diverse individuals sensitive to Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water. With focused coherent messaging combined with information regarding access to SBM (G), we were able to make several households consenting, to build and use toilets – our bit of contribution in achieving and realizing national sanitation targets.

REEDS believes that Rural Entrepreneurship is key for accelerating economic growth and entrepreneurship can be cultivated through proper training and connectivity to resources and sustained support systyems. During the year REEDS carried Rural Entrepreneurship Development Campaigns in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh and Adilabad District of Telangana. The program covered 48 Blocks. The focus of the campaign has been on enhancing financial literacy enabling to have better access to credit and financial, skills development, technical and marketing services apart from awareness on various developmental schemes for improving rural livelihoods especially among women and youth.

Skills Development

Considering Digital India is, by far, the most potent opportunity for the transformation of India by empowering nearly one billion rural Indians with advanced skills and the latest digital tools, enabling them to “leapfrog” into the Digital Age, as part of the series of conferences on Life Skills and Livelihood Skills, REEDS together with LSLSI, is gearing up to host the fourth of the conference series, SKILLS2017. To provide impetus to the ongoing Digital India programme that has potential to transform rural agricultural economies, the theme ‘Leveraging Digital India for Rural Empowerment for a Digital India’, was chosen.

SKILLS2017 would be organized jointly by REEDS and LSLSI and scheduled to be held on 16-17 November 2017 in Hyderabad in association with Telangana Academy for Skills and Knowledge, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Telangana.

LSLSI conferences have always been broadly supported by government, NGOs, universities, and private companies from around the world. Speakers included senior government and corporate officials, academics and social and business entrepreneurs from India, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries. Conference series have had a privilege of 30+ distinguished academicians, practitioners and professionals representing 13 countries to be on the respective International Advisory Committees guiding and advising the conferences.

We do expect SKILLS2017 with a diverse group of knowledgeable and committed stakeholders would provide a set of specific, constructive proposals to help achieve the Digital India program objective and propose supportive solutions for India’s digital empowerment.

A purposeful interaction took place during October with Dr. Richard Oliver and his team at American Sentinel University in Denver, USA, who have been our constant mentors and partners in our rural empowerment efforts. They helped us to firm-up the road map for the ensuing SKILLS2017 international conference. We greatly appreciate Dr. Richard Oliver, his team and American Sentinel University for their continual support, consenting to associate with SKILLS2017 and above all Dr. Oliver consenting to Chair the Conference.

Recognition

While we were reminiscing Mahatma Gandhi’s perception and his longing to make sanitation a priority for India in our Sanitation & Hygiene endevours, we had a pleasant surprise in store on his 148th birth day on 2nd October 2016! REEDS named as winner in 'Water Warrior' category of the India Today Safaigiri Awards 2016. The award was presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development, Aishwarya Rai, Popular Indian Actress and winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant and Aroon Purie, Editor-in-chief of India Today at the awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 2, 2016.

REEDS was chosen for this prestigious award in acknowledgement of its development of a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain filtration systems for those who rely on surface water for their drinking water needs and for the drinking water needs during

calamities as well as of small and remote communities.

We are both proud and excited to have this significant honor that boosts our inspiration in our bit of work to realize Clean India. We consider the Water Warrior Award as recognition to the outstanding team work and dedication of TEAM REEDS. In this context the efforts and support of two individuals needs to be specially accredited - Mr. Sudhir Paul, the founder member of REEDS and an expert in the design, development and management of Safe Drinking Water Treatment units, who first conceptualized the idea and Mr. DLV Sridhar, member of REEDS Advisory Council and a generous philanthropist who extended financial support in introducing the first-of-its-kind mobile drinking water treatment unit.

Board of Governors

In the 27th Annual General Meeting held on 29th June 2016, re-elected all the outgoing Board of Governors for a further period of two years i.e. until the 29th Annual General Meeting. We wish to place on record our appreciation and gratitude the members of the Board of Governors for providing valuable guidance in realizing the organizational goals.

Financial overview

Revenues for the year 2016-17 have been Rs. 10.276 million, a decrease of 30.25 % when compared to earlier year. Though the revenues were at par with those of earlier year in respect of other programs, the decrease is mainly attributable to the reduced contributions (36.12%) and lesser revenues of Skills Development endeavours (64.22 %).

Primarily due to excess expenditure than the revenues in Project Zero Open Defecation, the year had witnessed a deficit of Rs. 1.023 million income over

09

expenditure. However, this deficiency would not be deterring our commitment towards rural empowerment cause and shall endeavor to better the financial status.

Going forward

Looking back at 2016-17, it has been a year where we could deliver programs towards creating an actionable difference amidst challenges. We look forward to 2017-18 with more confidence and experience for higher operational growth, more adaptive to external situations, building stronger processes within programmes and create long term partnerships to have a larger outreach.

