Sir Ratan Tata’s Vision · 2019-09-11 · SIR RATAN TATA TRUST • ANNUAL REPORT 2006-2007 1 Overview 2006 - 2007 An Overview The year that was: During 2006-07, the Trust completed

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His thoughts, in 1913, on the manner in which the Trust’s funds could be used:

“… for the advancement of Education, Learning and Industry in all its branches, including education in economy, sanitary services and art, or for the relief of human suffering or for other works of public utility….

“To engage qualified and competent persons to investigate into matters that pertain to the social, economic or political welfare of the Indian community, the object being to design schemes of a practical nature calculated to promote the welfare of the said community,

care being taken that such work is not undertaken from the stereotyped point of view but from the point of view of fresh light that is thrown from day to day by the advance of science and philosophy on problems of human well-being…

Further, he also directed that:

“No experiment and no venture should be aided or undertaken unless the scheme thereof is carefully prepared…”

“No institution or organisation should be aided of which the accounts are not subject to periodic audits and are not regularly issued and which would not be open to inspection and examination…”

Sir Ratan Tata’s Vision

Vision

Sir Ratan and Lady Navajbai Tata.

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Board of Trustees Mr. Ratan N. Tata (Chairperson)

Mr. H. N. Sethna

Mr. N. A. Soonawala

Mr. J. N. Tata

Mr. K. B. Dadiseth

Mr. R. K. Krishna Kumar

Ms. S. K. Bharucha

Secretary & Chief Accountant Mr. Hoshang D. Malesra

Programmes Manager Mr. Arun Pandhi

Statutory Auditors Mr. Dilip J. Thakkar M/s Jayantilal Thakkar & Co. Chartered Accountants

Internal Auditors M/s C. C. Chokshi & Co. Chartered Accountants

Solicitor s Mr. Jehangir N. Mistry, Partner M/s Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe

Our Bankers American Express Bank, Fort, Mumbai State Bank of India, Main, Mumbai ICICI Bank, Fort, Mumbai Standard Chartered Bank, Fort, Mumbai Bank of Baroda, Fort, Mumbai HDFC Bank, Fort, Mumbai

Sir Ratan Tata Trust

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Of Days Gone By...

Our founder, Sir Ratan Tata was an ardent lover of arts and culture. His passion for collecting works

of art during his travels world-wide is well known, most of which adorned the stately properties

that were to be his homes during his lifetime. This article focuses on one such palatial property in

England.

In 1906, Sir Ratan, who spent considerable periods of time in England, purchased a majestic mansion

in Twickenham, a suburb in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, South West London,

from the Duc d’Orleans, for a then princely sum of £ 16,000. Believed to have been built during the

early 17th century and the birth place of Queen Anne of England in 1665, it was a traditional red brick

structure, set in its own grounds, with a French chateau frontage. Called ‘York House’, this became

the residence of Sir Ratan and his wife, Lady Navajbai during their stay in England.

With his artistic zeal knowing no bounds, Sir Ratan is said to have spent another £ 20,000 in turning

the 12 acres of grounds into a beautiful landscaped garden. With various treasures of art, this piece

of property was a veritable treasure emporium. Subsequently, Sir Ratan purchased and installed a

collection of fine Carrara marble statues from Witley Park, an estate in Surrey. These statues had

Reflections

York House, Twickenham, circa 1910.

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been earlier imported from Italy by a financier; but unfortunately, lay in disuse within its packing

cases. “Sir Ratan Tata wrote to us about doing a lot of interesting work in his garden…he wanted us

to make a good rock garden. He had bought a lot of white marble statuary which lay in a heap at

Witley and we had to go down there and see it and arrange to get it to Twickenham”…wrote Earnest

Cheal of the firm J Cheal & Sons, that played a major role in adding to the grandeur of the gardens

at York House.

Sir Ratan’s charitable disposition came to fore during his stay at York House, when its grounds were

made available for fetes and charity bazaars. Visitors during those years included General Baden-

Powell, who met up with Sir Ratan in 1911, with the idea of starting the Scouting movement. Besides,

it was during his stay in York House that Sir Ratan came to be associated with Gopal Krishna Gokhale,

subsequently supporting the latter’s Servants of India Society. Incidentally, Gokhale, on a visit to

London, had suffered a heart attack and subsequently convalesced at York House during the spring

and early summer of 1914. Also, during his stay here, Sir Ratan lent support to Mahatma Gandhi, who

was in the midst of his passive resistance campaign in Natal, South Africa, for improving the lot of

Indians settled there. Sir Ratan was the first Indian to help finance Gandhi’s movement and he did

so on several occasions with substantial sums, starting November 1909.

At a tea party hosted by Sir Ratan Tata in July 1914 at the stately York House lawns.

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Reflections

Sir Ratan and Lady Navajbai hosted many lavish parties at York House and as historians note, “the

long path alongside the splendid lawns of York House would be dotted with stately carriages of their

guests”. In July 1914, a few weeks before the outbreak of World War 1, the couple hosted one of

those enormous ‘Edwardian’ garden parties. Historians note, “Some 1,500 guests came, the weather

was most felicitous and the grounds charming. The glitterati and cognoscenti were out in force,

including the Maharaja of Baroda, the Earl and Countess of Mar, the Marquis of Downshire, the Earl

of Dysart, General Sir Robert and Lady Baden-Powell (not on scouting business this time), the Greek

Ambassador, and many others. These distinguished guests took great interest in Sir Ratan’s museum,

with the entire house and grounds open for inspection”.

A month later, Britain was at war and Sir Ratan and Lady Navajbai returned to India. In 1916, he took

ill and returned to England for treatment. With his health deteriorating further, Sir Ratan was moved

from York House to St. Ives in Cornwall, where he died on September 5, 1918.

Lady Navajbai lived on in York House after Sir Ratan passed away, until 1922, when she decided to

return to India. Subsequently, she handed over his art collection, valued at Rs. 500,000, (a princely

sum in those days), to the Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay, as per Sir Ratan’s directives. A press

report of 1918 (written shortly after Sir Ratan’s demise) mentions, “Not only was the interior of York

House largely rearranged by Sir Ratan, but a splendid French dining room was built on the site of what

was known as the china room. This is a fine spacious apartment, lightly and delicately decorated and

furnished, containing two splendid pieces of Beauvais tapestry, as well as some Indian silverware

and exquisite specimens of craftsmanship”.1

With the agreement of the Trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, (with Lady Navajbai as Chairperson),

York House was put up for sale. It was acquired by the Twickenham Urban District Council (UDC) in

1924 for £ 20,500 and subjected to major alterations to become Council Offices. The new Council

Chamber for the Twickenham Corporation was formally opened by the then Duke of York (later King

George VI) in 1926.

The Trust wishes to thank the Tata Central Archives, Pune, for its inputs

1 T.H.R. Cashmore (1990); Borough of Twickenham Local History Society; Occasional Paper No. 4; York House, Twickenham.

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An Overview: 2006 - 2007 ............................................................................................... 1

Institutional Grants

Programme Grants

Rural Livelihoods and Communities ................................... 11

Education ............................................................................ 54

Health .................................................................................. 70

Enhancing Civil Society and Governance .......................... 84

Arts and Culture .................................................................. 96

Endowment Grants ............................................................................................102

Small Grant Programme ............................................................................................104

Individual Grants ........................................................................................... 123

Financial Highlights ........................................................................................... 130

Guidelines for grant applicants ........................................................................................... 132

Contents

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Overview 2006 - 2007

An Overview

The year that was:

During 2006-07, the Trust completed its fifth year of activities based on the Strategic Plan 2006 (SP

2006). The total disbursals made by the Trust during the year touched an all time high, rising to Rs.

601.59 million (US $ 14.32 million), a 3% increase over the previous year and 18% over 2004-05.

Disbursals of Rs. 360.58 million (US $ 8.58 million) were made on all programme grants during the year.

North Gujarat Initiative: Multicropping - Pomegranate and watermelons being cultivated using drip irrigation in Kumbhasan village, Banaskantha district, Gujarat.

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Know your city: A bioscope is innovatively used as an effective tool to educate these young children at a Bal Viviha organised in Kolkata by Comet Media Foundation.

Endowment grant disbursals totalled up to Rs. 100 million (US $ 2.38 million). Small grants touched

Rs. 26.56 million (US $ 0.63 million). Thirty nine new programme grants, one endowment grant and

fifty five new small grants were added to the Trust’s portfolio during the year. The total disbursals to

individuals were Rs. 114.45 million (US $ 2.73 million), a decrease of 9% over the previous year.

Details of grant disbursals: 2006-2007

Type of grant Rs. in million US$ in million

Institution: Programme grants 360.58 8.58

Institution: Endowment grants 100.00 2.38

Institution: Small grants 26.56 0.63

Individual grants 114.45 2.73

Total 601.59 14.32

Rs. 10 million is Rs. 1 crore; 1 US $ is approximately equal to Rs. 42

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The following are some of the key achievements and areas of engagement during 2006-07.

• The financial year 2006-07 marked the fifth and final year of activities under Strategic Plan 2006,

which is the Trust’s five year guiding document. Whilst implementing the recommendations of

the same, the Trust has made concerted efforts towards up-scaling various initiatives. 62% of

the total disbursals were made within the thematic area of Rural Livelihoods and Communities

(RLC), where the Central India Initiative (CInI), which focuses on enhancing livelihoods of tribals

in central India and Himmothan Pariyojana, which is the Trust’s Himalayan rural development

initiative, accounted for 43% and 18% of RLC disbursals respectively.

• During the year, the Trust commissioned a comprehensive review of its efforts over the

past five years within its RLC portfolio, as a key step towards the preparation of its Strategic

Plan 2011 (SP – 2011), which would be the guiding light behind its grant making efforts

over a five year period, beginning with the fiscal 2007-08. The review team was led by

Dr. R.S. Tolia (Chief Information Commissioner, Uttarakhand and former Chief Secretary,

Government of Uttarakhand) and ably assisted by Professor Tushaar Shah (Advisor to the

Director General, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo and former Team

Leader of the IWMI-Tata Water Policy Research Programme, Anand) and Dr. Y.C. Nanda

(Ex - Chairman, NABARD).

• During the year, the CInI Cell endeavoured to pilot CInI to a higher realm, whilst taking the learnings

to a wider orbit of government and donor agencies. It developed strategic documents for the

states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, which

showcase specific, tested strategies that could be adopted whilst conceptualizing livelihood

projects in these states. During the year, under CInI, five new livelihood projects in Jharkhand,

Orissa, Rajasthan and MP were operationalised.

• Under Kharash Vistarotthan Yojana (KVY), the Trust’s coastal salinity initiative in Gujarat, the Coastal

Salinity Prevention Cell (CSPC) continued its focus as a nodal agency to assist the Government

of Gujarat, the Trust and its partners in coordinating and focusing efforts to mitigate salinity.

During the year, the Trust sanctioned a new project, enabling CSPC to implement enhanced

water resources management measures at Medha Creek in Porbandar Taluka, Porbandar district,

Gujarat and Nicole Bandhara in Mahua Taluka, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat.

• Within Himmothan Pariyojana, the operationalisation of the Himmothan Cell in Dehradun in

September 2006, was the most significant development within the year. The year also saw

the operationalisation of the second phase of support to Centre for Organic Farming (COF-I),

Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB), Dehradun. Besides, PHASE 2 within the component

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focusing on improving community health through drinking water and sanitation projects was

also operationalised through planning phase grants.

• Under Phase II of the initiative ‘Reviving the Green Revolution’, which aims to tackle the

stagnation in agriculture in Punjab by encouraging diversification, the Trust operationalised three

new projects with the Department of Agriculture (DoA), Government of Punjab, besides one

new project with the Directorate of Extension Education (DoEE), Punjab Agricultural University

(PAU). The year was crucial for the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme on cotton,

which was upscaled successfully within 112 districts of Punjab by the DoA. The focus during

the year was also on the PAU’s efforts to disseminate improved production technologies

and techniques for Basmati and Groundnut, thereby popularizing diversified options and leading

to reduced pressure on groundwater.

• Under Sakh Se Vikas – Rajasthan Microfinance Initiative, the Centre for microFinance (CmF),

seeded by the Trust, collaboratively with the concerned citizens and Government of Rajasthan,

in June 2005, was registered as a separate institution during the year under review. The Trust

also operationalised new phases in Alwar and Dungapur districts of Rajasthan, through grants


In the shadow of the Himalayas: A Clear Water Reservoir as part of a water supply scheme implemented by Kassar Trust under Himmothan Pariyojana, to provide potable drinking water to inhabitants of Anna village, Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand.

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to Jan Shiksha Evam Vikas Sangathan (PEDO), and Ibtada, which reach out to over 33,000 families

across 1,474 Self Help Groups.

• Based on the recommendations of an external review of the education portfolio that was conducted

during 2004-05, the Trust reorganized the portfolio and consequently focused its efforts on reforming

elementary education, nurturing education as a discipline and building institutional resource in

education. During the year, the Education portfolio continued to promote innovation through field

projects, knowledge building and institutional support to facilitate larger systemic changes, whilst

focusing on supporting quality interventions addressing some of the critical gaps in the field of

elementary education. Emphasis was also laid on supporting good quality field projects addressing

issues of quality of education through partnership with the government and the community and

developing focused initiatives to address neglected areas in elementary education. One of the

flagship initiatives within the portfolio, namely the Publication Initiative was branded as ‘Parag’


**The figures in the table reflect programmatic disbursals in the financial year.

Programme grant disbursals (Theme wise): 2006-2007**

Thematic Area No. of grants Rs. in million US$ in million

Rural Livelihoods & Communities 61 224.02 5.33

Education 36 67.69 1.61

Health 15 25.28 0.60

Enhancing Civil Society & Governance 16 35.49 0.85

Arts & Culture 4 8.10 0.19

Total 132 360.58 8.58

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during the year. Two strategic reviews on: (i) higher education; and (ii) alternative schools were

conducted to provide strategic direction to the sub-themes. Finally, the strategy paper for the

Trust’s engagement in higher education was developed by Centre for the Study of Culture and

Society (CSCS) and subsequently finalised. Consequently, a proposal for establishing the Higher

Education Cell in Bangalore emerged through discussions between the Trust and CSCS.

• With the induction of a dedicated professional team, the Health portfolio received a much

needed impetus from the inertia that had set in over the past five years. Notably, the portfolio

was in a cusp period and a large number of ongoing grants were scheduled to draw to an end

during 2006-07. However, emphasis was laid on prioritizing and improving the performance of

the existing grants and efforts were undertaken towards developing six new projects, three

of which focused on the Trust’s Mental Health initiative. Also during the reporting period, the

Trust embarked on an exercise to develop the Strategic Plan 2011 (for Health portfolio) to guide

funding activities of the portfolio over the next five years, beginning 2007-08. This would help

in consolidating existing work and initiating new efforts. Towards this, a comprehensive review

and strategy planning exercise was commissioned and executed by the Trust. Following this, and

acting on the recommendations of the review and strategy planning exercise, the Trust identified

the following areas for support over the next five years: (a) Reproductive and Child Health; (b)

Infectious Diseases; (c) Non Communicable Diseases; (d) Disability; (e) Human Manpower and

Health System Development; and (f) Environment.

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• The Trust’s Arts & Culture programme continued with its four initiatives, namely, Arts Education,

Advance Learning in the Arts, Arts Management and Arts Therapy. During the year under review,

the Advanced Learning in the Arts initiative saw considerable progress vis-à-vis new grants made.

A special focus within this initiative on architecture and design, saw the founding of the Design

Research Cell at the School of Interior Design, Centre for Environment Planning and Technology

(CEPT), Ahmedabad. The Arts & Culture programme’s focus on Arts Management was dedicated

to generating a broad based infrastructure that identified new art-making practices, both,

through new institutions capable of innovative practice, as well as those offering specialized

arts support.

• Within its Civil Society & Governance portfolio, the Trust focused efforts on its nascent Human

Resource (HR) and Organisation Development (OD) initiative, which builds on its concern of

Individual grant disbursals: 2006-2007

Type of grants Rs. in million US$ in million %

Medical 88.07 2.10 76.95

Education 26.38 0.63 23.05

Total 114.45 2.73 100.00


Learn with fun: Caregiver associated with Rajasthan Mahila Kalyan Mandal (RMKM), teaching children with disabilities at the Day Care Centre located in a remote area of Ajmer district, Rajasthan.

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organisation effectiveness and professionalisation of the non-profit sector. The Trust also

strengthened its Youth and Civil Society Initiative, which focuses on building interlinked spaces

for young people to engage with issues of civil society. During the period under review, the Trust

sanctioned two grants within the HR and OD initiative, besides four grants under the Youth and

Civil Society Initiative. Also, during the year, the Trust undertook a review of the existing grants

within the portfolio.

• After a hiatus of almost three years, the Trust made a new endowment of Rs. 100 million (US $

2.38 million) to the Tata Medical Centre Trust (TMCT), Kolkata. TMCT is setting up a Rs. 2.20 billion

hospital in Kolkata, upon the lines of the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, specializing in the

detection and treatment of cancer. Slated to be commissioned in December 2007, the hospital

would be equipped with the latest state-of-the-art facilities to tackle with the increasing cases

of cancer, especially in the eastern region of India.

Finance, property and administration:

The year under review saw a reduction in the Trust’s income from Rs. 780.19 million to Rs. 753.82

million, a decrease of 3 per cent over the previous year. However, disbursals touched an all time high

of Rs. 601.59 million (US $ 14.32 million). The general administration and programme costs were 2 per

cent of the total income and 2.5 per cent of the total disbursals. The accounts for the year ending

March 31, 2007 have been finalised and the statutory audit completed.