Acknowledgments

We remain committed to the rural empowerment cause and this perseverance of working is only made possible by valuable support and advice of many people and their trust in what we do. We take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Society, committed team within REEDS, leadership, Advisors and a wide range of partners, donors, and other organizations for their continued support. We thank our Bankers - Karnataka Bank and Bank of Baroda, for their cooperation. To take our cause further to make the change we count on your continued support.

Dr. Ravi K ReddySecretary

Hyderabad, 1 September 2017

I am happy to present our 28th Annual Report 2016-17. During the year, we have had purposeful achievements at REEDS and there were challenges too. The year saw REEDS continuing its interventions to empower and ensure change in the quality of rural life.

ProgramsFocus areas of REEDS programs during the year have been primarily across - Sanitation & Hygiene; Monitoring & Evaluations; and Education & Awareness.

Sanitation & Hygiene

Documenting SKILLS2015 insights to disrupt the sanitation status quo

We were proud of the results of the SKILLS2015 conference held in November 2015. One step beyond

the conference that we believe REEDS along with LSLSI can take is to provide the compelling insights of the conference, along with the benefit of two years of reflection, in a book that succinctly, clearly and forcefully puts forward the argument for disruption of India's sanitation status quo.

Dr. Kodela Siva Prasad Rao, Speaker - Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament; Mr. Dan Coholan, Vice Chairman, RBC Wealth Management, Canada; Dr. Hemnath Rao H, Senior Professor and Dean, Development Management Institute, Patna, India; Prof. Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organization,

Singapore; Dr. Ravi K Reddy, Secretary, REEDS, India; and Dr. Richard W. Oliver, Founder and CEO, American Sentinel University, USA - all of them who have made stupendous contributions to the sanitation cause have consented to join us in this important task with their respective disquisitions

We expect the book would be ready and planning to schedule for release sometime in June 2017 as an eBook and in a print edition.

Conceptualization SKILLS2015 recommendations on Sanitation Education and Extension Services

As a way forward to realize possible solutions in the

critical area of skills development for a Clean India,

REEDS is endeavoring to conceptualize two of the

recommendations –

1) Establishing an apex State level Sanitation & Hygiene Training, Research and Development Institute in Public Private and International Partnerships in Andhra Pradesh with a focus to integrate sanitation issues with educational and training curriculum for grooming sanitation professionals and also to carry research;

2) Establishing a dedicated extension arm [Sanitation Extension Services] for the Clean India Mission to percolate down to the target households and communities, emanated from the SKILLS2015 International Conference to the government and other relevant agencies for their consideration.

We at REEDS trust that the outcomes of the initiative add a wing to the ongoing Clean India Mission.

Project Zero Open Defecation

We feel proud, despite challenges, to have led close to 1000 (200 households) rural populace with toilets at home during the year that help them with improved health and a greater sense of dignity through Project

Zero Open Defecation [PZOD], one of our current initiatives in furthering 'Clean India Mission' in association with ASV Resources. PZOD is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Together we aim to reaching out to 4,000 homes and some 20,000 residents in 11 villages in Kuppam, the assembly constituency of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, to make them totally open defecation free.

In this regard, we had also put a film together along with LSLSI on the transformational change in behaviors from the age old sanitation practices we could bring in among the communities. We feel delighted for many accolades on the film.

Monitoring & Evaluations

Rural Development Programs monitoring

As an institutional national level monitoring agency to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, we were assigned with 4 districts in Maharashtra, 2 districts in Odisha and 4 districts in Tamilnadu for regular monitoring of its major programs aimed at enhancing rural lives and livelihoods during the year.

This assignment has given us an opportunity to visit

100 villages and understand the aspects including the awareness and involvement of the communities, reach of programs, implementation environment, community involvement and the role of local body institutions of these salient rural welfare programs.

We find fulfillment for being part of the monitoring process aimed to strengthen and ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the rural development programs that target one-third of country’s population with a significant allocation of funds!

Open Defecation Free status under SBM (G) verification

We feel privileged to be one of the 29 Institutional National Level Monitors identified by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India to

assess the impact and sustainability of sanitation promotion in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages under Swachh Bharat Mission in the country.

During the year, REEDS carried verification of ODF status under SBM-G in 45 villages under Namami Gange Districts in Murshidabad District of West Bengal during February 2017.

Associating with monitoring of two flagship programs - provision of safe drinking water and improved sanitation in rural areas of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation is certainly a significant addition for REEDS in realizing its organizational Mission.

Educational Support

Though modest, one of the most fulfilling activities during the year was proffering financial support to a deserving child to continue her education. It is delighting to know that the girl child has secured over 90% in her IV standard.

Education & Awareness

Triggering awareness and positive behavioral changes among rural communities has always been an important intervention of REEDS.