Human Resources:

In order to do justice to its increasing portfolio, ensuring quality of output at the field level and

pro-actively engaging with the organisations and state governments, the Trust has made focused

attempts to strengthen and restructure its human resources. With ‘State Immersion’ being the key to

ensuring a long-term collaboration and cooperation of partner agencies, non-profits or institutions

within a particular state, the Trust has, till date, operationalised four initiative specific ‘Cells’, namely

Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell, CInI Cell, Himmothan Cell and the Centre for microFinance to

engage with the field on a macro platform. Each Cell is headed by a Team Leader that reports to the

Steering Committee, comprising of representatives of the key stakeholders within the initiative. The

Cells are adequately manned by subject specialists and amongst other things: a) play the role of an

‘idea incubator’ by exploring new innovations, strategies and up-scaling select pilots; (b) develop

a knowledge bank on a particular initiative; (c) facilitate linkages between the state Government,

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partner non-profit organisations and technical institutions to develop sustainable and scaleable

strategies; and (d) create a unique identity for the initiative through brand building efforts. The Trust

has deputed one member of its team to each Cell. Whilst the presently functioning Cells are within

the RLC portfolio, 2007-08 would see operationalisation of the Higher Education Cell in Bangalore,

with more Cells within the Education portfolio on the anvil.

Looking ahead:

• At the outset, the Trust would focus on finalising its Strategic Plan 2011, which would draw from

the strategic planning exercises that were carried out during the year within the RLC, Health and

CS&G portfolios. This document would be the guiding light behind the Trust’s operations for five

subsequent years. The Trust would subsequently endeavour to operationalise its Annual Working

Plan for the year 2007-08, based on recommendations within the Strategic Plan 2011.

• The Trust’s Programmes team would also bear the responsibility of disbursing funds of Navajbai

Ratan Tata Trust (NRTT) within the purview of its Strategic Plan 2011. These funds are expected

to be to the tune of Rs. 600 million during 2007-08. With a major expansion of the portfolio

Youth and Civil Society Initiative: Research projects of youth fellows displayed at an annual event organised by PUKAR in Mumbai.

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on the cards, the Trust would seriously focus on developing systems of automation within its

administrative and grant management functions.

• Like the Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell, the CInI Cell, the Himmothan Cell and the CmF that

have been set up during the past two years, the Trust would similarly set up Cells under the

Reviving the Green Revolution initiative, besides its Higher Education Cell, to be based at CSCS,

Bangalore. Once operationalised, the Cells would be registered, strengthened and its Board of

Governors set up. Besides programmatically guiding the initiatives, the Cells are envisaged to

add immense value, through their focus on comprehensively engaging with the field and pushing

the agenda of each initiative / sub-theme.

• Over the coming year, efforts would be made by the Cells to develop Special Purpose Vehicles

(SPVs) with external entities to undertake cutting-edge projects. Consequently, the CInI Cell would

be collaborating with Tata Steel Rural Development Society for providing technical and supervisory

support to the Tata Steel Centenary Project, besides working with the Tribal Development

Department, Government of Gujarat, towards a Rs. 1.50 billion programme focusing on holistic

development of tribal communities in Gujarat. Similarly, the Himmothan Cell’s first SPV, designed

on fodder, will be implemented in collaboration with the National Rural Employment Guarantee

Scheme (NREGS) and the Government of Uttarakhand. It will strive to increase awareness of

rural communities on the importance of good quality fodder, amongst other things. Finally, the

proposed Reviving the Green Revolution Cell would focus on developing an initiative on Integrated

Pest Management (IPM) in Cotton.

• Within its Education portfolio, the Trust plans to expand its focus on systemic reform to select

regions within India, including Nandurbar district, Maharashtra; Chamrajanagar district and Yadgir

block within Karnataka; and Jharkhand. Besides, activities within the Teacher Resource Centre

and Parag initiatives are expected to be scaled up.

• Over the coming year, the Trust would finalize its strategic plan for the Health portfolio (SP 2011,

Health) which would form the basis of its grant-making efforts over the next five years.

• The Trust would enhance its portfolio of Civil Society & Governance over the coming year

through scaling up and deepening its Youth and Civil Society initiative, building alliances for

human resource development as part of the organizational development and human resource

initiative, and strengthening its Governance initiative through building capacities of community

based organizations.

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Institutional grants : Rural Livelihoods & Communities

India follows a three pronged anti-poverty strategy for urban and rural areas, which focuses on: (a)

promotion of economic growth; (b) human development; and (c) targeted programmes to address

the multi-dimensional nature of poverty.1 While there is consensus on the fact that poverty has

declined during the 1990s, the quantification of the same has been difficult to assess. The Approach

to the Eleventh Plan, recently approved by the National Development Council, is essentially a strategy

of inclusive growth and asserts that this must be across all segments of the Indian populace, sans

caste, creed or economic class. It maintains that rapid growth must remain an essential part of the

strategy for two reasons. At the outset, it is only in a rapidly growing economy that India can expect

to sufficiently raise the incomes of the masses, thereby ensuring general improvement in the living

conditions. Secondly, rapid growth is necessary to generate the amount of resource needed to

provide basic services to all. If proper steps and policies are put in place, there is no reason why a

9% growth in economy cannot be achieved during the period of the Eleventh Plan. With the Indian

population growing at 1.5% per annum, a 9% growth in GDP would double the per capita income

in a decade. The Trust’s own Strategic Plan 2006 (SP 2006) draws upon the above and recommends

the consolidation of the Trust’s work in the poverty belt of India. 2006-07 marked the final year of

operations within SP 2006 and as per its mandate, the Trust continued to focus on enhancing rural

livelihoods through various regional initiatives in two broad areas, namely land and water development

and microfinance.

The Trust recognizes the role of land and water development in enhancing people’s livelihoods. In

order to ensure high quality output, the Trust’s initiatives in land and water development are based

on research and subsequent field testing of findings through pilot projects. Notably, the bulk of

the Trust’s engagement within the flagship Central India Initiative (CInI) is based on the research

findings of the IWMI-Tata Water Policy Research Programme (IWMI-Tata Programme).

The IWMI-Tata Programme presents new perspectives and practical solutions derived from the

wealth of research done in India on water resource management, with the objective of helping

policy makers at the central, state and local levels address future water challenges, by translating

research findings into practical policy recommendations. This prestigious programme completed one

year of operations within Phase II, during which it focused on research areas such as multiple use

of water and water productivity in agriculture and horticulture crops. More significantly, the IWMI-

Tata Programme initiated a network research programme to identify and investigate livelihood

1 Mid-term appraisal of the Tenth Plan (2002-07), Poverty Alleviation and Rural Employment.

Rural Livelihoods & Communities

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Strategic Plan 2011: Rural Livelihoods & Communities Portfolio

During 2006, the Trust commissioned a comprehensive review of its efforts over the past five years within its Rural Livelihoods & Communities (RLC) portfolio, as a key step towards the preparation of its Strategic Plan 2011 (SP – 2011), which would be the guiding light behind its grant making efforts over a five year period, beginning with the fiscal 2007-08. Notably, the RLC portfolio constitutes almost 70% of the Trust’s annual programmatic funding outlay. The review team was led by Dr. R.S. Tolia (Chief Information Commissioner, Uttarakhand and former Chief Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand) and ably assisted by Professor Tushaar Shah (Advisor to the Director General, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo and former Team Leader of the IWMI-Tata Water Policy Research Programme, Anand) and Dr. Y.C. Nanda (Ex-Chairman, NABARD).

Briefly, the Strategic Plan submitted to the Trust: (a) noted that the Trust has successfully positioned itself as a proven catalyst of critical activities in nearly all major rural livelihoods issues and is pro-actively in the process of strategically aligning its interventions and resources in up-scaling various directly-targeted poverty alleviation interventions in the regions where it is needed most; (b) appreciated the range and multiplicity of the Trust’s initiatives and the speed with which it has been able to convert them into reasonably well identified key initiatives that have been suitably aligned with the recommendations of Strategic Plan 2000; (c) complimented the Trust’s pragmatic approach, whilst noting that even the approach to the eleventh Five Year Plan has suggested similar Public - Private partnerships in all possible areas, considering the sheer magnitude of resources required for achieving the goal of faster and inclusive growth @ 9%; and (d) delineated as many as twelve ‘rural development requirements’, as priorities for the RLC portfolio, which include, amongst others: (i) rural income generation interventions; (ii) rural wage employment; (iii) rural housing; (iv) rural social and food security; (v) need for integrated food-based intervention; etc.

The overall analysis made by the review team guided the Strategic Plan to very spontaneously focus on reviving the agricultural sector within the country (‘regaining agricultural dynamism’), besides ensuring that all segments, especially the marginalised communities, are reflected within grant making endeavours (‘inclusiveness in growth’).

Some of the key recommendations emanating from the Strategic Plan.

• The Strategic Plan recommends further consolidation of the Trust’s initiatives, pronouncing it as the best outcome of the earlier two Strategic Plans, whilst exhorting the Trust to urgently set up a Programme Advisory Committee (PAC), if further systematization of its grant-making operations, quality-wise, is desired. It also mandates the Trust

Strategic Review Exercise: Dr. R. S. Tolia receives feedback from farmers in Punjab during a field visit.

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to continue and improvise on its ‘Systematic approach to grant making’ through introduction of suitable structures of reporting to directly reflect outcomes, linking interventions to outputs and finally to intermediate and strategic outcomes.

• The Strategic Plan strongly recommends synchronization of such reviews with the Five Year Plan periods of India, citing how this would be beneficial to the Trust’s operations, especially in aligning its interventions with national thrust areas and priorities, which change from Plan to Plan.

• To further deepen this exercise, the Strategic Plan recommends that the Trust fast forward and establish various ‘Cells’, citing “State Immersion” as the key to ensuring a long-term collaboration and cooperation of partner agencies, non-profits or institutions within a particular state. Presently, functioning Cells include: (a) Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell, Ahmedabad; (b) Central India Initiative (CInI) Cell, Anand; (c) Himmothan Cell, Dehradun; and (d) Centre for Microfinance, Jaipur, with the Reviving the Green Revolution Cell on the anvil.

• In the area of water sector research, it is recommended that proposed research be undertaken in collaboration with the concerned host-state, if it is intended to be mainstreamed into policy.

• Within the states falling under the Central India Initiative (CInI), the Strategic Plan suggests following the recommendations of the Parthasarathy Committee report, both through the proposed modifications to be carried out in the national guidelines and through local prioritization. It further recommends due weightage be given to poverty ratios, given that only those districts with below average poverty ratios are likely to receive funds under schemes like National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), Sam Vikas, etc.

• Under the Himmothan Pariyojana initiative, the Strategic Plan highlights the initial gains achieved in organic agriculture, rural poverty and rural water and sanitation and how is it possible to dovetail with on-going externally funded projects in watershed, livelihoods and water and sanitation projects, whilst recommending that a State Area Wide Approach be followed, avoiding any overlap.

• Within Kharash Vistarotthan Yojana, the funds made available by the Twelfth Finance Commission and all related agencies are recommended to be channelised through a Coordination Committee, under the aegis of the Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat.

• Within Reviving the Green Revolution, the Strategic Plan suggests identification of research priorities through Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) type mechanisms. The Trust is exhorted to broad band its partners within the initiative, which currently revolves around the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. Interaction with the Directorate of Agriculture (Government of Punjab) needs to be nurtured more intensively. Finally, a generic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Punjab, with a clear focus on appropriate policy impinging on substantial issues, is deemed necessary.

• Within the Trust’s microfinance portfolio, the Strategic Plan recommends the replication of the Centre for microFinance (CmF) in upto five states from the list of 13 priority states identified by NABARD. The CmF needs to be nurtured and developed into a ‘Centre for Excellence’ within a period of 5 – 7 years. The Review Mission believes that the Trust, along with Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, has the potential of making a major contribution to this sector. Consequently, a dialogue with NABARD needs to be initiated.

• The Strategic Plan is in concurrence with the present organisation structure of the Trust, along with currently functioning Cells. However, with an increased engagement at field level perceived in the immediate future, the Strategic Plan also recommends that at the Trust office, the Programmes Manager should be provided with corresponding staff support, as part of a Programme Planning and Partnership Cell to facilitate the execution of SP 2011 and the same should be made responsible for servicing the proposed Programme Advisory Committee.

• The Strategic Plan exhorts the Trust to enter into generic Memoranda of Understanding with participating states, like the one in force with the Government of Uttaranchal, besides also drawing up a panel of local experts and former experienced government bureaucrats well versed in rural development sectors.


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enhancement opportunities in the remote and often-neglected North-Eastern regions of India. The

findings of the research will guide the Trust’s foray into this otherwise unexplored region during the

next fiscal, as it seeks to spread its coverage for supporting livelihood options to enhance lives of the

marginalised. Dissemination of the various studies conducted by the IWMI-Tata Programme during

the current period was facilitated thorough the Annual Partners’ Meet, which was attended by over

140 researchers, development professionals and representatives of international organizations and

leading water scientists from India and abroad. Over this three-day event, research findings under

diverse themes such as drinking water quality, livelihoods in rainfed areas, sustaining north Gujarat’s

groundwater economy, etc. were presented and discussed. The Trust also supported the IWMI-Tata

Programme to undertake the ‘North Gujarat Sustainable Groundwater Initiative’ (NGI), to

locate and replicate community based local strategies to arrest groundwater depletion and improve

the livelihood of the rural poor in Banaskantha district. The on-going second phase of NGI focuses

on creating wider awareness about the negative socio-economic and ecological consequences

of farming practices that depend on intensive use of groundwater, besides facilitating large-scale

adoption of sustainable farming practices in north Gujarat region. The programme aims to achieve

its objective through setting up experimental farms on agricultural water management, conducting

on-farm demonstrations, developing replicable models on sustainable agriculture and assisting local

North Gujarat Initiative: Drip irrigation system installed to ensure efficient irrigation to a farmer’s field in Banaskantha district, Gujarat.

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partners to undertake promotional activities. During the year, efforts within NGI areas led to over

894 acres of land being covered under various water efficient irrigation measures, benefiting 223

families, 180 farmers planting orchards of lemon, pomegranate and gooseberry, covering an area of

over 380 acres and 246 families utilizing vermi-compost. The benefits accruing from this led to 123

farmers beyond NGI coverage areas adopting various water saving technologies covering a total

area of 1,350 acres; another 62 farmers going for orchard plantation in a total area of 262 acres;

and 66 farmers using vermi composting to produce organic manure. NGI is also working with three

non-profit organisations to scale up interventions in Banaskantha and Patan districts.

The Central India Initiative (CInI) continues to remain the focal area of the Trust’s grant making

efforts. Focusing on enhancing tribal livelihoods through land and water resources development, the

initiative saw the operationalisation of five new projects during the year. The major focus had been

towards consolidating efforts in the state of Jharkhand, wherein three new partners are working

towards enhancing livelihoods of tribal communities. The CInI Cell, which was operationalised in

November 2005, undertook the key role of providing programmatic inputs to the field projects on

a regular basis, besides developing strategic documents for the states of Maharashtra, Madhya

Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. These showcase specific, tested strategies

that could be adopted whilst conceptualizing livelihood projects in these states. During the year,

the CInI Cell worked with the Tribal Development Department, Government of Gujarat, towards

strengthening its ‘Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana’, a Rs. 1.50 billion programme focusing on holistic

development of tribal communities in Gujarat. The CInI Cell also worked closely with Tata Steel Rural

Development Society (TSRDS), towards developing the Feasibility Report and the Implementaion

Plan for undertaking the prestigious Tata Steel Centenary Project (TSCP). Conceived as a part of

Tata Steel’s centenary celebrations, TSCP is a Rs. 1 billion mega-initiative that focuses on enhancing

the livelihoods of 40,000 poor tribal households in the tribal districts of Keonjhar (Orissa), Saraikela

(Jharkhand) and Bastar (Chhattisgarh), covering a total of 400 villages through Natural Resources based

interventions. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Trust and Tata Steel for the TSCP is on

the anvil, based on which, Tata Steel will depute TSRDS as its nodal agency for implementing TSCP

and Trust’s CInI Cell will provide technical and supervisory support. During the year, the CInI Cell

was able to undertake two idea incubation pilots. The first focused on the promotion of Phad Irrigation

in Yavatmal district (details showcased overleaf) and the other promoted technology in Systems for

Rice Intensification. The Cell also developed its website to promote the research documentation

undertaken. Under the ambit of its knowledge management role, the Cell developed the district level

information database, pertaining to topography, demography, agriculture, soil, geology, etc. Notably,

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Traditional water harvesting systems have existed in India since time immemorial, successfully satisfying the needs of

civilizations in their quest for the ‘elixir of life’. Maharashtra has a unique traditional water harvesting technique, known

as the ‘Phad’ system, whose roots can be traced back over 300 years. This system, which consists of a check dam built

across a river from which canals spread out into the fields, was widely prevalent in the north western and Vidharbha

regions of Maharashtra till almost 20 years back. The advent of modern irrigation systems may have spelt the death

knell for many of these traditional water harvesting systems; however, there are still a few examples of successful

operationalisation of the Phad system in the state.

Driving past Mendhla village, a dusty spot on the map, situated within Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, one encounters

a few ‘Dhangars’ – members of a nomadic tribe, whose occupations include managing livestock, besides wandering

the countryside in search of fodder and of course, water! Dhangars settled in Mendhla village around 30 years ago and

their hamlet within the village is aptly christened ‘Dhangarwadi’, where they practice animal husbandry as a profession.

Earlier, lack of irrigation was a major issue of concern for the Dhangars, threatening cultivation of fodder and other

agricultural crops during the rabi season. Dhangarwadi has a minor irrigation structure, constructed by the government,

where a fair amount of water seeped continuously through the main body. One of the more enterprising Dhangars

saw an opportunity in this and tapped the seepage from the irrigation structure gainfully, by constructing an earthen

embankment to store water and laying down Phad channels to divert water to his field. This helped him irrigate about

nine acres of land through out the year. Dilasa Sansthan, a non profit organization working in the region, came to know

about the Phad irrigation system followed by Dhangars and approached the CInI Cell, the nodal agency for Central India Initiative (CInI), to help replicate the success of the Phad system to other areas.

With identifying innovative ideas and piloting then for systematic replication being the raison d’être of the CInI Cell, the latter, along with Dilasa, initialized the process of revival of the Phad system, with the aim of developing a strong

replicable model for wider acceptance. Subsequently, two low cost masonry structures were constructed to store water

for irrigation. Dhangars were involved in modifying the design of the Phad channels along the contours. Along with the

physical interventions, inputs towards water and crop management, especially the cotton crop, was also provided to the

farmers. The initial results were encouraging. The irrigated area has increased from 9 acres to 72 acres, thereby improving

the yield of crops. Irrigation is now assured for both, Rabi and Kharif seasons. In light of the positive experience, the CInI Cell proposes to partner with Dilasa over the coming year, with the aim of studying and exploring further opportunities

for upscaling of similar initiatives, whilst, concurrently locating and supporting meaningful livelihood programmes within

the central India region.