Awareness, sensitization and motivation of rural

communities on hygiene & sanitation, safe drinking water and livelihood opportunities without doubt have phenomenal impact on their lives and livelihoods. REEDS during the year had carried various Education and Awareness Programs among rural communities for enhancing their knowledge regarding safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation. The objective has been to create awareness. sensitization and empowering communities to manage water and sanitation systems on protection and conservation of drinking water sources, safe handling of drinking water; trigger behavior change among individuals, families and communities to adopt improved health and hygiene practices and create awareness and demand for community participation.

The campaigns covered over 10000 households spread across in close to 50 Blocks in 4 Districts – Kadapa, Kurnool, SPSR Nellore and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh with the financial and motivational support of groups of diverse individuals sensitive to Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water. With focused coherent messaging combined with information regarding access to SBM (G), we were able to make several households consenting, to build and use toilets – our bit of contribution in achieving and realizing national sanitation targets.

REEDS believes that Rural Entrepreneurship is key for accelerating economic growth and entrepreneurship can be cultivated through proper training and connectivity to resources and sustained support systyems. During the year REEDS carried Rural Entrepreneurship Development Campaigns in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh and Adilabad District of Telangana. The program covered 48 Blocks. The focus of the campaign has been on enhancing financial literacy enabling to have better access to credit and financial, skills development, technical and marketing services apart from awareness on various developmental schemes for improving rural livelihoods especially among women and youth.

Skills Development

Considering Digital India is, by far, the most potent opportunity for the transformation of India by empowering nearly one billion rural Indians with advanced skills and the latest digital tools, enabling them to “leapfrog” into the Digital Age, as part of the series of conferences on Life Skills and Livelihood Skills, REEDS together with LSLSI, is gearing up to host the fourth of the conference series, SKILLS2017. To provide impetus to the ongoing Digital India programme that has potential to transform rural agricultural economies, the theme ‘Leveraging Digital India for Rural Empowerment for a Digital India’, was chosen.

SKILLS2017 would be organized jointly by REEDS and LSLSI and scheduled to be held on 16-17 November 2017 in Hyderabad in association with Telangana Academy for Skills and Knowledge, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Telangana.

LSLSI conferences have always been broadly supported by government, NGOs, universities, and private companies from around the world. Speakers included senior government and corporate officials, academics and social and business entrepreneurs from India, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries. Conference series have had a privilege of 30+ distinguished academicians, practitioners and professionals representing 13 countries to be on the respective International Advisory Committees guiding and advising the conferences.

We do expect SKILLS2017 with a diverse group of knowledgeable and committed stakeholders would provide a set of specific, constructive proposals to help achieve the Digital India program objective and propose supportive solutions for India’s digital empowerment.

A purposeful interaction took place during October with Dr. Richard Oliver and his team at American Sentinel University in Denver, USA, who have been our constant mentors and partners in our rural empowerment efforts. They helped us to firm-up the road map for the ensuing SKILLS2017 international conference. We greatly appreciate Dr. Richard Oliver, his team and American Sentinel University for their continual support, consenting to associate with SKILLS2017 and above all Dr. Oliver consenting to Chair the Conference.

Recognition

While we were reminiscing Mahatma Gandhi’s perception and his longing to make sanitation a priority for India in our Sanitation & Hygiene endevours, we had a pleasant surprise in store on his 148th birth day on 2nd October 2016! REEDS named as winner in 'Water Warrior' category of the India Today Safaigiri Awards 2016. The award was presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development, Aishwarya Rai, Popular Indian Actress and winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant and Aroon Purie, Editor-in-chief of India Today at the awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 2, 2016.

REEDS was chosen for this prestigious award in acknowledgement of its development of a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain filtration systems for those who rely on surface water for their drinking water needs and for the drinking water needs during

calamities as well as of small and remote communities.

We are both proud and excited to have this significant honor that boosts our inspiration in our bit of work to realize Clean India. We consider the Water Warrior Award as recognition to the outstanding team work and dedication of TEAM REEDS. In this context the efforts and support of two individuals needs to be specially accredited - Mr. Sudhir Paul, the founder member of REEDS and an expert in the design, development and management of Safe Drinking Water Treatment units, who first conceptualized the idea and Mr. DLV Sridhar, member of REEDS Advisory Council and a generous philanthropist who extended financial support in introducing the first-of-its-kind mobile drinking water treatment unit.

Board of Governors

In the 27th Annual General Meeting held on 29th June 2016, re-elected all the outgoing Board of Governors for a further period of two years i.e. until the 29th Annual General Meeting. We wish to place on record our appreciation and gratitude the members of the Board of Governors for providing valuable guidance in realizing the organizational goals.

Financial overview

Revenues for the year 2016-17 have been Rs. 10.276 million, a decrease of 30.25 % when compared to earlier year. Though the revenues were at par with those of earlier year in respect of other programs, the decrease is mainly attributable to the reduced contributions (36.12%) and lesser revenues of Skills Development endeavours (64.22 %).

Primarily due to excess expenditure than the revenues in Project Zero Open Defecation, the year had witnessed a deficit of Rs. 1.023 million income over

10

expenditure. However, this deficiency would not be deterring our commitment towards rural empowerment cause and shall endeavor to better the financial status.

Going forward

Looking back at 2016-17, it has been a year where we could deliver programs towards creating an actionable difference amidst challenges. We look forward to 2017-18 with more confidence and experience for higher operational growth, more adaptive to external situations, building stronger processes within programmes and create long term partnerships to have a larger outreach.

Acknowledgments

We remain committed to the rural empowerment cause and this perseverance of working is only made possible by valuable support and advice of many people and their trust in what we do. We take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Society, committed team within REEDS, leadership, Advisors and a wide range of partners, donors, and other organizations for their continued support. We thank our Bankers - Karnataka Bank and Bank of Baroda, for their cooperation. To take our cause further to make the change we count on your continued support.

Dr. Ravi K ReddySecretary

Hyderabad, 1 September 2017

I am happy to present our 28th Annual Report 2016-17. During the year, we have had purposeful achievements at REEDS and there were challenges too. The year saw REEDS continuing its interventions to empower and ensure change in the quality of rural life.

ProgramsFocus areas of REEDS programs during the year have been primarily across - Sanitation & Hygiene; Monitoring & Evaluations; and Education & Awareness.

Sanitation & Hygiene

Documenting SKILLS2015 insights to disrupt the sanitation status quo

We were proud of the results of the SKILLS2015 conference held in November 2015. One step beyond

the conference that we believe REEDS along with LSLSI can take is to provide the compelling insights of the conference, along with the benefit of two years of reflection, in a book that succinctly, clearly and forcefully puts forward the argument for disruption of India's sanitation status quo.

Dr. Kodela Siva Prasad Rao, Speaker - Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament; Mr. Dan Coholan, Vice Chairman, RBC Wealth Management, Canada; Dr. Hemnath Rao H, Senior Professor and Dean, Development Management Institute, Patna, India; Prof. Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organization,

Singapore; Dr. Ravi K Reddy, Secretary, REEDS, India; and Dr. Richard W. Oliver, Founder and CEO, American Sentinel University, USA - all of them who have made stupendous contributions to the sanitation cause have consented to join us in this important task with their respective disquisitions

We expect the book would be ready and planning to schedule for release sometime in June 2017 as an eBook and in a print edition.

Conceptualization SKILLS2015 recommendations on Sanitation Education and Extension Services

As a way forward to realize possible solutions in the

critical area of skills development for a Clean India,

REEDS is endeavoring to conceptualize two of the

recommendations –

1) Establishing an apex State level Sanitation & Hygiene Training, Research and Development Institute in Public Private and International Partnerships in Andhra Pradesh with a focus to integrate sanitation issues with educational and training curriculum for grooming sanitation professionals and also to carry research;

2) Establishing a dedicated extension arm [Sanitation Extension Services] for the Clean India Mission to percolate down to the target households and communities, emanated from the SKILLS2015 International Conference to the government and other relevant agencies for their consideration.

We at REEDS trust that the outcomes of the initiative add a wing to the ongoing Clean India Mission.

Project Zero Open Defecation

We feel proud, despite challenges, to have led close to 1000 (200 households) rural populace with toilets at home during the year that help them with improved health and a greater sense of dignity through Project

Zero Open Defecation [PZOD], one of our current initiatives in furthering 'Clean India Mission' in association with ASV Resources. PZOD is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Together we aim to reaching out to 4,000 homes and some 20,000 residents in 11 villages in Kuppam, the assembly constituency of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, to make them totally open defecation free.

In this regard, we had also put a film together along with LSLSI on the transformational change in behaviors from the age old sanitation practices we could bring in among the communities. We feel delighted for many accolades on the film.

Monitoring & Evaluations

Rural Development Programs monitoring

As an institutional national level monitoring agency to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, we were assigned with 4 districts in Maharashtra, 2 districts in Odisha and 4 districts in Tamilnadu for regular monitoring of its major programs aimed at enhancing rural lives and livelihoods during the year.

This assignment has given us an opportunity to visit

100 villages and understand the aspects including the awareness and involvement of the communities, reach of programs, implementation environment, community involvement and the role of local body institutions of these salient rural welfare programs.

We find fulfillment for being part of the monitoring process aimed to strengthen and ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the rural development programs that target one-third of country’s population with a significant allocation of funds!

Open Defecation Free status under SBM (G) verification

We feel privileged to be one of the 29 Institutional National Level Monitors identified by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India to

assess the impact and sustainability of sanitation promotion in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages under Swachh Bharat Mission in the country.

During the year, REEDS carried verification of ODF status under SBM-G in 45 villages under Namami Gange Districts in Murshidabad District of West Bengal during February 2017.