Central India Initiative: Representative sketch of the Phad Irrigation system.

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In Zone A of CInI, which comprises of Orissa, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, field

projects with Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), Tata Steel Rural

Development Society (TSRDS) and Indian Grameen Services (IGS) have been ongoing. The

focus has been towards ‘Kharif Paddy Stabilization’, which has shown good results in terms of

enhanced paddy production from 7 quintals/acre to about 13 quintals/acre. The project with TSRDS

has presently spread to 14 villages, wherein a concentrated effort of consolidation of interventions

is underway. During the year, about 260 acres of land have been brought under vegetable cultivation

during the Rabi season. The spread of the paddy stabilization strategy has been strengthened by

involving three new partners, namely Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra (KGVK), Nav Bharat Jagriti

Kendra (NBJK) and Harsha Trust. The project with KGVK focuses on agriculture diversification

through creation of water resources and promoting allied livelihood interventions, covering about

2,700 families in 16 villages. The project has been able to mobilize the community towards physical

implementation of the interventions and subsequently managing them. The field project with NBJK

focuses on stabilization of the paddy yields and diversification in vegetable cultivation and horticulture

along with allied interventions. Similarly, the project with Harsha Trust in Rayagada district of

Orissa was operationalised in January 2007 and focuses on integrated livelihood development of

800 households in 30 villages of Bisamcuttack block in Rayagada district. The key interventions

being underway are the stabilization of paddy production, promoting water resource structures for

Central India Initiative: Vegetable cultivation being promoted by PRADAN in Kura village, Gumla district, Jharkhand.

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enhancing irrigated area and developing the Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) cooperatives. The

three year field project with PRADAN ended in March 2007. The project was able to generate various

livelihood options for the tribal families in the 11 project districts of Jharkhand. Through improved

agriculture interventions, covering over 39,000 families, an increase in income of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000

per annum was realized, besides ensuring food security for a year and high calorie intake through

vegetables and fruits. Land and water development interventions, covering over 10,000 families, led

to an increase in per capita income of Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000 from the sale of vegetables and created

resources such as dug wells, Lift Irrigation structures and ponds for long term utilization and land

development. Other interventions such as tassar rearing, dairy, poultry rearing, lac cultivation, etc.

also covered sizeable households and increased their per capita incomes similarly. The project has

also been able to generate employment for young people in terms of developing them as ‘service

providers’ who provide sectoral inputs to the farmers. Cooperatives and Producers Companies were

promoted for strengthening the various livelihood interventions such as poultry, dairy, horticulture, etc.

and developing a strong business model to support in enhancing the income base of the households.

During this period, PRADAN was also able to mobilize about Rs. 540 million from the government

and other agencies.

In Zone B, covering the states of Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Andhra

Pradesh, the support to Naandi Foundation in two field projects, one focusing on revival of 65 Lift

Irrigation Schemes (LIS) in six districts of Andhra Pradesh and the other promoting organic coffee

with tribal farmers in Araku valley of Vishakapatnam, has been underway. The first project has been

able to register all the 65 LIS societies and the physical revival works are in progress. The organic

coffee project has been able to promote a coffee federation of 8,000 families involved in cultivating

organic coffee. The organic certification from SKAL has helped in generating an international market

for the product and has given the farmers a good price for their produce.

Zone C covers parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Here, the Trust is supplementing a project,

sanctioned by the Government of Maharashtra (GoM) to Maharashtra Institute of Technology

Transfer for Rural Areas (MITTRA). The GoM project, titled ‘Jan Utkarsha Programme’, focuses

on the development of Wadi, micro-watersheds, community health and women development

programmes, reaching out to 52,000 families in 15 tribal districts of Maharashtra. During the year,

the training centre developed by the organization was able to train the newly inducted and in-service

staff members. The plantation of horticulture plants was undertaken during the year, albeit at a slower

pace, whilst focusing largely on the management aspects of the plantation, thereby ensuring good

survival rates. Inter-cropping in terms of floriculture and vegetable cultivation was also promoted to

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provide increased incomes to the families. The Wadi plantation, which forms the core intervention

within the project, has been covered in 43,000 acres with 47,876 families, with a spread in 80 blocks

in 20 districts. In order to improve agriculture, quality seeds of various crops such as maize, tur, black

gram, green gram were given to the farmers. An area of 4,419 hectares in 80 villages was covered

under watershed development works. Various water resource structures such as temporary gunny

bag dams, jalkunds and wells have been developed for providing critical watering to the horticulture

plants. About 2,000 landless families have also been supported through various individual or group

based activities such as tailoring, trading, fish rearing, small shops, black smithy, masonry, etc.

In Zone D, covering parts of Gujarat, west Madhya Pradesh and south Rajasthan, N M Sadguru

Water and Development Foundation (Sadguru Foundation) has been the Trust’s key partner

in upscaling the area under irrigation and enhancing agriculture based incomes. During the year, the

organization was able to mobilize about 80% of its funds through various government programmes

such as SGSY and RSVY. Key activities undertaken during this period include: (a) construction of

30 Lift Irrigation schemes; (b) promotion of 19 Lift Irrigation Cooperatives for the operation and

management of the systems; (c) promotion of two Lift Irrigation Federations; one in Banswara and

the other in Jhalawar; (d) promotion of 50 new agriculture extension Self Help Groups (SHGs) to

manage the agriculture based interventions; (e) promotion of 126 women horticulture groups for

horticulture promotion; (f) development of 21 Milk Producers Cooperatives; (g) construction of 23

Check Dams to harvest rainwater and increase irrigation command area; (h) treatment of 4,963

acres of land under the micro-watershed development programme; and (i) plantation of agroforestry

species on 1,829 acres of land to promote community forestry. Notably, promotion of horticulture,

floriculture and vegetable cultivation has augmented the income of farmers to the tune of Rs. 15,000

per annum. During the year, two new projects were operationalised within this zone. The project

with Gramin Vikas Trust (GVT) focuses on strengthening the agricultural productivity for crops

such as maize and soybean in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh. Promotion of horticulture and

linkages with the government under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) for

integrated watershed development was undertaken through the project in 19 villages. The project

with Rajasthan Rural Institute of Development Management (RRIDMA), operationalised in

January 2007, focuses on a livelihood promotion programme, benefiting over 43,500 households in

698 villages in four districts of south Rajasthan, through animal husbandry, horticulture, wasteland

development and watershed development.

CInI has been able to spread itself across all the nine states constituting central India. The key

development across all the field projects has been the promotion of various Community Based

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Organizations, who have been instrumental in undertaking development interventions and managing

them on a sustainable basis. The CInI Cell, which also has the responsibility of monitoring the field

projects, undertook quarterly field visits to most of the partner organisations, providing quality

programmatic inputs to enhance quality of the interventions.

Within the Trust’s Kharash Vistarotthan Yojana (KVY), earlier known as the Gujarat Coastal Salinity

Ingress Prevention and Mitigation initiative, four organisations, namely, Aga Khan Rural Support

Programme (India) (AKRSP(I)), Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), Vivekanand Research

and Training Institute (VRTI) and Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD),

continued efforts to tackle the problems caused by salinity ingress in coastal areas of Gujarat. Post

operationalisation in March 2005, the Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell (CSPC), performs three

distinct roles. At the outset, it coordinates efforts and projects through partnerships, within which

it develops methodologies, tries out field demonstrations and sets up systems for expansion of

matured projects and programmes. Towards this, CSPC has been identifying and piloting small

projects, in partnership with different organizations across the coastal belt of Saurashtra, focusing

on promotion of water efficient irrigation systems and farm pond led area development, besides

salt resistant horticulture and aquaculture as alternative livelihoods. Secondly, CSPC is evolving as a

knowledge centre on coastal salinity issues, for which it is in the process of developing a data base of

1,300 salinity affected villages in Saurashtra and Kutch. During the year, CSPC successfully compiled

Kharash Vistarotthan Yojana: Sprinklers being promoted by AKRSP(I) for cultivating groundnut in Gorej village, Junagadh district, Gujarat.

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baseline information of 197 villages in Bhavnagar district, developed an interactive and informative

website and is in the process of preparing a GIS based information system. Most importantly, CSPC

functions as the nodal agency for KVY. Towards the end of the year, the Trust sanctioned a new

project, enabling CSPC to implement enhanced water resources management measures through

a participatory approach at Medha Creek in Porbandar Taluka, Porbandar district, Gujarat and Nicole

Bandhara in Mahua Taluka, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat. The proposed lift irrigation schemes would

address the issue of deficiency of irrigation water for about 130 families over an area covering 670

acres. The project also focuses on micro-watershed development through moisture conservation

activities, promoting water efficient irrigation systems and providing training in agriculture and animal

husbandry. The Trust’s second phase of support with AKRSP(I) enabled the organisation to spread

its interventions across 28 coastal villages in Mangrol, Malia and Veraval talukas of Junagadh district.

During the year, AKRSP(I) covered an area measuring 180 hectares with farm stone bunds, besides

distributing 37 sets of drip systems and 320 sprinklers systems to the beneficiaries. It also completed

181 decentralized drinking water storage systems besides carrying out testing of over 1,100 water

samples to check quality. Similarly, the second phase with ACF consists of two separate projects. The

first focuses its interventions over 17 coastal villages in Kodinar and Sutrapada talukas of Junagadh

district that were covered during the first phase. The second project supports fresh interventions in

five coastal villages in Jafarabad talukas of Amreli district. During the year, ACF focused on promoting

less water intensive crops, thereby enhancing water use efficiency. It covered an area measuring 98

hectares under salinity resistant and less water intensive crops and convinced over 330 families in

Kharash Vistarotthan Yojana: A check dam constructed by VRTI as part of a series of water harvesting structures on the main drainage channel in Tragadi village, Kutch, Gujarat, to enhance groundwater recharge and support surface irrigation.

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the project villages to practice kitchen gardening. The organisation interlinked two rivers through a

12 kilometers long spreading canal, besides recharging five wells and renovating four check dams.

Finally, it was successful in convincing over 190 families in adopting water efficient irrigation measures.

The Trust’s project with TCSRD focuses on developing a model on salinity management through a

pilot involving agricultural, groundwater recharge and drinking water interventions in six villages in

Okhamandal taluka on the Jamnagar coast in Saurashtra. During the year, TCSRD constructed 113 Roof

Rain Water Harvesting Tanks (RRWHT) in four villages. Watershed development works were completed

in six villages during the year, with work on-going in eleven more villages. Through co-support from

the Water and Sanitation Management Organisation (WASMO), community based drinking water

interventions have been completed in eight villages, whilst efforts are in progress to leverage support

for other villages. In Kutch, VRTI has focused on groundwater recharge and implementing different

innovative agricultural interventions, including reviving salt affected plantations, trench irrigation

and experimenting with various water saving technologies. During the year, it facilitated the digging

of 529 trenches within salt affected plantations, laid out over 3,360 meters of PVC pipes to conduct

water for irrigation, covered an area of 62 hectares under various water efficient irrigation systems,

benefiting 115 farmers and constructed six percolation tanks. VRTI also constructed 50 water

harvesting structures, thereby impacting 648 farmers over 7,000 acres of farm land. Community based

drinking water projects, in partnership with WASMO’s support, were implemented in over 32 villages

of Mandvi taluka, of which, nine fell under the coverage of KVY. Physical works were completed in

seven of these villages whilst work is in progress in the remaining two.

The Trust’s Himalayan rural development initiative ‘Himmothan Pariyojana’, operationalised in January

2002, systematically addresses some of the key rural development issues facing the people of the

region. The initiative has three components. The first component enhances livelihoods through

participatory watershed development, whilst addressing land degradation by implementing micro-

watershed projects designed specifically for Himalayan conditions, through community based

watershed committees. The second component improves community health through drinking water

and sanitation projects implemented by village based water and sanitation committees. These

‘Management Societies’ are responsible for planning, implementing and managing the schemes.

The final component focuses on enhancing rural livelihoods through farm and non-farm activities,

thus preventing migration and reducing dependence on subsistence agriculture.

Perhaps the most significant development within Himmothan Pariyojana was the operationalisation

of the Himmothan Cell in Dehradun in September 2006, as mandated within the five year strategic

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plan for the initiative developed in 2004-05. The thrust areas of the Himmothan Cell were finalised

as per the recommendations of the said strategic plan and its activities involve, among others:

(a) developing a database on the status and management needs of natural resources and rural

development issues in Uttarakhand and identifying areas of livelihood potential, besides facilitating

knowledge management; (b) playing the role of an ‘idea incubator’ by exploring new innovations,

particularly in the area of Natural Resource Management (NRM) and upscaling select pilots in close

collaboration with the Government; and (c) assisting in monitoring of the Trust’s on-going projects

under Himmothan Pariyojana and providing technical inputs to organizations participating in

this initiative.

Under the first component of Himmothan Pariyojana, whilst Peoples’ Science Institute (PSI) is

undertaking the capacity building exercise for both, Non Profit Organisations (NPOs) and watershed

committees, in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, Central Himalayan Rural

Action Group (CHIRAG) has focused similar efforts in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. As on March

2007, a total of 12 such watershed projects have been supported by the Trust in the Garhwal region

of Uttarakhand and in Himachal Pradesh and 10 in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The projects

have covered approximately 12,500 hectares in 97 villages, impacting over 5,500 households and

reaching out to over 25,000 beneficiaries.

Himmothan Pariyojana: Nurseries for afforestation programmes prepared by Self Help Groups promoted by Garhwal Vikas Kendra in Mason village, Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand.

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Within the second component, PHASE 1 of the initiative, being facilitated through grants to

Himalayan Gram Vikas Samiti (HGVS), Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), Society

for Motivational Training & Action (SMTA) and Kassar Trust, has been successful in delivering

40 litres of potable domestic water per capita per day, improved access to latrines and increased

awareness of preventive health care, thereby benefiting 19,363 beneficiaries within 3,035 households

in 45 villages across Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Tehri-Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Dehradun and Chamoli

districts of Uttarakhand. Additionally, the health of people has improved due to improved sanitation

facilities, awareness on promotive health issues and reduced workloads of women. Currently, Kassar

Trust is in the process of completing works as part of the implementation phase within PHASE 1,

which has other wise come to an end vis-à-vis the other three organisations. Subsequently, PHASE

2 commenced in April 2006, based on the reworked Project Implementation Plan (PIP), which was

prepared after extensive external consultations and studies. The PHASE 2 purports greater focus

on catchment area protection works, livelihood enhancement activities for village communities and

commences the sanitation and catchment area protection works components during the planning

phase itself. The first batch of organisations, namely HIHT and HGVS commenced activities under a

six month ‘Pre-planning Phase’, during which, both organisations established the feasibility of setting

up drinking water and sanitation schemes in 30 villages in Tehri Garhwal and Dehradun districts and

18 villages of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand respectively. The Pre-planning phase segued into a

year-long ‘Planning Phase’, beginning November 2006, with HGVS focusing on setting up management

Every drop is pure: A child drinks water from a standpost erected by HIHT in Selasaud village, Tehri district, Uttarakhand, under Himmothan Pariyojana.

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societies in 10 villages in Munsiyari and Gangolihat blocks of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand and

HIHT, in collaboration with Hilton Foundation, USA, focusing on setting up management societies in 16

villages in Jaunpur block of Tehri Garhwal district and four villages in Chakrata block of Dehradun district,

Uttarakhand. These management societies would endeavour to provide 491 and 939 households with

potable water and improved sanitation, respectively.

Under the third component, the first phase of support to the Centre for Organic Farming (COF), based

at the Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB) came to an end in December 2006. During

this three year period: (i) a total of 1,200 bio-villages were adopted; (ii) approximately 17,000 farmers

were trained and covered in different aspects of organic farming in the eight districts; (iii) an area of 4,000

hectares was covered under organic certification; (iv) 42 commodities were identified for the market; (v)

funds totaling Rs. 60 Million were generated for the project activities; (vi) under Organic Basmati Export

Programme (OBEP), COF facilitated export of six tons of organic Basmati rice in 2003-04; exported 85

tons in 2004-05 to Germany, with a premium of 25-30% to the farmers; and exported 175 tons of organic

Basmati in 2005-06; (vii) area under Basmati went up to 800 hectares from 400 hectares and a total of

516 tons of paddy, valued to Rs. 9.6 Million was produced and exported; (viii) UOCB, along with World

Food Programme, standardized the use of locally available Finger Millet (Mandua) for the production

of “India Mix” - a blended, fortified food supplement which was distributed in the Integrated Children

Development Schemes (ICDS) run “Angan Wadis”, as a result of which, 300 tons of Finger Millet were

sourced from the bio-villages of Uttarakhand in 2004-05 and the total market created for Finger Millet

in 2005-06 was 1,200 tons; and (ix) UOCB facilitated sales of Rs. 41.5 Million during the project period,

including export of Basmati rice worth Rs. 17.6 Million. Overall, the first phase of support was successfully

able to reach out to 17,000 farmers and an area of 4,000 hectares was put under organic certification.

Subsequently, a second phase was sanctioned in February 2007, which takes forward the activities of the

first phase, whilst focusing on providing livelihood opportunities through organic farming in Uttarakhand,

thereby bringing an area of 25,000 hectares under organic certification by 2010 and benefiting 50,000

farmers. During the year, COF – II, which is an annex to the existing COF and situated at Machkhali in

Almora district, established its Research & Development Cell, which initiated studies relating to organic

farming. Different experiments in the discipline of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Agronomy were also

conducted. Under the Sanskat Jaivik Beej Yojna (organic intervention in horticulture), the area under

organic certification increased from 32 hectares to 45 hectares over the past one year. Under the ‘Organic

Interventions in Excessive Chemical Prone Belt’ programme, a total of 5 and 7.5 hectares, during Rabi

and Kharif 2006-07 respectively, were taken up for certification. Finally, the Trust’s grant to Uttarakhand

Bamboo and Fibre Development Board (UBFDB) was instrumental in bamboo and fiber based

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The small workshop in the back yard of Ram Kumar’s hovel is lined up with an assortment of cane articles. Hailing from

Selaqui, a small village located 19 kilometers from Dehradun, Ram Kumar’s family is involved in fabricating bamboo crafts,

such as fans, different types of baskets, bags, purses, etc., an occupation that goes down several generations. “I sell my

products from home and from a stall at the annual fair; besides, I also supply my products to shops in Dehradun”, explains

Ram Kumar, Together with his family, he is able to earn over Rs. 10,000 per month from the sale of these items. Though

their craft existed over several generations, the craftsmen would not think too highly of their products. Perceived to be

sold mainly in the local markets, the product quality was rather crude. Improving the quality was considered unnecessary

– “cost would increase and nobody would buy”, was the common refrain. Consequently, these craftsmen were reduced

to eking out their meager livelihoods through unorganized local marketing of substandard quality products.

However, the winds of change swept in around 2003, with the establishment of the Uttarakhand Bamboo and Fiber Development Board (UBFDB) in Dehradun to sustainably utilize, manage and develop the existing resource base of

bamboo and natural fiber in the state, besides promoting bamboo and fiber based livelihood options. Starting with the

basic assumption that the economic backwardness of a region is characterized by the co-existence of unutilized or

under-utilized man-power on the one hand and unexploited natural resources on the other, UBFDB has made efforts

to devise a system where both these factors are utilized to their potential, thereby transforming common folk like

Ram Kumar into entrepreneurs. Consequently, the concept of Ajivika Vatikas (livelihood gardens) emerged, with the

main guiding force being the bamboo. Established in five locations in Uttarakhand, these livelihood gardens showcase

livelihood options and demonstrate best practices in nursery raising and plantation as an integrated unit. UBFDB has

also organised a series of product development workshops with the craft community, which has resulted into a wide

repertoire of handicraft and furniture items made out of natural fibers and bamboo, such as bags, purses, footwear,

baskets, chairs, cots, etc. Fibers that erstwhile had limited potential are being developed into fine clothes; besides,

natural fibers such as stinging nettle and industrial hemp have been brought into the mainstream and are being further

developed as an alternative livelihood option for the rural communities of Uttarakhand. The artisans are routinely taken

to fairs and trade festivals throughout India for exposure visits, where their new product lines are also marketed, thereby

providing them the entrepreneurial fillip.

The Trust has supported UBFDB since 2004 under its Himmothan Pariyojana initiative. The project has the following key

objectives: (i) research, demonstrate and disseminate bamboo and fiber based technologies; (ii) guide policy and resources

of various state and national level agencies working in bamboo and fiber in Uttarakhand; and (iii) create livelihood options

amongst rural poor through cultivation of bamboo and fiber, as a reliable and profitable income generating alternative.

Himmothan Pariyojana: Product development (baskets) using bamboo strips and other natural fibres being promoted by UBFDB.

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livelihood promotion in Uttarakhand. In collaboration with the Uttarakhand Forest Department,

UBFDB has focused on nursery development through the distribution of a million bamboo seedlings,

besides bringing an area of over 1,328 hectares under bamboo plantation. UBFDB also organised a

series of product development workshops with the craft community, which has resulted into a wide

repertoire of handicraft and furniture items made out of natural fibers and bamboo, such as bags,

purses, footwear, baskets, chairs, cots, etc. (details showcased within case study).

The initiative ‘Reviving the Green Revolution’ was operationalised by the Trust in April 2002, to seek

answers and solutions to arrest the stagnation in agriculture in Punjab that had set in the recent

times, due to over-exploitation of ground water, pollution of ground and surface water, water logging,

infestation of crops by insect pests, falling nutrient levels in the soil, uncertain and unreliable

agricultural markets and crippling debts, amongst other factors. The initiative focuses on, amongst

other things: (a) promoting agricultural diversification by demonstrating and popularising alternative

cropping systems to the presently widely prevailing practice of cultivating rice – wheat; and (b)

demonstrating the benefits of Integrated Pest Management in Cotton. The Trust’s chief partners

within the initiative have been the various departments at the Punjab Agricultural University

(PAU), which have been involved in demonstrating various innovative concepts to farmers and the

Reviving the Green Revolution: Dr. B. S. Romana, senior District Extension Specialist with the PAU, inspects the Groundnut crop with farmers in Badesha village, Sangrur district, Punjab.

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The lush green fields of Punjab are considered to be the granaries of India, a result of the Green Revolution that swept

India during the sixties and seventies. However, over the past few years, agricultural productivity in Punjab has nose-

dived, thanks to factors such as over-exploitation of groundwater, pollution of ground and surface water, water logging

and increasing soil salinity, infestation of crops with pests, excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, etc. The

continuous monoculture of paddy during Kharif has led to over-exploitation of ground water, which has increased the

cost of providing irrigation. With a view to tackle this agricultural stagnation in the green revolution belt, the Trust, since

2002, has collaborated with various departments at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, to spearhead

an initiative aiming at “Reviving the Green Revolution”. Under this initiative, the Trust is supporting attempts at

crop diversification by the Department of Agronomy (DoA), PAU, by refining and demonstrating alternate cropping

systems such as Basmati and groundnut to the prevailing rice-wheat patterns. DoA has since then successfully developed

replicable technologies and a well rounded package of practices for groundnut and Basmati. Subsequently, in Kharif 2006,

the Trust supported the Directorate of Extension Education (DoEE), PAU, to further disseminate these improved

production technologies and practices for groundnut and Basmati in select villages in Sangrur and Amritsar districts

respectively, thereby popularizing diversified options and leading to reduced pressure on groundwater.

For disseminating improved practices for Basmati, DoEE identified 37 progressive farmers, possessing 100 acres of land

in two villages, where two varieties i.e. Super Basmati and Basmati–386 were grown. Under the aegis of PAU experts,

the farmers were given improved seeds. The soil and water samples were tested and accordingly, recommendations for

fertilizers were made by these experts. Observations on various parameters of agronomic, plant protection and economic

measures were recorded for both, Basmati and non-Basmati areas. Similarly, DoEE selected 29 farmers in two villages

for disseminating the refined package for groundnut crops, spread over 40 acres. At the outset, soil and water testing

was carried out, post which, the seeds of M-522 and SG-99 varieties of groundnut developed by the Department of Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Genetics (DoPB B & G), PAU were distributed. PAU experts were at hand

throughout the entire exercise, supervising the sowing time and method, seed treatment, application of fertilizer and

weedicide, number of irrigations required and finally harvesting, threshing and marketing of the produce. To combat the

problem of dearth of labour, the farmers were provided with a digger, planter and thresher.

The results that were observed in both, Basmati and groundnut demonstrations were encouraging. The average yield

of Super Basmati and Basmati-386 was 11.22 and 10.19 quintals per acre which was 30% more than average yield

obtained by non beneficiary farmers. Further, the crop residue from Basmati-386 and Super Basmati had economic value,

whereas that from non Basmati paddy is usually burnt. Finally, the average number of irrigations applied to Basmati-386

was 12, compared to 23 for non Basmati paddy. Thus, higher returns per acre, coupled with savings in irrigation water

associated with the cultivation of these Basmati varieties has proved them to be a better and replaceable option to

rice. Demonstrations of groundnut vis-à-vis paddy established that the former required 80 irrigations, as against 500 for

paddy, thereby leading to 85% savings in water. Besides, usage of fertilizers was almost 75% lower in groundnut thereby

resulting in considerable savings in the input costs. Consequently, it was established that groundnut is more economical

and environmentally sustainable, compared to rice. Finally, it was established that the SG-99 variety of groundnut gave

better yields as compared to the M-522 variety.

With a burgeoning population to feed, the agriculturists within the country face a challenging task. Given that the Green

Revolution has nearly outlived its usefulness, the time is ripe to infuse fresh thought and impetus into the agriculture

scenario in India. Buoyed with efforts made by DoEE and other departments within PAU, the Trust is upscaling its

engagement in the state by collaborating with the Department of Agriculture (DoA), Government of Punjab (GoP)

during Kharif 2007.

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Department of Agriculture (DoA), Government of Punjab (GoP), which has been instrumental

in upscaling the dissemination of the technologies and package of practices developed by PAU.

During the reporting period, the two year project with the DoA, focusing on Integrated Pest

Management (IPM) on Cotton in 112 villages of Punjab concluded successfully. An impact assessment

study of interventions in these 112 villages has indicated that the IPM cotton project has benefited not

only 1,120 selected farmers directly, but also more than 10,000 families indirectly. The average number

of pesticides sprays, which constitute the major component of input cost in cotton cultivation, has

been reduced by 80%, thereby reducing the average input cost by Rs. 3,662 per hectare. Further, there

was an increase in crop yield of 1.53 quintals per hectare in project areas. With an average increase

in income of farmers within project areas being Rs 7,000 per hectare, and considering the average

farm area under cotton to be 3.39 hectares, the IPM programme has led to increase in income to the

tune of Rs. 23,730 per farmer. The year 2006-07 saw a record production of 2.5 million bales of cotton

and widespread adoption of IPM may be seen as one contributing factor. The practice of keeping

scouts in village information centres has added value to the knowledge of farmers vis-à-vis adoption

of package of practices recommended by the PAU. This overall success story led to continuation

of support from the Trust towards interventions of the IPM cotton project in Punjab, through a new

grant to the DoA towards up-scaling the dissemination of cotton-IPM technology during the Kharif

2007 season, across the cotton belt in Punjab, covering 112 villages in ten districts.

Reviving the Green Revolution: Dissemination of IPM in cotton by the DoA has led to a bumper crop in Punjab. The Trust project covered 112 villages in eight cotton growing districts of Punjab.

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The focus during the year was also on the Directorate of Extension Education (DoEE), PAU’s

efforts to disseminate improved production technologies and techniques for Basmati and Groundnut,

thereby popularizing diversified options and leading to reduced pressure on groundwater. This one

year project was demonstrated in several locations in Amritsar district (for Basmati) and successfully

established that higher returns per acre, coupled with savings in irrigation water associated with

the cultivation of Basmati varieties has proved them to be a better and replaceable option to rice.

Similarly, demonstrations within Sangrur district for Groundnut established that its cultivation is more

economical and environmentally sustainable, compared to rice (details within case study). Buoyed

with the efforts made by DoEE, the Trust is upscaling its engagement in the state by collaborating with

the DoA, during Kharif 2007, through two new projects. The first project is towards further upscaling

the promotion of Groundnut as an alternate crop to 375 farmers over 750 acres of land in 15 villages

of Sangrur and Hoshiarpur districts. The beneficiaries are provided with latest technologies including

planter, digger and thresher for groundnut cultivation on community sharing basis. The other project

focuses on upscaling the promotion of Basmati as an alternate crop to 450 farmers over 900 acres

of land in 30 villages of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts. Through both these projects, the

DoA endeavours to transfer the improved Package of Practices developed by PAU through the Trust’s

support to farmers, thereby popularizing Basmati and Groundnut as an alternative to paddy.

Over the years, the districts of west Rajasthan have experienced variable character of rainfall, often

resulting in drought, which manifests in terms of crop failure, unreplenished ground and surface

water resources and deprivation of fodder for cattle, thus adversely affecting the livelihoods of the

people and leading to migration. Realizing that certain preventive measures can mitigate the after

shocks of a poor monsoon, the Trust has pro-actively supported preventive drought proofing efforts in

west Rajasthan. The Trust’s grant to H. H. Maharaja Hanwant Singhji Charitable Trust (MHSCT),

focusing on evolving technological and organisational innovations for integrated development of

drought prone areas located within a cluster of 15 villages in Balesar Panchayat of Jodhpur district

(called Operation Sahyog) came to an end during the year under review. Over a period of four years,

18 water harvesting structures having a storage capacity of 19.5 Million Cubic Feet (MCFT) were

constructed. In addition, four anicuts were constructed through the Irrigation Department, as part of

MHSCT’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Balesar Panchayat. These interventions

have helped in groundwater recharging, improving groundwater quality and meeting increasing

demand for drinking water and irrigation. Data collected from various open wells, tube wells and hand

pumps directly affected by these water harvesting structures show an average rise in groundwater

level of 22 feet. Despite successive failures of monsoons in 2002, 2004 and 2005, the cluster of

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villages continued to enjoy adequate availability of drinking water in their wells and hand pumps. To

supplement safe drinking water, 31 hand pumps were installed with 25% community contribution;

six pucca open wells and seven tankas having total storage capacity of 0.29 Million litres were

constructed with 33% community contribution. 2,557 households have benefited through these

interventions. As the main occupations of the people in the project area are agriculture and animal

husbandry, the Sahyog project tried to improve the quality of both. As many as 491 households have

directly benefited by the agriculture interventions. The project also organized 79 veterinary camps,

bringing down the mortality rate to zero. Overall, 3,824 households benefited directly through this

four year project. Based on this satisfactory impact, the Trust has just sanctioned Phase II, which

would be operationalised in April 2007. This focuses on drought proofing in 29 villages in the Balesar

block of Jodhpur district, west Rajasthan, through ground water recharging, supplementing drinking

water and diversifying and sustaining livelihoods. Activities revolve around enhancing water, food,

fodder and livestock security.

Timely and adequate credit at fair terms, together with other financial services, forms an important

tenet of livelihood promotion. Self Help Groups (SHGs) have been the traditional mechanism where

concerns on gender, institutional development and provision of financial services have converged.

Whilst many of the Trust’s partners promote SHGs as part of their livelihood interventions, there

Greening the Desert - Drought Proofing in Rajasthan: Anicut constructed by MHSCT ensures water to residents of Chhinayatnagar village, Jodhpur district, Rajasthan.

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are select initiatives that focus on microfinance as the inception point, while working towards

improvement in quality of life of underprivileged communities in underserved regions. ‘Sakh Se

Vikas – Rajasthan Microfinance Initiative’, launched by the Trust during 2003-04, is one such

initiative that focuses on developing self sustaining community based microfinance programmes

which improve access to financial services to reduce vulnerability and at the same time, encourage

creation of assets.

The Centre for microFinance (CmF), seeded by the Trust, collaboratively with the concerned

citizens and Government of Rajasthan, in June 2005, was registered as a separate institution during

the year under review. One of the important roles of CmF is that of a resource agency, under which

it focuses on the issue of quality in SHGs in the state. It also supports banks in intensive area wise

planning for financial inclusion. CmF was inducted into the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) this

year and is also a member of the National Advisory Committee of Bank of Baroda. As a knowledge

hub, studies on quality in the state, financial flows were completed and widely disseminated. As an

idea incubator, it has initiated work in insurance and also on financial needs of migrants. CmF has

set up spear head teams in the districts of Bikaner and Dungarpur to demonstrate in field what it

strives for at the state level.

Sakh Se Vikas – Rajasthan Microfinance Initiative: Pastureland development facilitated by PEDO in Waghela village, Dungarpur district, Rajasthan.

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Field projects are expected to serve as demonstration sites for community focused microfinance and

livelihood development. Federations promoted under the programme take up programmes based

on member needs, while the organisation serves as a resource agency for that area. During the

year, Jan Shikha Evam Vikas Sangathan (PEDO) and Ibtada, both strategic partners, completed

one phase of support. An impact assessment study was undertaken by CmF and examined the

social and economic impact of PEDO’s microfinance programme at household level. The study was

conducted in seven clusters across 2.5% of total members. Briefly, the impact revealed that: (a) loans

from money lenders in control groups comprise about 76% of the total loan portfolio of families.

However with members in the field project, this reduced to about 17%, with SHGs comprising about

60% of the total loans accessed; (b) the income of control groups was Rs 18,000, whereas it was

Rs 40,000 for the sample; (c) average saving has increased from Rs 20 to Rs 55 per month; and (d)

there was increased expenditure on health, with 51% of sample households reporting expenditures

of Rs 15,000 against 19% reporting average expenditure of Rs 1,600. In the new phase, PEDO works

towards scaling up livelihood development interventions and collaborations for significant impact

on microfinance in Dungarpur district. It seeks to impact 20,000 women in this underserved region.

Similarly, Ibtada seeks to impact 5,400 women in this region through up-scaling of the programme,

strengthening existing federations through enabling them to work on livelihood promotion and

creating a microfinance resource centre which supports both government and civil society efforts

at community based microfinance.

Sakh Se Vikas – Rajasthan Microfinance Initiative: Rearing of goats is promoted in Patpar bas village, Alwar district, as an income generation activity by Ibtada.

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The Trust has supported Association for Rural Advancement through Voluntary Action and

Local Involvement (ARAVALI) to provide regular handholding support to smaller organisations in

Rajasthan. The second phase of support came to an end during the year. During this period, ARAVALI

worked with 18 small and medium sized organisations, particularly those working in microfinance

programmes. Building on this experience, ARAVALI is now working on improving the livelihoods of

10,000-12,000 rural poor through ten non-profit organisations in six districts of Rajasthan. Over a

three year period, it would support ten partner organisations to maintain financial standards of the

microfinance programme, with savings and credit groups bearing costs of regular functioning by end of

project period. Further, livelihood clusters would be identified and promoted, covering approximately

300 families in each partner organisation. The grant is also expected to also help develop an operational

model and process of working with small and medium organisations for promotion of microfinance in

the state. Also during the year, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, focused on

completion of various research studies undertaken as part of a research programme in the area of

micro finance.

While livelihoods enhancement increases in focus of the grants, the initiative is also interested in model

building around integration of microfinance and livelihoods. Towards this, the Trust has collaborated

with the Government of Rajasthan’s Rs. 6 billion livelihoods enhancement District Poverty Initiatives

Programme (DPIP), focused in seven districts of the state, through grants made to PRADAN and Self

Reliant Initiatives for Joint Action (SRIJAN). PRADAN focused its efforts in Dholpur district, for

promotion of 504 groups across 126 villages in two blocks and in 78 villages in one block of Dausa

district, under the DPIP. Till March 2007, PRADAN has successfully linked 241 groups with two major

livelihood activities, namely, goat rearing and dairy. Three community based institutions have been

created around these activities. Marketing linkages with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)

and Mother Dairy have provided an assured market, with the dairies paying as high as Rs. 15 per litre

to the members. An Integrated Natural Resource Management model has also been developed over

35 hectares and PRADAN proposes to scale up this model to other project areas. Similarly, SRIJAN

focused on improving sustainability of livelihood groups and assets through 200 SHGs across 72

villages of one block in Tonk district, under the DPIP. During the year, dairy activities were promoted

with 44 SHGs, which have been subsequently formed into seven cluster business units. These units

are providing integrated services to their members vis-à-vis procurement and sale of feed, veterinary

services and milk collection and marketing.