Associating with monitoring of two flagship programs - provision of safe drinking water and improved sanitation in rural areas of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation is certainly a significant addition for REEDS in realizing its organizational Mission.

Educational Support

Though modest, one of the most fulfilling activities during the year was proffering financial support to a deserving child to continue her education. It is delighting to know that the girl child has secured over 90% in her IV standard.

Education & Awareness

Triggering awareness and positive behavioral changes among rural communities has always been an important intervention of REEDS.

Awareness, sensitization and motivation of rural

communities on hygiene & sanitation, safe drinking water and livelihood opportunities without doubt have phenomenal impact on their lives and livelihoods. REEDS during the year had carried various Education and Awareness Programs among rural communities for enhancing their knowledge regarding safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation. The objective has been to create awareness. sensitization and empowering communities to manage water and sanitation systems on protection and conservation of drinking water sources, safe handling of drinking water; trigger behavior change among individuals, families and communities to adopt improved health and hygiene practices and create awareness and demand for community participation.

The campaigns covered over 10000 households spread across in close to 50 Blocks in 4 Districts – Kadapa, Kurnool, SPSR Nellore and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh with the financial and motivational support of groups of diverse individuals sensitive to Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water. With focused coherent messaging combined with information regarding access to SBM (G), we were able to make several households consenting, to build and use toilets – our bit of contribution in achieving and realizing national sanitation targets.

REEDS believes that Rural Entrepreneurship is key for accelerating economic growth and entrepreneurship can be cultivated through proper training and connectivity to resources and sustained support systyems. During the year REEDS carried Rural Entrepreneurship Development Campaigns in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh and Adilabad District of Telangana. The program covered 48 Blocks. The focus of the campaign has been on enhancing financial literacy enabling to have better access to credit and financial, skills development, technical and marketing services apart from awareness on various developmental schemes for improving rural livelihoods especially among women and youth.

Skills Development

Considering Digital India is, by far, the most potent opportunity for the transformation of India by empowering nearly one billion rural Indians with advanced skills and the latest digital tools, enabling them to “leapfrog” into the Digital Age, as part of the series of conferences on Life Skills and Livelihood Skills, REEDS together with LSLSI, is gearing up to host the fourth of the conference series, SKILLS2017. To provide impetus to the ongoing Digital India programme that has potential to transform rural agricultural economies, the theme ‘Leveraging Digital India for Rural Empowerment for a Digital India’, was chosen.

SKILLS2017 would be organized jointly by REEDS and LSLSI and scheduled to be held on 16-17 November 2017 in Hyderabad in association with Telangana Academy for Skills and Knowledge, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Telangana.

LSLSI conferences have always been broadly supported by government, NGOs, universities, and private companies from around the world. Speakers included senior government and corporate officials, academics and social and business entrepreneurs from India, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries. Conference series have had a privilege of 30+ distinguished academicians, practitioners and professionals representing 13 countries to be on the respective International Advisory Committees guiding and advising the conferences.

We do expect SKILLS2017 with a diverse group of knowledgeable and committed stakeholders would provide a set of specific, constructive proposals to help achieve the Digital India program objective and propose supportive solutions for India’s digital empowerment.

A purposeful interaction took place during October with Dr. Richard Oliver and his team at American Sentinel University in Denver, USA, who have been our constant mentors and partners in our rural empowerment efforts. They helped us to firm-up the road map for the ensuing SKILLS2017 international conference. We greatly appreciate Dr. Richard Oliver, his team and American Sentinel University for their continual support, consenting to associate with SKILLS2017 and above all Dr. Oliver consenting to Chair the Conference.

Recognition

While we were reminiscing Mahatma Gandhi’s perception and his longing to make sanitation a priority for India in our Sanitation & Hygiene endevours, we had a pleasant surprise in store on his 148th birth day on 2nd October 2016! REEDS named as winner in 'Water Warrior' category of the India Today Safaigiri Awards 2016. The award was presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development, Aishwarya Rai, Popular Indian Actress and winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant and Aroon Purie, Editor-in-chief of India Today at the awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 2, 2016.

REEDS was chosen for this prestigious award in acknowledgement of its development of a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain filtration systems for those who rely on surface water for their drinking water needs and for the drinking water needs during

calamities as well as of small and remote communities.

We are both proud and excited to have this significant honor that boosts our inspiration in our bit of work to realize Clean India. We consider the Water Warrior Award as recognition to the outstanding team work and dedication of TEAM REEDS. In this context the efforts and support of two individuals needs to be specially accredited - Mr. Sudhir Paul, the founder member of REEDS and an expert in the design, development and management of Safe Drinking Water Treatment units, who first conceptualized the idea and Mr. DLV Sridhar, member of REEDS Advisory Council and a generous philanthropist who extended financial support in introducing the first-of-its-kind mobile drinking water treatment unit.

Board of Governors

In the 27th Annual General Meeting held on 29th June 2016, re-elected all the outgoing Board of Governors for a further period of two years i.e. until the 29th Annual General Meeting. We wish to place on record our appreciation and gratitude the members of the Board of Governors for providing valuable guidance in realizing the organizational goals.

Financial overview

Revenues for the year 2016-17 have been Rs. 10.276 million, a decrease of 30.25 % when compared to earlier year. Though the revenues were at par with those of earlier year in respect of other programs, the decrease is mainly attributable to the reduced contributions (36.12%) and lesser revenues of Skills Development endeavours (64.22 %).

Primarily due to excess expenditure than the revenues in Project Zero Open Defecation, the year had witnessed a deficit of Rs. 1.023 million income over

expenditure. However, this deficiency would not be deterring our commitment towards rural empowerment cause and shall endeavor to better the financial status.

Going forward

Looking back at 2016-17, it has been a year where we could deliver programs towards creating an actionable difference amidst challenges. We look forward to 2017-18 with more confidence and experience for higher operational growth, more adaptive to external situations, building stronger processes within programmes and create long term partnerships to have a larger outreach.

Acknowledgments

We remain committed to the rural empowerment cause and this perseverance of working is only made possible by valuable support and advice of many people and their trust in what we do. We take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Society, committed team within REEDS, leadership, Advisors and a wide range of partners, donors, and other organizations for their continued support. We thank our Bankers - Karnataka Bank and Bank of Baroda, for their cooperation. To take our cause further to make the change we count on your continued support.

Dr. Ravi K ReddySecretary

Hyderabad, 1 September 2017

11

I am happy to present our 28th Annual Report 2016-17. During the year, we have had purposeful achievements at REEDS and there were challenges too. The year saw REEDS continuing its interventions to empower and ensure change in the quality of rural life.

ProgramsFocus areas of REEDS programs during the year have been primarily across - Sanitation & Hygiene; Monitoring & Evaluations; and Education & Awareness.

Sanitation & Hygiene

Documenting SKILLS2015 insights to disrupt the sanitation status quo

We were proud of the results of the SKILLS2015 conference held in November 2015. One step beyond

the conference that we believe REEDS along with LSLSI can take is to provide the compelling insights of the conference, along with the benefit of two years of reflection, in a book that succinctly, clearly and forcefully puts forward the argument for disruption of India's sanitation status quo.

Dr. Kodela Siva Prasad Rao, Speaker - Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament; Mr. Dan Coholan, Vice Chairman, RBC Wealth Management, Canada; Dr. Hemnath Rao H, Senior Professor and Dean, Development Management Institute, Patna, India; Prof. Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organization,

Singapore; Dr. Ravi K Reddy, Secretary, REEDS, India; and Dr. Richard W. Oliver, Founder and CEO, American Sentinel University, USA - all of them who have made stupendous contributions to the sanitation cause have consented to join us in this important task with their respective disquisitions

We expect the book would be ready and planning to schedule for release sometime in June 2017 as an eBook and in a print edition.

Conceptualization SKILLS2015 recommendations on Sanitation Education and Extension Services

As a way forward to realize possible solutions in the

critical area of skills development for a Clean India,

REEDS is endeavoring to conceptualize two of the

recommendations –

1) Establishing an apex State level Sanitation & Hygiene Training, Research and Development Institute in Public Private and International Partnerships in Andhra Pradesh with a focus to integrate sanitation issues with educational and training curriculum for grooming sanitation professionals and also to carry research;

2) Establishing a dedicated extension arm [Sanitation Extension Services] for the Clean India Mission to percolate down to the target households and communities, emanated from the SKILLS2015 International Conference to the government and other relevant agencies for their consideration.

We at REEDS trust that the outcomes of the initiative add a wing to the ongoing Clean India Mission.

Project Zero Open Defecation

We feel proud, despite challenges, to have led close to 1000 (200 households) rural populace with toilets at home during the year that help them with improved health and a greater sense of dignity through Project

Zero Open Defecation [PZOD], one of our current initiatives in furthering 'Clean India Mission' in association with ASV Resources. PZOD is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Together we aim to reaching out to 4,000 homes and some 20,000 residents in 11 villages in Kuppam, the assembly constituency of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, to make them totally open defecation free.

In this regard, we had also put a film together along with LSLSI on the transformational change in behaviors from the age old sanitation practices we could bring in among the communities. We feel delighted for many accolades on the film.

Monitoring & Evaluations

Rural Development Programs monitoring

As an institutional national level monitoring agency to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, we were assigned with 4 districts in Maharashtra, 2 districts in Odisha and 4 districts in Tamilnadu for regular monitoring of its major programs aimed at enhancing rural lives and livelihoods during the year.

This assignment has given us an opportunity to visit

100 villages and understand the aspects including the awareness and involvement of the communities, reach of programs, implementation environment, community involvement and the role of local body institutions of these salient rural welfare programs.