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The colloquium, which has come to be recognised as an important forum for discussion and

engagement, was organised in June 2006. A partners’ meet was organised in October 2006, which laid

out the roadmap for the initiative and set clear goals. The partners within Sakh Se Vikas recognised that

the initiative promotes community based, financially viable and development centered microfinance,

for development of the underprivileged communities and underserved areas in Rajasthan. It would,

by 2009, reach out to more than 100,000 families, through direct partners which provide strong

demonstration and engage with mainstream players to collectively influence working of government,

banking and other financial institutions, besides gaining acknowledgement as a knowledge resource,

as reflected in an active role in key decision making forums.

Over the coming year, the Trust’s Sakh Se Vikas would focus on: (a) expansion to select new states,

preferably where there is presence of other initiatives of the Trust; (b) working intensively with banking

institutions to help demonstrate practical approach to financial inclusion; and (c) sector building

initiatives, including work on transparency, accountability and human resource development.

The Trust also made efforts to use microfinance as a means to address development concerns, whilst

supporting the Community Banking Programme of Kalanjiam Foundation, which is spread across

7,209 villages, located in 156 blocks of 31 districts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya

Sakh Se Vikas – Rajasthan Microfinance Initiative: A field visit to Salpuri village, Alwar district, for participants from 23 NPOs from Rajasthan, as part of the Management Development Programme organised by CmF to promote SHG federations.

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For Mary, member of Susaiyappar Kalanjiam in Shanarpatti federation, life has now taken a turn for the ‘brighter’. Working

as agricultural coolies in Kosavapatty village in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, Mary’s family toiled hard to make ends

meet. And when they came home to rest, it was to a house that was dark…like other houses in the village, there was no

electricity connection. “It was sheer hell”, recalls Mary. “Everything had to be done with the support of a kerosene lamp.

Twice, our hut nearly caught fire due to this lamp. Also, my children were bitten by insects and scorpions”. Mary tried to

mobilize funds to get an electricity connection, but due to abject poverty was unable to cough up the deposit amount.

However, things changed when Mary joined the Kalanjiam federation, a while ago, which subsequently provided her

family with a loan of Rs. 5,000. Along with 14 other Kalanjiam members in the village, Mary formed a committee, which

collectively purchased materials for setting up electrical connections, besides appointing a common electrician.

The efforts of Shanarpatti federation for securing electricity connections for members of the Self Help Groups (SHG)

are noteworthy. An initial baseline survey carried out across 45 villages revealed that nearly 400 families spent dark

nights, chiefly because they could not afford to invest on materials and meet the costs involved in erecting electric poles

through the Electricity Board. The federation organised the setting up of committees, such as the one set up by Mary,

and coordinated activities such as approaching the Board, bulk purchase of electrical items, hiring a contractor to do

wiring, etc. Members were provided with loan support upto Rs. 5,000, interest for which was pegged between 12% and

18%. Due to collective action, costs could be minimized and on an average, members of the federation managed to save

Rs. 3,000, as against those that got their homes electrified on their own. An amount of Rs. 1.55 million was disbursed by

the federation for providing 323 connections spread over 45 villages.

Mary is an active member of the Kalanjiam Community Banking Programme, initiated by DHAN Foundation in 1990. The

Trust has supported the establishment and growth of DHAN Foundation as a premier grassroots development agency,

besides its ongoing work, since 1997. In 2004, DHAN Foundation hived off Kalanjiam Foundation - a thematic institution

on community banking - as a separate organisation to upscale this programme, which has played a major role in reducing

the external debt of the marginalized, whilst inculcating the habit of regular savings. Notably, the Programme has increased

its outreach to 137,139 poor families during the Trust’s current phase of support, with a cumulative membership of

347,955 households, spread over 139 locations, as on September 2006. During this period, the members mobilised Rs. 367

million as savings, taking up the cumulative savings to Rs. 745 million. An amount of Rs. 2.01 billion was disbursed to the

members in the groups, adding up the cumulative credit disbursed to Rs. 4.2 billion. The model has been demonstrated

in diverse contexts viz. rural, urban, semi urban and tribal, spread over 27 districts in Southern India.

Life is brighter now: A loan provided to this family by the Kalanjiam Foundation through the Kalanjiam Community Banking Programme for securing an electricity

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Pradesh, Rajasthan and Orissa. The Trust’s on-going second phase of support to the organisation

entered its third year and was significant in terms of expanding the Kalanjiam Community Banking

Programme to few remote tribal pockets of Orissa, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. During the

year, the programme showed an increase of 20% and now reaches out to over 380,000 members

within 23,987 groups. As on March 2007, these groups have Rs. 942 million as total savings, which

is an increase of 41% from last year. During the year, an amount of Rs. 452 million was generated

from banks. Kalanjiam Foundation proposes to strengthen the special initiatives in business

promotion and de-addiction over the next one year, in addition to focusing on stabilizing upscaling

in northern states.

The Trust’s disbursals during the year under review were Rs. 224.02 million (US $ 5.33 million) towards

61 grants, as compared to Rs. 252 million towards 67 grants during 2005-06. This 11% drop in disbursals

can be attributed towards internal reorganisation and subsequent time taken by the teams to settle

into their roles, which prioritized the focus of the Trust’s work during the year. 43% of the disbursals

were made within the Central India Initiative, with 18% and 14% being outlaid towards two other key

initiatives, Himmothan Pariyojana and Kharash Vistarotthan Yojana respectively. With teams now in

place, major expansion of the portfolio, both in terms of reach and disbursals is on the anvil during

the next fiscal. During the coming year, the Trust would also operationalise its five year strategic plan

to help consolidate and strengthen the portfolio, considering the rural development requirements

and priorities of the nation.

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Rural Livelihoods & Communities:Details of grant disbursals in 2006-2007

WATER SECTOR ACTION RESEARCH Rs.

IWMI-Tata Water Policy Research Programme, Anand Towards Phase II of the IWMI-Tata Water Policy Research Programme. Key areas of focus are: (a) holistically addressing the issues of Natural Resources Management (NRM) comprehensively; (b) conducting 80 cutting-edge studies across India; (c) capacity building of water sector researchers; (d) generating ideas for funding opportunities that positively impact livelihoods of the marginalized; and (e) providing and arranging technical support in project appraisal, monitoring and evaluation in the Trust’s NRM based grants. 5,000,000

IWMI-Tata Water Policy Research Programme, Anand Towards Phase II of the ‘North Gujarat Initiative’ (NGI), which augments water availability in Banaskantha, Mehsana and Sabarkantha districts, through promotion of low-cost micro-irrigation and water saving technologies. Activities being undertaken include: (a) setting up experimental farms on agricultural water management; (b) setting up of on-farm demonstrations to try out new micro-irrigation devices and implement practices of organic farming; (c) development of replicable models on sustainable agriculture; (d) documentation and knowledge sharing; (e) promotion of water saving activities; and (f) assisting local partners to undertake promotional activities. 7,100,000

CENTRAL INDIA INITIATIVE (CInI)

Central India Initiative (CInI) Cell, AnandTowards the establishment of the Central India Initiative (CInI) Cell that focuses on dealing with issues relating to the problems of livelihoods of tribal communities in Central India in a comprehensive manner. Key roles played by the CInI Cell include: (a) exploring and incubating new ideas in the field and upscaling selective successful experiments; (b) establishing itself as a knowledge bank for all information related to tribal livelihoods in central India; (c) networking and coordination between civil society organizations, government agencies and donors in the central Indian region; (d) developing brand equity for CInI; and (e) monitoring and providing technical support to the organizations in implementing the CInI strategies. 2,500,000

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Zone A (Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal)

Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN),New Delhi Towards supplementing PRADAN’s efforts at enhancing livelihoods of tribals in 1,600 villages in 11 districts of Jharkhand through women’s Self Help Groups, thereby enhancing food and livelihood security of 47,000 pre-dominantly tribal families. 21,681,000

Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS), JamshedpurTowards enhancing l ivel ihoods of over 20,000 tr ibal famil ies in 21 villages in Seraikela and Kharsawan blocks of Seraikela-Kharsawan d is t r ic t in Jharkhand, by at tempt ing to s tab i l i se Khar i f paddy cultivation, through creation of water resources, soil and moisture conservation measures and providing agriculture extension services. 5,000,000

Indian Grameen Services (IGS), HyderabadTowards providing financial and technical support for supporting livelihood enhancement activities such as: (a) irrigated agriculture interventions; (b) dairy interventions; and (c) tassar cultivation, covering three districts in Jharkhand and benefiting more than 8,200 marginalized families. The grant also supports establishment of Jharkhand Livelihood Enhancement Action Platform (JKLEAP), which aims to enhance the livelihoods of the poor in the state. 2,339,000

Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra (KGVK), RanchiTowards interventions in decentralized water resource development in 16 villages of Ranchi district, Jharkhand, leading to enhanced food and livelihood security of 2,700 predominantly tribal, marginalized families. Activities include revival and renovation of old water resources, construction of community water harvesting structures, agriculture extension and capacity building of the community. 5,637,000

Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK), RanchiTowards an Integrated Natural Resource Management based livelihood project reaching out to 350 tribal families in six villages in Murhu block of Ranchi district, Jharkhand, addressing various livelihood needs of the community, whilst promoting optimum utilization of natural resources. Activities include: (a) establishing and strengthening of community based organizations; (b) agricultural diversification through land and water development; (c) horticulture development; and (d) promotion of enterprises such as goat rearing and lac cultivation. 2,000,000

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Harsha Trust, BhubaneshwarTowards an integrated l ivel ihood development project covering 800 t r i ba l f am i l i es i n 30 v i l l ages i n B i ssamcut tack b lock o f Rayagada district, Orissa. Key activities include: (a) establishing and strengthening of community based organizations; (b) promoting in-situ rain water harvesting; (c) creating irrigation infrastructure; (d) promoting improved agriculture techniques; (e) horticulture development; and (f) livestockdevelopment. 1,500,000

Zone B (Parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh)

Naandi Foundation, Hyderabad Towards revival of 65 defunct lift irrigation schemes in Khammam, Mehboobnagar, Anantpur, Medak, Krishna and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh, thereby improving irrigation in drought-hit areas and benefiting marginal and tribal farmers. Activities include: (a) capacity building and training of the Lift Irrigation Societies (LIS); (b) social mobilization of the LIS; (c) training of youth; (d) civil, electrical and mechanical works for defunct schemes; and (e) agriculturalextension interventions. 10,000,000

Naandi Foundation, HyderabadTowards enhancement of livelihoods of tribal farmers of Araku valley in Vishakapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, through promoting and supporting organic coffee cultivation. Activities include: (a) conducting awareness camps to educate farmers on correct agronomic practices; (b) organizing workshops on organic farming to enhance knowledge; (c) arranging exposure visits to organic farms; and (d) providing marketingsupport for promotion and sale of organic coffee. 539,000

Zone C (Maharashtra and parts of Madhya Pradesh)

Maharashtra Institute of Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (MITTRA), NasikTo w a rd s s u p p l e m e n t i n g M I T T R A’s c o m p re h e n s i v e l i v e l i h o o d promotion ‘Jan Utkarsha’ programme, focusing on development of ‘Wadi’ (orchards), dairy cattle, community health, micro-watersheds and women development programmes, covering 52,500 tribal familiesin 15 districts in Maharashtra. 6,200,000

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Zone D (Gujarat and south Rajasthan)

N. M. Sadguru Water & Development Foundation (Sadguru), Dahod Towards a second phase of support, to supplement Sadguru’s community managed livelihood enhancement programmes, focusing on NRM activities, which benefits 57,000 families in Dahod, Gujarat and Banswara and Jhalawar in Rajasthan. Key activities include: (a) developing 93 new community lift irrigation schemes, irrigating 10,500 acres; (b) construction of 75 water harvesting structures, capable of irrigating 19,000 acres; (c) micro-watershed development covering 12,500 acres; (d) tackling areas of rural water supply and sanitation and rural energy; (e) developing agro forestry and silvipasture over an area of 8,400 acres; (f) promoting horticulture and floriculture over an area of 5,000 acres; (g) strengthening SHGs by supporting them through microfinance activities; and (h) strengthening village institutions. 29,560,000

Rajasthan Rural Institute of Development and Management (RRIDMA), UdaipurTow ard s a l i v e l i h o od p ro mo t io n p r og ram me, wh ic h b en e f i t s 43 ,728 househo lds in 698 v i l l ages in four d i s t r i c t s o f south Rajasthan. Key activities include livestock development, horticulture development, waste land development through jetropha plantation and vermicompost promotion. 1,000,000

Gramin Vikas Trust, JhabuaTowards promoting interventions focusing on sustainable rainfed agriculture and livelihoods improvement of 2,778 tribal farmers in 19 marginal villages of Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh. Activities include: (a) establishing and strengthening of community based organizations; (b) integrated land and water development through promotion of improved agriculture and water management techniques; (c) Wadi (orchard) development; and (d) promotion of usage of high quality seeds forsustaining agriculture. No disbursals

KHARASH VISTAROTTHAN YOJANA (KVY) (Gujarat Coastal Salinity Ingress Prevention and Mitigation Initiative)

Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell (CSPC), AhmedabadTowards the Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell, which coordinates and focuses efforts within on-going projects under KVY. Key activities include: (a) developing a knowledge bank on issues related to coastal salinity; (b) developing new research ideas and innovative concepts for field level piloting; (c) facilitating coordination meetings with the government officials on possible collaborations with CSPC; (d) networking with academic institutions and technical resource agencies; and (e) appraising andreviewing the field projects under KVY. 6,300,000

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Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell (CSPC), AhmedabadTowards enabling CSPC to implement enhanced water resources management measures through a participatory approach at Medha Creek in Porbandar Taluka, Porbandar district, Gujarat and Nicole Bandhara in Mahua Taluka, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat. The proposed lift irrigation schemes address the issue of deficiency of irrigation water for about 130 families over an area covering 670 acres. The project also focuses on: (a) micro-watershed development through moisture conservation activities; (b) promoting water efficient irrigation systems; and (c) providinginputs and training in agriculture and animal husbandry. No disbursals Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) (AKRSP(I)), Ahmedabad Towards a second phase of support under KVY, to mitigate and prevent coastal salinity ingress across 28 coastal villages in Mangrol, Malia and Veraval talukas of Junagadh district, Gujarat. Activities include: (a) generating wider awareness about the deteriorating conditions resulting from salinity ingress and its solutions; (ii) promoting adoption of water use efficient agronomic practices and devices; (iii) continuing to develop a set of replicable models for community managed economically sustainable drinking water schemes; (iv) developing a model on principles of river basin treatment to augment the water resources; and (v) assisting villageinstitutions to evolve and implement strategies already tested. 5,000,000

Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), KodinarTowards a second phase of support under KVY, to mitigate and prevent coastal salinity ingress across 17 coastal villages in Kodinar and Sutrapada talukas of Junagadh district, Gujarat. Activities involve developing: (a) an integrated package to combat salinity with active participation of local communities; (ii) a cost effective and innovative demand and supply water management and agriculture model for efficient utilization of available water; and (iii) a network with government and development agencies for faster replication of successfulinterventions with active participation of various stakeholders. No disbursals Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), KodinarTowards supporting fresh interventions to mitigate and prevent coastal salinity ingress in five coastal villages in Jafarabad taluka of Amreli district, Gujarat. Activities involve developing: (a) an integrated package to combat salinity with active participation of local communities; (ii) a cost effective and innovative demand and supply water management and agriculture model for efficient utilization of available water; and (iii) a network with government and development agencies for faster replication of successfulinterventions with active participation of various stakeholders. No disbursals

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Vivekanand Research and Training Institute (VRTI), Mandvi, (Kutch) For developing and implementing a comprehensive programme on managing salinity, with the objective of tackling salinity ingress in 18 coastal villages in Mundra taluka in Kutch. Activities include: (i) capacity building and formation of community organizations; (ii) revival of salt affected horticulture plantations and establishment of new ones; (iii) group irrigation; (iv) promotion of water savingtechnologies; and (v) construction of water harvesting structures. 16,600,000

Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD), MithapurTo develop a model on salinity management through a pilot in Okhamandal taluka on the Jamnagar coast in Saurashtra, involving agricultural, groundwaterrecharge and drinking water interventions in six villages. 1,068,000

HIMMOTHAN PARIYOJANA

Himmothan Cell, Dehradun Towards formation of the Himmothan Cell in Dehradun and subsequent seed support to the entity. Amongst other things, the Cell: (a) plays the role of an ‘idea incubator’ by exploring new innovations, particularly in the area of Natural Resource Management (NRM), livelihood strategies and up-scaling select pilots; (b) develops a knowledge bank and database on the status and management needs of natural resources and rural development issues in Uttarakhand and identifies areas of livelihood potential; (c) facilitates linkages between the state Government, partner non-profit organisations and technical institutions to develop sustainable and scaleable strategies; (d) creates a unique identity for this initiative through brand building efforts; (e) assists in the monitoring of the on-going projects under Himmothan Pariyojana and provide technical inputs to organizations participating in this programme; and (f) acts as a network and coordinating unit between all Himmothan Pariyojana partners. 4,000,000

Enhancing Rural Livelihoods through Participatory Watershed Development (Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh)

Peoples’ Science Institute, Dehradun Towards undertaking the capacity building of non-profit organisations in Himachal Pradesh and Garhwal region of Uttarakhand in community managed watershed development and provide technical support to on-going watershed projects. 900,000

Chinmaya Tapovan Trust (CTT), Kangra Towards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat 582 hectares in the Bhagan Khadd watershed, covering three villages in KandKardiyana Panchayat of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. No disbursals

Himalayee Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan (HPSS), Tehri GarhwalTowards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat 562 hectares in the Nagudagad watershed, covering five villages in Pratapnagarblock of Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand. No disbursals