We find fulfillment for being part of the monitoring process aimed to strengthen and ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the rural development programs that target one-third of country’s population with a significant allocation of funds!

Open Defecation Free status under SBM (G) verification

We feel privileged to be one of the 29 Institutional National Level Monitors identified by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India to

Financials

assess the impact and sustainability of sanitation promotion in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages under Swachh Bharat Mission in the country.

During the year, REEDS carried verification of ODF status under SBM-G in 45 villages under Namami Gange Districts in Murshidabad District of West Bengal during February 2017.

Associating with monitoring of two flagship programs - provision of safe drinking water and improved sanitation in rural areas of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation is certainly a significant addition for REEDS in realizing its organizational Mission.

Educational Support

Though modest, one of the most fulfilling activities during the year was proffering financial support to a deserving child to continue her education. It is delighting to know that the girl child has secured over 90% in her IV standard.

Education & Awareness

Triggering awareness and positive behavioral changes among rural communities has always been an important intervention of REEDS.

Awareness, sensitization and motivation of rural

communities on hygiene & sanitation, safe drinking water and livelihood opportunities without doubt have phenomenal impact on their lives and livelihoods. REEDS during the year had carried various Education and Awareness Programs among rural communities for enhancing their knowledge regarding safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation. The objective has been to create awareness. sensitization and empowering communities to manage water and sanitation systems on protection and conservation of drinking water sources, safe handling of drinking water; trigger behavior change among individuals, families and communities to adopt improved health and hygiene practices and create awareness and demand for community participation.

The campaigns covered over 10000 households spread across in close to 50 Blocks in 4 Districts – Kadapa, Kurnool, SPSR Nellore and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh with the financial and motivational support of groups of diverse individuals sensitive to Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water. With focused coherent messaging combined with information regarding access to SBM (G), we were able to make several households consenting, to build and use toilets – our bit of contribution in achieving and realizing national sanitation targets.

REEDS believes that Rural Entrepreneurship is key for accelerating economic growth and entrepreneurship can be cultivated through proper training and connectivity to resources and sustained support systyems. During the year REEDS carried Rural Entrepreneurship Development Campaigns in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh and Adilabad District of Telangana. The program covered 48 Blocks. The focus of the campaign has been on enhancing financial literacy enabling to have better access to credit and financial, skills development, technical and marketing services apart from awareness on various developmental schemes for improving rural livelihoods especially among women and youth.

Skills Development

Considering Digital India is, by far, the most potent opportunity for the transformation of India by empowering nearly one billion rural Indians with advanced skills and the latest digital tools, enabling them to “leapfrog” into the Digital Age, as part of the series of conferences on Life Skills and Livelihood Skills, REEDS together with LSLSI, is gearing up to host the fourth of the conference series, SKILLS2017. To provide impetus to the ongoing Digital India programme that has potential to transform rural agricultural economies, the theme ‘Leveraging Digital India for Rural Empowerment for a Digital India’, was chosen.

SKILLS2017 would be organized jointly by REEDS and LSLSI and scheduled to be held on 16-17 November 2017 in Hyderabad in association with Telangana Academy for Skills and Knowledge, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Telangana.

LSLSI conferences have always been broadly supported by government, NGOs, universities, and private companies from around the world. Speakers included senior government and corporate officials, academics and social and business entrepreneurs from India, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries. Conference series have had a privilege of 30+ distinguished academicians, practitioners and professionals representing 13 countries to be on the respective International Advisory Committees guiding and advising the conferences.

We do expect SKILLS2017 with a diverse group of knowledgeable and committed stakeholders would provide a set of specific, constructive proposals to help achieve the Digital India program objective and propose supportive solutions for India’s digital empowerment.

A purposeful interaction took place during October with Dr. Richard Oliver and his team at American Sentinel University in Denver, USA, who have been our constant mentors and partners in our rural empowerment efforts. They helped us to firm-up the road map for the ensuing SKILLS2017 international conference. We greatly appreciate Dr. Richard Oliver, his team and American Sentinel University for their continual support, consenting to associate with SKILLS2017 and above all Dr. Oliver consenting to Chair the Conference.

Recognition

While we were reminiscing Mahatma Gandhi’s perception and his longing to make sanitation a priority for India in our Sanitation & Hygiene endevours, we had a pleasant surprise in store on his 148th birth day on 2nd October 2016! REEDS named as winner in 'Water Warrior' category of the India Today Safaigiri Awards 2016. The award was presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development, Aishwarya Rai, Popular Indian Actress and winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant and Aroon Purie, Editor-in-chief of India Today at the awards ceremony in New Delhi on October 2, 2016.

REEDS was chosen for this prestigious award in acknowledgement of its development of a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain filtration systems for those who rely on surface water for their drinking water needs and for the drinking water needs during

calamities as well as of small and remote communities.