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Himalayan Jan Kalyan Evam Bal Vikas Samiti (HJKEBVS), RudraprayagTowards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat 573 hectares in the Bhanajgad watershed, covering four villages in Agustyamuni block of Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. No disbursals

Gram Sewa Sansthan (GSS), Tehri GarhwalTowards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat 502 hectares of Inangad watershed, covering four villages in Bhillangana block of Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand. No disbursals

Samaj Kalyan Evam Vikas Mandal (SKVM), MandiTowards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat 509 hectares of the Kotlu Nala watershed, covering six revenue villages in TebbanGram Panchayat, in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. 301,000

Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation, RanikhetTowards a three year watershed development project that initiates community forestry on 90 hectares of contiguous degraded hill slopes, besides bringing 90 acres of farm land under improved irrigation systems in five villages in the Pidyadhar micro-watershed area in Sirmaur District, Himachal Pradesh. No disbursals

Mount Valley Development Association (MVDA), Tehri Garhwal Towards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat 465 hectares of the Semgadhera watershed, covering five villages in Bhilanganablock of Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand. 813,000

Jan Vikas Sansthan (JVS), Tehri Garhwal Towards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat 376 hectares of the Hilaigad watershed, covering five villages in Jakholi block ofTehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand. 670, 000

Society for Environment and Rural Awakening (ERA), Kangra Towards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat 502 hectares of the Nakehad Khad watershed, covering eight villages inDol-Khariyana and Thil Panchayat of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. 920,000

Garhwal Vikas Kendra (GVK), Nainbagh, Tehri Garhwal Towards a three year comprehensive micro-watershed development project, to treat 644 hectares of Duggada Khad watershed, covering five villages in Jaunpur block of Tehri hectares of Duggada Khad watershed, covering five villages inJaunpur block of Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand. 600,000

Social Awareness Through Human Involvement (SATHI), KatliTowards a three year comprehensive watershed development project to treat 464 hectares of Runnja Khala watershed, covering four villages in Sarahan blockof Sirmour district, Himachal Pradesh. 1,000,000

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Manav Vikas Sansthan (MVS), KalolTowards a three year comprehensive watershed development project to treat 456 hectares of Silh Nala watershed, covering four villages in Jhanduta block of Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh. 1,048,000

Enhancing Rural Livelihoods through Participatory Watershed Management (Kumaon region)

Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG), Sitla Towards undertaking the capacity building of non profit organisations in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand in community managed watershed development. The grant also supports a Natural Resources Management project in Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand, in which the key activities include afforestation, protection of degraded sites, water management, soil conservation and introduction ofappropriate technologies. 600,000

Berinag Gram Swarajya Mandal (BGSM), Kande Towards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat the 595 hectare Sheragarh watershed, covering three villages in Berinag blockof Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. 1,228,000

Kasturba Mahila Utthan Mandal (KMUM), Kausani Towards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat the 517 hectare Sarkhet micro-watershed, covering eight villages in Dhauladeviblock of Almora district, Uttarakhand. 1,300,000

General Rural Advancement Society (GRAS), Lohaghat Towards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat the 503 hectares of Dewal Gar watershed, covering four villages in Barakoteblock of Champawat district, Uttarakhand. 1,100,000

Grameen Vikas Samiti (GVS), KotabaghTowards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat the 805 hectare Khamari watershed, covering three villages in Bhimtal block ofNainital district, Uttarakhand. 902,000

Himalayan Gram Vikas Samiti (HGVS), GangolihatTowards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat the 561 hectares of Kaligarh watershed, covering two villages in Berinag blockof Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. 1,217,000

Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG), SitlaTowards a three year comprehensive watershed development project, to treat the 528 hectares of Ganghalkuluwa watershed, covering three villages inHawalbagh block of Almora district, Uttarakhand. 877,000

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Voluntary Association for the Development of Hills of Uttarakhand (VADHU), Purani Abkari, Almora Towards a three year comprehensive micro-watershed project to treat 447 hectares of the Malli Ryuni watershed, covering two villages of Dwarahat blockof Almora district, Uttarakhand. 962,000

Rural Initiatives for Social Engineering (RISE), Manglata, Almora Towards a three year comprehensive micro-watershed project to treat 596 hectares of Bridh Jageshwar watershed, covering five villages in Bhaisiyachanablock of Almora district, Uttarakhand. 1,187,000

Association for Rural Planning and Action (ARPAN), Helpia, Pithoragarh Towards a three year comprehensive micro-watershed project to treat 702 hectares of Beragardh watershed, covering five villages in Kanalichina block ofPithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. 1,072,000

Himalayan Sewa Samiti (HSS), Dharapani, Pithoragarh Pithoragarh Towards a three year comprehensive micro-watershed project to treat 587 hectares of Kandali-Pali watershed, covering four villages in Kanalichinnablock of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. 1,065,000

Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG), Sitla Towards providing monitoring and technical support to implementing organizations in Kumaon region during their watershed implementation phase, through: (a) technical support; (b) soil & water conservation and other technical trainings; and (c) providing capacity building trainings to the members of Watershed Committeesand Village Development Committees (VDC). 1,627,000

Improving Community Health through Drinking Water and Sanitation Interventions

Himalayan Gram Vikas Samiti (HGVS), GangolihatTowards a two year Implementation - cum Operations & Maintenance Phase that supports village level water and sanitation management societies to implement, operate and maintain drinking water and sanitation schemes in 11 villages inBageshwar and Pithoragarh districts, Uttarakhand. 180,000

Himalayan Gram Vikas Samiti (HGVS), GangolihatTowards a one year planning phase (under Phase 2 of Himmothan Pariyojana) to set up management societies in 10 villages in Munisyari and Gangolihat blocks of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, which would consequently endeavour to provide491 households with potable water and improved sanitation. 2,000,000

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Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), Jolly GrantTowards a two year Implementation - cum Operations & Maintenance Phase that supports village level water and sanitation management societies to implement, operate and maintain drinking water and sanitation schemes in 12 villages inTehri-Garhwal district, Uttarakhand. 430,000

Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), Jolly GrantTowards a one year planning phase (under Phase 2 of Himmothan Pariyojana) in collaboration with Hilton Foundation, USA, to set up management societies in 20 villages in Jaunpur block of Tehri Garhwal district and Chakrata block of Dehradun district, Uttarakhand, which would consequently endeavour to provide939 households with potable water and improved sanitation. 2,000,000

Society for Motivation Training & Action (SMTA), Vikas NagarTowards a one year Implementation Phase that supports village level water and sanitation management societies to implement, operate and maintain drinking water and sanitation schemes in 11 villages in Uttarkashi and Dehradun districts,Uttarakhand. 1,207,500

Kassar Trust, Bageshwar, UttaranchalTowards a two year Implementation - cum Operations & Maintenance Phase that supports Jal Prabandhan Samitis (Water Management Committees) to implement, operate and maintain drinking water and sanitation schemes in 11 villages inBageshwar and Chamoli districts, Uttarakhand. 3,336,800

Livelihood Enhancement through Farm and Non-farm Activities Centre for Organic Farming (COF-I), Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB), DehradunTowards a collaboration with the Government of Uttarakhand to support COF, which performs as a capacity building and decentralized marketing and training institution, providing technical and marketing expertise to UOCB to promoteorganic activities in the state. 1,000,000

Centre for Organic Farming (COF-I), Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB), DehradunTowards a market-centric second phase of support that takes forward the success of the earlier phase, by providing livelihood opportunities through organic farming in Uttarakhand, thereby bringing an area of 25,000 hectares under organic certification by 2010 and benefiting 50,000 farmers. Key activities include: (a) strengthening and supporting the Technical and Marketing Cells; (b) rural institutional building; (c) expansion of Organic Basmati Export Programme(OBEP); and (d) development of informative organic publication. No disbursals

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Centre for Organic Farming (COF-II), Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB), DehradunTowards creating an annex to the existing Centre for Organic Farming, at Machkhali in Almora district, namely (COF-II), focusing on hilly regions in middle Himalayas. Key activities include: (a) research and development to make organic farming more viable; (b) monitoring the bio-village programme being implemented by the agricultural department in the central Uttaranchal region; (c) marketing agricultural produce for export; (d) establishing a centre to provide trainings in organic farming to farmers, government agencies and non-profit organizations; (e) developing a model for organic horticulture in Uttarakhand; and (f) promotingorganic interventions in excessive chemical prone belts. 2,200,000

Uttarakhand Bamboo and Fiber Development Board (UBFDB), Dehradun Board (UOCB), DehradunTowards bamboo and fiber based livelihood promotion in Uttarakhand. Key activities include: (a) developing awareness amongst the rural communities to encourage adoption of bamboo and fiber based farm and non-farm activities; (b) setting up a functional state-level, high technology nursery; (c) establishing Ajivika Vatikas (livelihood forests) to showcase livelihood options; (d) setting up community managed plantations with Van Panchayats; (e) undertaking research on plantation techniques; and (f) capacity building of rural communities, especiallywomen. No disbursals

REVIVING THE GREEN REVOLUTION

Crop Diversification

Directorate of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), LudhianaTowards developing a cost effective model for up-scaling and extending cultivation of groundnut and Basmati in Sangrur and Amritsar districts respectively with the objective of assisting the GoP in implementing the diversification process and reviving agricultural growth. Improved production technology for groundnut is adopted in two villages in Ahmedgarh block of Sangrur district and improvedproduction technology for Basmati is adopted in one village of Amritsar district. No disbursals

Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), LudhianaTowards further refining cost effective models to promote and popularise Basmati / Groundnut – Wheat as an alternate to Rice - Wheat cropping systems in eightvillages in Amritsar and Sangrur districts of Punjab. No disbursals

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Department of Plant Breeding, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), LudhianaTowards further developing replicable technologies and a well rounded package of practices for cultivation of groundnut as an alternate crop. Key activities include: (a) screening new varied germ plasmas against major diseases and insect pests; (b) developing high yielding, early maturing, disease and insect resistant varieties of groundnut by utilizing already identified resistant stocks; and (c) enhancing the seed production of SG 99 and promoting its adoption inPunjab. 690,000

Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), LudhianaTowards a comprehensive programme that focuses on rice-residue management, by encouraging farmers to incorporate rice residue, in place of burning it, which causes environmental pollution resulting into nutrient loss. The programme also: (a) examines the effect of rice residue incorporation on growth and productivity of rice, wheat and Raya; (b) examines the effect of additional Nitrogen on decomposition and rice residue, release of nutrients and on subsequent crops; and (iii) monitors the available nutrient content of soil and their uptake by crops,as influenced by rice residue incorporation. No disbursals

Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), LudhianaTowards working out an integrated approach for controlling hardy weeds in maize and groundnut, which are promoted as alternate crops, through conducting experiments at 14 farms in Hoshiarpur and Sangrur districts, where problemsof these target weeds are prevalent. 509,000

Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab (GoP), Chandigarh Towards upscaling Groundnut as an alternate crop to 375 farmers over 750 acres of land in 15 villages of Sangrur and Hoshiarpur districts. The beneficiaries are provided with latest technologies including planter, digger and thresher for groundnut cultivation on community sharing basis. The Department endeavours to transfer the improved Package of Practices developed by PAU through the Trust’s support to farmers, thereby resulting in popularizing groundnut as analternative to paddy. No disbursals

Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab (GoP), Chandigarh Towards upscaling Basmati as an alternate crop to 450 farmers over 900 acres of land in 30 villages of Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. The Department endeavours to transfer the improved Package of Practices developed by PAU through the Trust’s support to farmers, thereby resulting in popularizingBasmati as an alternative to paddy. No disbursals

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Directorate of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana Towards popularizing the concept of ‘kitchen gardens’, which helps increase the income of farmers and self sustaining their economy through savings on expenditure for household consumption of vegetables, fruits and pulses, which could be cultivated in their own fields by adopting integrated kitchen gardening aspects. The project covers 500 families in ten villages, across ten districts ofPunjab. No disbursals

Integrated Pest Management in Cotton

Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), LudhianaTowards further developing, validating and disseminating cotton-Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technology in eight villages in Bhatinda, Ferozpur, Mansa and Muktsar districts of Punjab, with the objective of reducing indiscriminate usageof insecticide, thereby enhancing productivity of cotton. 2,000,000

Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab (GoP), ChandigarhTowards up-scaling the dissemination of cotton-IPM technology during the Kharif 2007 season, across the cotton belt in Punjab, covering 112 villages in tendistricts. No disbursals

Water Resources Development

Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), LudhianaTowards a three year project for demonstrating saving in irrigation water in different cropping systems vis-à-vis the prevalent rice-wheat system, in Bhogpur, Bhawanigarh and Bagha Purana blocks of Jalandhar, Sangrur and Faridkotdistricts of Punjab respectively. No disbursals

DROUGHT PROOFING IN WEST RAJASTHAN

H.H. Maharaja Hanwant Singhji Charitable Trust (MHSCT), JodhpurTowards Project Sahyog – Phase II, which focuses on drought proofing in 29 villages in the Balesar block of Jodhpur district, west Rajasthan, through ground water recharging, supplementing drinking water and diversifying and sustaining livelihoods. Activities revolve around enhancing water, food, fodderand livestock security. No disbursals

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SAKH SE VIKAS (RAJASTHAN MICROFINANCE INITIATIVE)

Centre for microFinance (CmF), JaipurTowards the Centre for microFinance (CmF) set up to catalyse the microfinance sector in Rajasthan by serving as: (a) a knowledge hub; (b) a resource agency which actively encourages significant players to improve quality of interventions; (c) an idea incubator which pilots and supports innovations to increase the effectiveness of microfinance for the underprivileged; and (d) a collaborator and network for information sharing and closer working of different stakeholders.CmF is also the nodal agency of Sakh Se Vikas.. 2,638,000

Field Implementation Projects

Jan Shiksha Evam Vikas Sangathan (PEDO), Dungarpur Towards strengthening livelihoods and reducing vulnerabilities in Dungarpur district, Rajasthan, through strengthening of 245 Self Help Groups (SHGs) andtheir apex institutions, covering 4,550 women. No disbursals

Jan Shiksha Evam Vikas Sangathan (PEDO), Dungarpur Towards scaling up livelihood development interventions and collaborations for significant impact on microfinance in Dungarpur district, Rajasthan. The project seeks to impact 20,000 women in this underserved region over a three year period through: (i) up-scaling; (ii) strengthening existing federations through enabling them to work on livelihood promotion; and (iii) creating a microfinance resource centre which supports both government and civil society efforts at communitybased microfinance. 1,500,000

Ibtada, Alwar Towards improving quality of life for women through savings and credit based women’s institutions, besides scaling up livelihood development and collaborations. The project seeks to impact 5,400 women in this region over a three year period through: (i) up-scaling; (ii) strengthening existing federations through enabling them to work on livelihood promotion; and (iii) creating a microfinance resource centre which supports both government and civil societyefforts at community based microfinance. 2,000,000

Hanuman Van Vikas Samiti (HVVS), SakrodaTowards consolidation of a micro finance programme, which strengthens savings and credit groups, covering over 2,800 women in 45 villages in Udaipur district, Rajasthan. The project also aims to promote cluster level bodies, initiate additional services through health initiatives, initiate livelihood promotion,enhance capacity of staff and undertake qualitative studies. 383,020

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Association for Rural Advancement through Voluntary Action & Local Involvement (ARAVALI), Jaipur Towards enhancing effectiveness of 20 implementing organizations and their micro finance programmes, through placement of young professionals, training and organizational development support; augmenting ARAVALI’s capacity as a resource agency; and organizing the Sir Ratan Tata Trust Colloquium onmicrofinance in Rajasthan. No disbursals

Association for Rural Advancement through Voluntary Action & Local Involvement (ARAVALI), Jaipur Towards supporting implementation of microfinance programmes through ten small and medium non profit organisations in six districts of Rajasthan, to demonstrate a working model of initiating self sustainingmicrofinance programmes with small and medium organisations. 4,000,000

Supplementing grants to District Poverty Initiatives Programme (DPIP)

Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN),New Delhi. Towards improving sustainability of 504 livelihood groups and assets through SHGs across 126 villages in two blocks of Dholpur district and in 78 villages in one block of Dausa district, Rajasthan, under the DPIP. The grant offers critical support for demonstrations that helps strengthen groups and establish forwardand backward linkages. 4,000,000

Self Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action (SRIJAN), New DelhiTowards improving sustainability of livelihood groups and assets through 200 SHGs across 72 villages of one block in Tonk district, Rajasthan, under the DPIP. The grant offers critical support for demonstrations that help strengthen groups and establish forward and backward linkages. 3,500,000

DEVELOPMENT AND MICROFINANCE

Kalanjiam Foundation (KF), MaduraiTowards core support for Kalanjiam Foundation’s community banking programme, for formation of 4,100 groups covering 61,500 women members. The support helps KF to initiate direct action in 25 new locations and leverage funds from other donors for initiating 75 new locations in select areas of Karnataka, TamilNadu and Andhra Pradesh. 7,500,000

RESEARCH ON MICRO FINANCE Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad Towards a research programme in the area of micro finance that develops a comprehensive research agenda around identified themes, including financialproducts and the policy environment for micro finance institutions. No disbursals

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MICRO – ENTERPRISES Just Change Trust, Gudalur Towards seed support to set up a community trading structure in commodities, including rice, tea and coconut oil, for livelihood enhancement,benefiting upto 14,000 families. 2,000,000

OTHERS Cornell – Sathguru Foundation for Development, Hyderabad Towards providing exposure to 63 students at three agriculture universities, namely Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad and Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Hyderabad, thereby making them well versed withdomestic and global issues in agriculture and agribusiness. 3,990,000

H.H. Maharaja Hanwant Singhji Charitable Trust (MHSCT), Jodhpur Towards ‘Operation Sahayata – Phase IV, which supports flood relief activities in five villages of Balasar Panchayat in Shiv Tehsil of Barmer District, Rajasthan, which were affected by a four day spell of unprecedented heavy rainfall. Key activities include distribution of health and preventive medicines to 100 households, providing shelter through construction of87 dwellings and veterinary cover for the livestock. 2,000,000

National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi Towards a research programme on rural infrastructure, which fed into thepublication of the Rural Infrastructure Report during 2006-07. No disbursals

Drought Proofing in Rajasthan: Interventions by MHSCT have enhanced food security for this villager in Balesar Panchayat, Jodhpur district, Rajasthan.

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Institutional grants : Education

The bill on education as a fundamental right was drafted in 2005. However, to the disappointment of

many, instead of passing the legislation at the Parliament, it was forwarded to the state governments

as a Model Right to Education Bill, 2006. This move has been seen as the government’s refusal

for taking full responsibility of the large number of children who cannot avail quality education,

even after 60 years of independence. Nevertheless, the 86th constitutional amendment to make

Education a fundamental right, which increased allocation for the education sector and acceptance

of Universalisation of Education as a goal to strive for, are important developments of the past few

years.

2007-08 would be the first year of implementation of India’s Eleventh Five Year Plan. The planning

document recognizes that one of the key problems pertaining to elementary education is its poor

quality, resulting in abysmal learning levels among large majority of students, even after completing

primary levels of education. The need for strengthening teacher education, enforcing accountability

of the school system and wider role of schooling in overall development and well being of the child,

beyond achieving basic literacy, has been reiterated in the document. Developing suitable mechanisms

for tackling some of the key systemic constraints of school education in India, however, requires critical

insights based on sound database, concerted action and steadfast commitment from the government

and the civil society to ensure that every child can avail education of respectable quality.

Recognizing these challenges, the Education portfolio of the Trust continues to promote innovation

through field projects, knowledge building and institutional support to facilitate larger systemic

changes. During the year, the Trust’s grant making efforts were focused on the following three sub-

themes:

• Reforming Elementary Education

• Nurturing Education as a Discipline

• Building Institutional Resource in Education

Within the first sub-theme, the Trust focuses on supporting quality interventions addressing some of

the critical gaps in the field of elementary education. Emphasis is also laid on supporting good quality

field projects that address issues of quality of education through partnership with the government

and the community and develop focused initiatives to address neglected areas in elementary

education.

Education

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Acting upon the assumption that large-scale programmes, in collaboration with the existing

government structures and the community, have the potential to bring about systemic change, the

Trust focuses on supporting organizations to conceive and implement field projects that address issues

of quality of elementary education at cluster, block or the district level. These projects are essentially

collaborative in nature, by initiating partnership with the government and the community – two key

players in the field of education. Most projects work with the local community to enhance their

understanding of education, whilst building their capacities to effectively monitor the functioning of

government schools in the village. Simultaneously, the field projects also engage with the educational

administration, to strengthen the quality of educational planning and administration, as well as

teacher training, by working with Cluster and Block Resource Persons and the District Institute of

Education and Training (DIET).

The Trust’s support to National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) towards the ‘Vidyankura’

project (District Quality Education Programme) in Chamrajanagar district, Karnataka, entered into

a third year of collaboration with the Government of Karnataka, with the aim of improving quality

of education in Chamrajanagar district. During the year, Integrated Block and Cluster Development

(IBCD) being facilitated by the organisation succeeded in creating a pool of Master Resource Persons

(MRP) for Kannada, Maths and English at the block and district levels. Its School Community Contact

Programme developed valuable database on school performance; worked on the Government of

Karnataka’s bridge programme for out-of-school children; and studied the Karnataka School Quality

Assessment Organization (KSQAO) process in Chamrajanagar. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has now shown

interest in upscaling the Language Development Programme in the entire district. Collaboration with

the newly established DIET in the district also took off, with NIAS placing loan faculty to work with

the DIET team for bringing greater district specificity in its plans and actions.

The Trust also supported Naandi Foundation towards a district level educational intervention for

enhancing quality of education in 220 elementary government schools in three blocks of Sheopur

district of Madhya Pradesh through developing an interface with the district administration and the

community. The second phase of engagement with the organisation, which was operationalised

during the year under review, focuses on direct academic support to children by Bal-mitras, inputs

to teachers, periodic assessment of children and focused support to the girl child. The Trust also

supported Samavesh, towards strengthening elementary education in one block each of Harda and

Dewas districts of Madhya Pradesh. During the year, Samavesh completed a baseline survey, post

which it developed induction training modules and trained 50 field level workers, namely Balmitras

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and Janmitras. An MoU was signed with the Rajya Shiksha Kendra, Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Similarly, Lokmitra focused on improving quality of elementary schools in select blocks of Raebareli

district, Uttar Pradesh. During the year, four schools were selected for undertaking direct interventions

(including four types of pedagogic interventions, besides several managerial interventions) and two

‘Shiksha Karmis’ were placed in each of them. Lokmitra also developed materials for mathematics

and language learning at the primary level.

Recognizing the importance of robust professional development of teachers for sustaining lasting

changes in elementary education, the Trust focuses on strengthening of teacher education

programmes, besides sustaining development of teachers through supporting ‘Teacher Resource

Centres’ which: (a) provide space for sustained programmatic intervention for growth and learning

of teachers; (b) enable continuous teacher development inputs that are closely linked with

classroom practice and needs of teachers; and (c) provide for a variety of professional support

services to teachers ranging from subject based training, classroom based research, pre-designed

training programmes. During the year, along with the existing grants to Suvidya and The Teacher

Foundation, the Trust made new grants to Deenabandhu and Pravah. Whilst Deenabandhu is

setting up a school based Teacher Resource Centre in Chamrajanagar, to provide professional inputs

to in-house and government school teachers in 18 government schools, Pravah is establishing a

Children from a government school reading a wall paper produced by Lokmitra, as part of its educational interventions in Deeh, Raebareli district, Uttar Pradesh.

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For Darshan, all of ten years old, Maths periods used to be plain drudgery. Studying in class 5 at the Government High Primary School in Kamalamahadi, Kolar district, Karnataka, Darshan’s ‘mathphobia’ was shared by most of his classmates. But then, the students were not entirely to blame. Recalls Sowmya, Darshan’s teacher, “Being basically a languages teacher, I was never confident of teaching Maths effectively. Inculcated with the common perception that Maths is only about computations, I was really boring my students no end. To add to this, the resources for teaching Maths went as far as a dull blackboard and a few cut-outs. I desperately wanted to do something about it”.

In June 2006, Darshan’s school became a part of Suvidya’s ‘Teacher Resource Centre (TRC)’ project and his teacher Sowmya started attending TRC workshops, which were a revelation of pedagogical aids, both instructive and entertaining. “I took to the trainings immediately and liked the way in which difficult concepts were explained through simple games and activities…I re-discovered Maths in a different way, which subsequently changed my perception of Maths teaching”, gushes Sowmya excitedly, as her class works its way through a Maths exercise.

With over 800,000 primary schools, employing over 3.2 million elementary teachers and reaching out to 118 million school going children, the country has made remarkable inroads over the past two decades whilst providing access and enrolling children in primary schools. On the flip-side, however, high drop-out rates, low levels of learning and inadequate infrastructure continue to plague the elementary education system. Undoubtedly, teachers play a critical role in determining the classroom environment and transacting the curriculum. Non-performance of teachers is commonly perceived as one of the primary causes of the failure of the education system. Recognizing the importance of robust professional development of teachers for sustaining lasting changes in elementary education, the Trust has focused upon setting up and supporting ‘Teacher Resource Centres’, which: (a) provide space for sustained programmatic intervention for growth and learning of teachers; (b) enable continuous teacher development inputs that are closely linked with classroom practice and needs of teachers; and (c) provide for a variety of professional support services to teachers ranging from subject based training, classroom based research, pre-designed training programmes, etc.

The Trust is implementing the TRC initiative in a phased manner. Five TRCs have been set up in Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore and Chamrajnagar, in partnership with Suvidya and The Teacher Foundation, both based in Bangalore and Deenabandhu, located in Chamrajnagar, Karnataka. Suvidya’s Bangalore based TRC works with teachers from ten schools in the vicinity and facilitates their professional development through sustained classroom based support. The Trust has recently partnered with Pravah for setting up a TRC in Delhi, focusing on life skills and citizenship education and with Delhi University for setting up Regional Resource Centre in order to create a forum for professional development of teachers.

Training Teachers: Suvidya’s Teacher Resource Centre team holding a professional development workshop for teachers in mathematics education.

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Teacher Resource Centre in Delhi, focusing on life skills and citizenship education. Following two

satisfying phases of support through its Small Grant Programme, the Trust made a new grant to Inter

University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), towards supporting and expanding

the work of its science centre for children set up in Pune. The facility demonstrates effective teaching

of science to children through hands-on activities and low-cost toys, besides setting up centres in

select schools / non-profits.

The Trust also continued its support to the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) and SAHAJ.

Whilst CEE, through its ‘Environmental Education in Schools of Andhra Pradesh’ (EESAP) programme,

strengthened environmental education in around 1,465 schools in 39 clusters in Andhra Pradesh,

SAHAJ expanded the scope of science and mathematics teacher education programmes in

Baroda district, Gujarat. Three science resource centres in Baroda, Bharuch and Khavada (Paccham

Block), Kutch, have been set up by SAHAJ in schools that serve as Cluster Resource Centres for

surrounding schools, promoting activity based science teaching among teachers and students.

SAHAJ organised an ‘Innovative Science Teacher’s Competition’ in which 39 teachers submitted

models, besides facilitating a science fair, in which 2,300 children from 14 corporation schools and

14 private schools, as well as children from bastis participated. The organisation also generated

resource material, including revised versions of ‘Shodhkhol’ books in Gujarati and Discovery books

Children make a presentation on water saving at the Deenabandhu Primary School in Chamrajanagar, Karnataka.

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in English for classes V, VI and VII, three concept books in Gujarati and Kutchi for primary education

programmes, two books in Gujarati on science concepts, science kit and interactive exhibition posters

on Earth Sciences and science experiments.

The Trust’s Publication Initiative, branded ‘Parag’,

focuses on publication of books in various Indian

languages, supporting professional development

among illustrators, writers and publishers and

dissemination of professional writing, besides

facilitating networking among publishers and

educationalists. Along with the existing grants

to Eklavya, Centre for Learning Resources

(CLR) and Anveshi – Research Centre

for Women’s Studies, the Trust made a

new grant during the year to Nirantar for

developing educational material with focus on

neo-literate adult readers, enhancing capacities

of practitioners to critically engage with issues

of gender and education and impart skills for

participatory material creation.

Whilst the importance of education as a key component for social development cannot be underplayed;

as a discipline, education remains largely under-developed, thereby leading to a scarcity of shared

and informed body of knowledge that guides sound policy decisions or practice in the field. Acting

upon one of the key recommendations of the Trust’s own Education Review (April 2005), the Trust has

focused its resources in: (a) linking higher education with elementary education through collaborative

networks, fellowships and research; and (b) professionalizing elementary education. Within the

former, the Trust had earlier supported a team from the Zakir Hussain Centre for Educational Studies

(ZHCES) at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to conduct a baseline study to understand the

classroom transactions and children’s performance in four government schools in Delhi. The baseline

study was part of JNU’s efforts towards setting up the ‘University – School Resource Network

(USRN)’, to create meaningful linkages between institutes of higher learning and elementary schools.

Based on the findings and recommendations of this successful planning phase, the initiative has

been scaled up with new grants being sanctioned to JNU, Institute of Home Economics (IHE),

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The large stall at the book fair in Bhopal is bustling with people, some picking up paperbacks, some merely browsing. In a corner, an eight year old girl thumbs through a pictorial book on Origami titled ‘Ek Aadhar Anek Aakar’, her wide eyes reflecting contentment. “Ma, what beautiful flowers in this book”, she calls out to her mother who replies, “Yes my child…this world is very beautiful too”. The child then goes about her book, while the mother keeps herself busy. It may seem inconsequential to mention here that the mother is sight-impaired, but then, the conservation brings to light the potential that Eklavya’s publication has on a growing child. ‘Ek Aadhar Anek Aakar’ is amongst the basket of new books that Bhopal based Eklavya publishes every year.

With Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Government of India’s programme for universalisation of elementary education gaining momentum, the number of children entering primary schools is ever increasing and consequently, the need for age appropriate, graded educational material for instructional and recreational purposes is being widely acknowledged and sorely felt by educationists. There is a paucity of appropriate children’s literature in various regional languages and neo-literate readers. Further, professional development of teachers and educational practitioners also depends on availability of suitable material that builds understanding and perspective on critical issues in education. Hence, development and dissemination material for children, youth and practitioners is necessary, in order to make elementary education accessible and meaningful for every child.

Recognizing this, the Trust launched its Publication Initiative during 2005-06, later branded Parag, which promotes innovative publishing in educational material to improve the quality of India’s elementary education, whilst encompassing: (a) publication of books in various Indian languages; (b) professional development among illustrators, writers and publishers; (c) dissemination of professional writing; and (d) networking among publishers and educationalists. The Trust’s support to Eklavya enables the organisation to enrich its publication programme, through 75 new titles, enhance its marketing set-up and strengthen its Children’s Literature Resource Centre. Besides Eklavya, the other organisations partnering with the Trust within Parag include: (a) Anveshi, Hyderabad, which is developing ten books each in Malayalam, Telugu and English, depicting lives and experiences of children from marginalized communities; (b) Nirantar, Delhi, which develops educational material for neo-literates in the form of a bimonthly magazine besides producing a variety of teaching learning material; (c) Pragat Shikshan Sanstha, Phaltan, towards publication of a supplementary reader, ‘Everyday English’ and a teacher’s handbook, for teaching of English as a second language in select government middle schools in Phaltan, Maharashtra; and (d) Centre for Learning Resources (CLR), Pune which is developing bilingual reading material for school children, in Marathi / Hindi – English format, consisting of instructional material, recreational and reference material.

A visitor selects titles at a Pitara outlet run by Eklavya to promote publication and dissemination of educational material.

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and Delhi University. Two centres within JNU are participating in USRN, namely, ZHCES and Centre

for Social Medicine and Community Health (CSMCH). IHE is collaborating with: (a) Ankur, a non-profit

educational organization; (b) Mirambika, an innovative school; (c) BElEd department of the Gargi

College; and (iv) DIET, Moti Bagh. Finally, Delhi University is focusing on professional development

of teachers through setting up a Regional Resource Centre, developing a web portal and offering

fellowships to teachers for conducting classroom based research. Over the next three years, the

USRN plans to reach out to 1,000 students, 60-65 school teachers, 13 schools, 180 student trainees

and 15 teacher educators. Further, through the work done with teacher education institutions, the

project would reach out to 750 teachers and over 800 student trainees. Pertinent to note here that

although the project is scheduled over a three year period, the Trust has initially committed support

only for the first year, which would be extended based on subsequent reviews.

The need for professionally trained

cadre to serve the complex needs of

elementary education is being strongly

felt by all concerned within the education

sector. Existing teacher education

programmes have not been able to

fill this basic requirement; hence, the

need for a well designed programme

that combines theory and practice. In

this context, the Trust is supporting a

‘Collaborative Post-graduate Programme

in Education’ at the Tata Institute of

Social Sciences (TISS), which aims

to make a major contribution towards

professionalizing elementary education

through discipline building and providing

well trained professionals for the sector.

During the first year of the programme,

25 students were enrolled and two contact sessions of three weeks each were completed along

with distance teaching during the remaining period. A distance learning module that facilitates

instruction and communication through a web-portal was also set up. TISS is offering the course

in collaboration with Eklavya, Bhopal, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai, Vidya

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Bhawan Society, Udaipur, NIAS, Bangalore and Digantar, Jaipur. The second batch of students was

subsequently selected during March 2007 and the contact period for the second batch is slated to

commence May 2007 onwards.

The Trust’s interventions in Higher Education have historically drawn on the recommendations made

in the Strategic Plans 2000 and 2006 and the Education Review of April 2005. Over the past six years,

the Trust’s disbursements towards Higher Education have averaged about 20% of the total disbursals

made within the entire Education portfolio. The Education review report noted that there has been

very little support to Higher Education initiatives in the Undergraduate sector or in the traditional

Universities; and these institutional spaces are critical for reviving the higher education sector. In

February 2006, through the Trust’s support, the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society

(CSCS) organized a workshop on higher education, in collaboration with the Bangalore University,

titled ‘The Future of Higher Education in India’. Amongst other things, the workshop sought clarity on

the nature of transformation taking place in the field of higher education, including the functioning of

institutions, the formulation of policies, the hierarchization of disciplines, and the modes of financing

and revenue, besides seeking to understand the conceptual underpinning of the national system of

education and the globalized system of the knowledge industry. Subsequently, the Trust commissioned

a detailed review of higher education that was anchored by CSCS. The key recommendations of

this Strategy Paper were to:

• Undertake measures to re-connect the three ends of the Higher Education spectrum: research

centre, university, and college, for example, through fellowship programmes and enhancing

library resources;

• Focus on under - graduate education through curriculum development and teacher training

as a way of energising the disciplines;

• Revitalize key disciplines like Political Science, Women’s Studies and Sociology which could

cut across the social sciences, and help think through larger social issues;

• Support initiatives for developing teaching / study material in regional languages;

• Provide support for libraries, digitalization and building academic resources within and across

institutions

Subsequently, a proposal for establishing the Higher Education Cell in Bangalore emerged through

discussions between the Trust and CSCS. To be operationalised during the next financial year, the

Cell is envisaged as having three main components, namely: (a) Research in Education; (b) technical

support and idea incubation for the Trust and the sector at large; and (c) Institutional Collaboration

and Archiving.

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During the year under review, the Trust disbursed Rs. 67.69 million (US $ 1.61 million) towards 36

grants, as compared to Rs. 77.54 million towards 31 grants during 2005-06. This marks a 13% drop

compared to last year’s disbursals, which may be mainly attributed towards operational reorganisation

of the Programme team in charge of the Education portfolio; a situation which has since been

adequately addressed and resolved. During the coming financial year, the Trust plans to expand its

focus on systemic reform to select regions within India, including Nandurbar district, Maharashtra;

Chamrajanagar district and Yadgir block within Karnataka; and Jharkhand. Besides, activities within

the Teacher Resource Centre and Parag initiatives are expected to be scaled up. Finally, with the

operationalisation of the Higher Education Cell, the Trust is set to expand its portfolio of grants within

the Higher Education sub-theme.

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Education: Details of grant disbursals in 2006-2007

REFORMING ELEMENTARY EDUCATION Rs.