We are both proud and excited to have this significant honor that boosts our inspiration in our bit of work to realize Clean India. We consider the Water Warrior Award as recognition to the outstanding team work and dedication of TEAM REEDS. In this context the efforts and support of two individuals needs to be specially accredited - Mr. Sudhir Paul, the founder member of REEDS and an expert in the design, development and management of Safe Drinking Water Treatment units, who first conceptualized the idea and Mr. DLV Sridhar, member of REEDS Advisory Council and a generous philanthropist who extended financial support in introducing the first-of-its-kind mobile drinking water treatment unit.

Board of Governors

In the 27th Annual General Meeting held on 29th June 2016, re-elected all the outgoing Board of Governors for a further period of two years i.e. until the 29th Annual General Meeting. We wish to place on record our appreciation and gratitude the members of the Board of Governors for providing valuable guidance in realizing the organizational goals.

Financial overview

Revenues for the year 2016-17 have been Rs. 10.276 million, a decrease of 30.25 % when compared to earlier year. Though the revenues were at par with those of earlier year in respect of other programs, the decrease is mainly attributable to the reduced contributions (36.12%) and lesser revenues of Skills Development endeavours (64.22 %).

Primarily due to excess expenditure than the revenues in Project Zero Open Defecation, the year had witnessed a deficit of Rs. 1.023 million income over

Summarized from Accounts audited by M. Sainath & Associates, Chartered Accountants for even period.

Income

Income from Projects & Programs

Other Income

Total Income

Expenditure

Expenses on Projects & Programs

Finance Costs

Depreciation

Administrative Expenses

Total Expenses

Net (Deficit) Surplus

8.029

2.247

10.276

9.622

0.537

0.240

0.900

11.299

(1,023)

11.530

3.202

14.732

13.022

0.565

0.246

0.789

14.622

(0.110)

Statement of Income and Expenditure

Particulars

31.03.2017 31.03.2016

Amount in ` millions

Funds & Liabilities

Corpus Fund & Surplus

Non-Current liabilities

Current liabilities

Total

Properties & Assets

Non-Current Assets

Current Assets

Total

2.064

1.965

5.867

9.896

0.348

9.548

9.896

3.086

1.704

4.251

9.041

0.580

8.461

9.041

Balance Sheet

Particulars

31.03.2017 31.03.2016

Amount in ` millions

12

expenditure. However, this deficiency would not be deterring our commitment towards rural empowerment cause and shall endeavor to better the financial status.

Going forward

Looking back at 2016-17, it has been a year where we could deliver programs towards creating an actionable difference amidst challenges. We look forward to 2017-18 with more confidence and experience for higher operational growth, more adaptive to external situations, building stronger processes within programmes and create long term partnerships to have a larger outreach.

Acknowledgments

We remain committed to the rural empowerment cause and this perseverance of working is only made possible by valuable support and advice of many people and their trust in what we do. We take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Society, committed team within REEDS, leadership, Advisors and a wide range of partners, donors, and other organizations for their continued support. We thank our Bankers - Karnataka Bank and Bank of Baroda, for their cooperation. To take our cause further to make the change we count on your continued support.

Dr. Ravi K ReddySecretary

Hyderabad, 1 September 2017

Partners

REEDS believe in working in partnership with those who

have identical vision and motivations for leveraging

resources and effect change that reach to rural communities.

REEDS is privileged to collaborate with some of the most

committed national and international organizations.

American Sentinel University, a leading online university

with a focus on health care education located in Colorado,

USA.

Amrita University, No.1 ranked private university in India.

APITCO Limited - a premier technical consulting

organization promoted by all-India financial institutions

and government industrial development agencies.

ASV Resources, a premier professional training

organization involved in skilling construction workers in

co-operation with Government of Singapore.

CHARLTON BROWN, a leading Australian community care

training provider.

Give2Asia, an American Community development charity.

Life Skills and Livelihood International.

The Foundation of Goodness, a Sri Lankan NGO working

to uplift the lives of rural communities.

13

Mr. Hari Prasad Babu CH

Dr. Hemnath Rao H

Mr. Krishna Mohan Reddy P

Mr. Kushil Gunasekhara

Ms. Rashmi Venkatarama

Dr. Richard Oliver

Dr. Sadamate VV

Mr. Satheesh A

Mr. Suresh Kumar

Dr. Venku Reddy S

Mr. Vinayaka Rao T

Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Government of

India

Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

Participatory Rural Development Initiatives Society

The support – financial or otherwise received from various individuals, organizations and governmental agencies who believe

in our mission, has made it possible whatever we have done during the year. REEDS specially acknowledge the support from:

14

C-206, Vijaya Hills, 11-4-646, AC Guards, Hyderabad 500 004Telephone: +40 2339 7141, Telefax: +40 2339 2221E-mail: inforeeds@gmail.com Web: www.reeds.in