Systemic Reform Through Collaborative Projects to Improve Quality Of Elementary Education

National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore Towards implementing ‘Vidyankura’, the District Quality Education Programme in Chamrajnagar district in southern Karnataka, to enhance the quality of elementary education through capacity building of educational administrators, teachers, community members, development of curriculum and policy levelinterventions. 5,500,000

Naandi Foundation, Hyderabad Towards supporting a district level educational intervention for enhancing quality of education in 220 elementary government schools in three blocks of Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh through developing an interface with the district administration and the community. Key components include, direct academic support to children by Bal-mitras, inputs to teachers,periodic assessment of children and focused support to the girl child. 3,800,000

Samavesh, Bhopal Towards strengthening elementary education in one block each of Harda and Dewas districts of Madhya Pradesh through improving school and classroom environment in elementary schools, enhancing participation of local community in educationalissues and strengthening school management systems at the block level. 1,800,000

Lokmitra, Raebareli Towards improving quality of elementary schools in select blocks of Raebareli district, Uttar Pradesh, through direct intervention, collaboration with local non-profit organizations, local government authorities and working with the parentcommunity. 1,700,000

Sir Albert Howard Memorial Trust (SAHMET), Kesla, HoshangabadTo improve rural school education in tribal villages of Hoshangabad district, Madhya Pradesh, through placing supplementary teachers in select schools, besides the mobilizing community for enhancing functioning of government schoolsand village-based libraries. 700,000

Improving Access and Engaging with the System

Urmul Jyoti Sansthan (UJS), Nokha

Towards supporting the education of adolescent girls and boys through residentialcamps and follow-up activities, in Nokha block of Bikaner district, Rajasthan. No disbursals

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Better Education Through Innovation (BETI), Lucknow Towards consolidation of its programmes in Balrampur and Shravasti districts of Uttar Pradesh, which include continuation of 30 Alternative Learning Centres, establishment of 10 Vocational Training Centres, community mobilization and running helplines to address issues of rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked victims. 200,000

Muskaan, Bhopal Towards building capabilities of community members for supporting education of children; running the education centre for children from vulnerable backgrounds; strengthening government schools; and running Balwadis in slums aroundBhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 1,000,000

Viswa Bharathi Vidyodaya Trust (VBVT), Gudalur Towards an integrated education programme for tribal communities, consisting of support for a village education programme, vocational training, VidyodayaResource and Training Centre and the Vidyodaya School. 630,000

Supporting Innovation among State Institutions

State Council for Education and Training (SCERT), New DelhiTowards conducting an extensive study of SCERT’s ‘Indradhanushya’ textbook series in 200 government schools, process documentation of the textbook writing exercise and enhancing the quality of illustrations in the Class 1 Hinditextbook. 600,000

National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), BangaloreTowards strengthening the upcoming District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) in Chamrajnagar district, Karnataka, which consequently facilitatesacademic inputs to revitalize elementary education at the local level. No disbursals

Professional Development of Teachers and subject specific interventions

Ravi J. Matthai Centre for Educational Innovation (RJMCEI), AhmedabadTowards creating the Educational Innovations Bank, to promote teachers’ development approach for use by teacher institutions. Dissemination of this database will motivate new teachers and positively influence mainstreampractices and policies in education. 570,000

Centre for Environment Education (CEE), HyderabadTowards Phase II of ‘Environmental Education in Schools of Andhra Pradesh’ (EESAP), which involves CEE in channelising training, educational material and monitoring support, to strengthen environmental education to around 1,465schools in 39 clusters in Andhra Pradesh, through local non-profit organizations. 4,000,000

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Dr. A. S. Rao Awards Council, HyderabadTowards expanding the scope of the science and mathematics education programmes for secondary school teachers in five blocks of Mahaboobnagardistrict, Andhra Pradesh. 550,000

Sahaj, VadodaraTowards promoting a learner centered science pedagogy approach in middle schools in Vadodara district, Gujarat, through development of teaching material,establishing science resource centres and school outreach programmes. 1,200,000

Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), PuneTowards supporting and expanding the work of Muktangan Vidyan Shodhika, a science centre for children set up in Pune by IUCAA, which demonstrates effective teaching of science to children through hands-on activities and low-cost toysand setting up centres in select schools / non-profits. 400,000

Vidya Bhawan Society (VBS), UdaipurTowards implementing the dissemination phase of the ‘Basic Education Rediscovery’ project, by focusing on continuation and improvement of basic and vocational education at the Ramgiri School in Udaipur district, besidesintensive dissemination of established pedagogic principles. 1,200,000

Teacher Resource Centres

Suvidya, BangaloreTowards setting up a Teacher Resource Centre in south Bangalore that works with teachers from ten schools in the vicinity and facilitate their professionaldevelopment through sustained classroom based support. 1,500,000

The Teacher Foundation, BangaloreTowards strengthening the activities and services offered by their existing Centre in Bangalore, while setting up new Teacher Resource Centres in Mangalore and Mysore, with the aim of facilitating professionaldevelopment of elementary school teachers. 2,400,000

Deenabandhu, ChamrajnagarTowards setting up a school based Teacher Resource Centre in Chamrajnagar, which provides professional inputs to 10 in-house teachers and 30 government school teachers in 18 government schools of Chamrajnagar, consequently enhancing the competency of secondary school students in science, mathsand geography. 400,000

Pravah, New DelhiTowards setting up a Teacher Resource Centre in Delhi, focusing on life skills and citizenship education, in order to create a forum for professional developmentof teachers and promote active involvement of teachers in societal issues. 900,000

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‘Parag’ - Publication Initiative

Eklavya, BhopalTowards strengthening and up-scaling Eklavya’s Publications programme that develops, disseminates and markets a variety of new books, besidessupporting their Library programme. 4,400,000

Centre for Learning Resources, PuneTowards developing bilingual reading material for school children, in Marathi / Hindi – English format, consisting of instructional material, recreational andsupplementary reading material and reference material. 500,000

Anveshi - Research Centre for Women’s Studies, HyderabadTowards compilation and publication of story books in Telugu, Malayalam andbilingual format, which capture lives of marginalized communities. 500,000

Comet Media Foundation, Mumbai Towards support for nurturing and promoting educational innovations and educators, through child focused exhibitions, which are expected to reachpeople in Mumbai and smaller towns in various states. 2,000,000

Nirantar, New Delhi Towards developing educational material and enhancing capacities of practitioners to critically engage with issues of gender and education and impart skills forparticipatory material creation. 4,600,000

Learning Centre Initiative

Govind Dham Shikshan Sadhana Trust (GDSST), BelgaumTowards serving as a nodal agency to co-ordinate the activities of the cluster of Learning Centres set up in Belgaum, Karnataka, within the Learning CentresInitiative. 500,000

Aamhi Aamchya Arogya Sathi (AAAS), GadhchiroliTowards serving as a nodal agency to co-ordinate the activities of the cluster of Learning Centres set up in Vidarbha region, Maharashtra, within the LearningCentres Initiative. 1,000,000

Viswa Bharathi Vidyodaya Trust (VBVT), GudalurTowards serving as the Secretariat for the Learning Centres Initiative, identifying new clusters and nodal organisations and providing them facilitating support and coordinating the work of the initiative through regular contact with nodalorganizations, cluster coordinators and the Trust. 400,000

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NURTURING EDUCATION AS A DISCIPLINE

Linking Higher Education with Elementary Education

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New DelhiTowards the project ‘The University - School Resource Network (USRN)’, which seeks to demonstrate how institutions of higher learning can work with elementary schools in addressing issues of quality and equity through multi-stakeholder involvement. Two centres within JNU are participating in USRN, namely, Zakir Hussain Centre for Educational Studies (ZHCES) and Centre forSocial Medicine and Community Health (CSMCH). 800,000

Institute of Home Economics (IHE), New DelhiTowards the project ‘The University - School Resource Network’, which creates a meaningful link between schools and institutions of higher learning. IHE is collaborating with: (a) Ankur, a non-profit educational organization; (b) Mirambika, an innovative school; (c) BElEd department of the Gargi College; and (iv) DIETMoti Bagh. 800,000

Delhi University (DU), New DelhiTowards the project ‘The University - School Resource Network’, focusing on professional development of teachers through setting up a Regional Resource Centre, developing a web portal and offering fellowships to teachers forconducting classroom based research. 600,000

Professionalizing Elementary Education

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), MumbaiTowards a collaborative Masters Programme in Education, which focuses on professionalizing elementary education through building the discipline and providing well trained professionals for the sector. The Programme is being offered in dual mode, (distant and contact) through collaborations among sixacademic institutions and non-profit organisations. 5,000,000

BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL RESOURCE IN EDUCATION

Development of Humane Action (DHAN) Foundation, Madurai Towards strategic start-up support for the Tata-Dhan Academy and its development, with the aim to make it one of the leading schools in rural developmentmanagement in the country. No disbursals

Centre for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS), Bangalore Towards enabling CSCS to strengthen its institutional base and enhance its status as an interdisciplinary institute for culture studies. The support specifically helps in refining their core programmes, strengthen collaborations with leadinginstitutions in Karnataka and abroad and develop new initiatives. 6,000,000

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OTHERS

Society for Assistance to Children in Difficult Situation (SATHI), RaichurTowards scaling up of their programme for resettlement of runaway children living on railway platforms in Raichur, Pune, Guntakal, Wadi and Mumbai, engagingwith stakeholders in the sector and strengthening their internal systems. 2,400,000

Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS), Rajasthan To support innovative continuing education programmes in Alwar, Baran, Paliand Kota districts of Rajasthan, through community-led education centres. 445,000

Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), New Delhi Towards research on issues related to World Trade Organisation (WTO) that have implications on India and disseminating this research through books,monographs and publications. 1,800,000

Society for Education, Welfare and Action- Rural (SEWA-Rural), Jhagadia Towards a vocational training programme for youth in the backward tribal areas of Gujarat, thereby helping them to secure employment in various industrieslocated in the Bharuch-Ankleshwar belt, Gujarat. 700,000

Adolescent girls are taught tailoring in residential camps organised by Urmul Jyoti Sansthan in Nokha block, Bikaner district, Rajasthan.

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Health

Over the past several decades, India has made considerable progress towards improving the

health status and well-being of its people. Analyzing trends in birth and death from 1951 to 2000,

it is observed that the Crude Birth Rate in India has decreased from 40.8 to 26.1 per thousand and

Crude Death Rate has decreased from 25 to 8.7 per thousand. Consequently, the average Indian is

expected to live an extra 28 years since 1951, as life expectancy in India has increased to 64.4 years

in 2000. Comparing these rates against the Global Crude Birth Rate of 20.15 and the Global Crude

Death Rate of 8.78, one could conclude that India is steadily moving towards better health. However,

despite massive improvements in the health indicators from 1951 to 2000, health indices have more

or less reached a plateau over the last decade and the country continues to bear a heavy burden

of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. According to the Ministry of Health and

Family Welfare, communicable diseases including tuberculosis, malaria, diarrhea, acute respiratory

infections and maternal and perinatal conditions account for nearly half of India’s disease burden.

Non-communicable conditions including cancer, cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory

conditions and mental health disorders account for the second largest share of disease burden in

India. High rates of Maternal, Neonatal, Infant and Child Mortality continue to plague the nation and

the National Health Policy 2002 has estimated Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) at around 70 per 1,000

births and Maternal Mortality at approximately 407 per 100,000 live births. These health indicators

further camouflage the striking regional inequalities and ground reality of diverse population groups.

In the poorest 20 per cent of the population the IMR is 2.5 times higher than that in the richest 20

per cent and the figures are even higher for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at 83 and 84.22

per thousand respectively.

It is a widely accepted fact that India was one of the pioneers in the area of primary health care. As

far back as 1946, the Health Survey and Development Committee recommended establishing well

structured and comprehensive health services with a sound health care infrastructure including

primary, secondary and tertiary care levels. In spite of this vast infrastructure, the public health system

is able to cater to the healthcare needs of only 20% of the country’s population. India lags behind

other countries in public health expenditure, both in terms of the per capita health expenditure, as

well as the proportion of GDP which has declined from 1.3% of GDP in 1990 to 0.9% of GDP in 1999.

Additionally, limited synergy at operational levels for vertical health and family welfare programmes,

lack of community ownership and an absence of integration of sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and

drinking water has impacted the level of efficiency, accountability and effectiveness of the country’s

public health interventions.

Institutional grants : Health

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It is a well known fact that at the National and State levels, the government continues to make huge investments in the Health Sector and has undertaken several initiatives to improve the availability of and access to quality health care by people, especially for those residing in rural areas, the poor, women and children. Despite the gains made it needs to be acknowledged that the morbidity and mortality levels in the country are still unacceptably high. These unsatisfactory health indices are an indication of the limited success of the public health system in meeting the preventive and curative requirements of the general population. Reflecting on the above backdrop and in accordance with the recommendations of SP 2000 and SP 2006 the Trust has supported initiatives in the following areas: (1) Community Based Initiatives; (2) Specialist Care for the Disadvantaged; and (3) Building Organizational Capacities.

Presently, the Trust thought it appropriate to consolidate its grant-making to thematic areas that are well conceptualized and responsive to the needs of the sector. Hence, in the second half of 2006-07 the Trust commissioned a team of specialists to review the health portfolio and develop its five year strategic plan. The key objectives of the assignment were: (a) to map the needs of the health sector at large and to identify the critical gap areas requiring support. Also, to evaluate the Health portfolio in terms of its structure, design, initiatives / grants, the relevance of the approach adopted and overall contribution to the sector; and (b) in light of the above, give recommendations to the Trust to consolidate the present work, aligning it with the needs of the sector and to identify key priority areas where the Trust as a small yet significant donor can intervene and provide or facilitate support. It was also intended to suggest an appropriate management structure and time frame to implement these ideas.

To undertake this exercise, the Trust appointed an experienced team of three professionals with Dr. Abraham Joseph as Team Leader, along with Dr. Arvind Kasturi and Ms. Priya Anand. The team suggested the following areas for support by the Trust over the course of the next five years:

1. Reproductive and Child Health: Continue supporting efforts on reduction of mortality and morbidity levels of women and children, population and reproductive rights, health of adolescents and children and efforts related to improving nutrition.

2. Infectious Diseases: Support surveillance and response to Malaria, Kala Azar, Encephalitis, Hepatitis, and Tuberculosis, HIV / AIDS and other emerging infectious diseases. Efforts related to improving access to existing vaccines, drugs, and other tools to fight infectious diseases and research to develop health solutions that are effective, affordable, and practical should also be supported.

3. Non Communicable Diseases: Health promotion, prevention, early diagnosis and cost effective treatment strategies for all the non communicable diseases including cancer, diabetes, mental health, substance abuse and accidents should be supported. Special focus on mental health and cancer should be laid to consolidate the present grant making of the Trust.

4. Disability: Emphasise support to screening, early intervention, and rehabilitation of disabled, provide support to caregivers; raise awareness in the area of disability and CBR; make all basic rehabilitation services available at the community level; encourage community based rehabilitation of persons with mental disorders and mental retardation; and ensure inclusion of disabled children in mainstream schools and integration of disabled individuals in mainstream society.

5. Human Manpower and Health System Development: Consider supporting innovative health systems in underserved areas through training and capacity building of human resources at various levels and integration of Indian Systems of Medicine, development of standards and guidelines in public health, governance, leadership and institution building and Health financing.

6. Environment: Support could also be considered to efforts on vector control strategies, water and sanitation and urban pollution.


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2006-07 marked a defining moment in the evolution of the Health portfolio of the Trust, during which,

it embarked on an exercise to develop a Strategic Plan to guide funding activities of the portfolio

over the next five years, beginning 2007-08. The objective of the exercise included mapping of the

national priorities of the health sector, reviewing the health portfolio of the Trust and in light of these,

developing the Strategic Plan for the Health portfolio (SP – 2011, Health). This would help guide efforts

under the Health portfolio towards consolidating existing work and initiating new efforts. The final

recommendations of the Strategic Plan identified six priority areas of work to be supported under

the Health portfolio including: (1) Reproductive and Child Health; (2) Infectious diseases; (3) Non

communicable diseases; (4) Disability; (5) Human manpower and health system development; and

(6) Environment (details showcased alongside).

During the year, the Trust continued partnering with diverse organizations to address the glaring

discrepancies in the public health system, besides aiming to maximise impact on the health status

of communities. Working through a fresh outlook, the Trust is encouraging efforts aimed at providing

quality health services, preventive health programmes and public health training and research.

Towards this, the Trust supported initiatives in the health sector under the following themes:

1. Community based health programmes, including evolving new delivery systems

2. Innovative strategies for institutions reaching specialist care for the disadvantaged including

research

3. Building organizational capacities and human resources towards program effectiveness

Under the Community Based Initiatives, the Trust is evolving innovative delivery systems that

focus on the rural population, emphasize preventive care, and seek to develop close linkages with

community outreach programmes. Efforts are also directed towards increasing community ownership

through rural health insurance for partial community financing of health services. The Trust recently

renewed its partnership with Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS) in an effort to consolidate primary health

care services in select 45 forest and forest-fringe villages in the (tribal) Adivasi areas of rural Bilaspur.

An end term evaluation of the previous phase highlighted that through the efforts of the organization,

the treatment success rate for tuberculosis improved from 50% to 95%, the Annual Parasite Index

(API) for malaria fell from 33.7 in 2003 to 13.3 in 2005-06 and the infant mortality rate (IMR) fell from

71 per 1,000 in 2002 to 61 per 1,000 in 2005-06. Within its second phase of engagement with Action

Research and Training for Health (ARTH), the Trust is supporting the organization to refine its

model of care though trained nurse midwives and develop a community based model for improving


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Bringing reproductive and child health services to the tribal women of Rajasthan through an outreach camp organized by ARTH (Action Research and Training for Health), Udaipur.

child health and outreach services for reproductive health care. The project has resulted in training

five Nurse Midwives who have conducted around 425 deliveries during the year under review, 28-30

monthly outreach clinics have reached out to around 5,016 patients, and children constitute around

2,000- 2,500 of the total patients seen per year. To enhance community participation and to link the

delivery of quality healthcare with health financing, the Trust is supporting the Association for

Health and Welfare in the Nilgiris (ASHWINI), to provide 13,000 tribals of the area with access

to health care services. At the same time, it is intended to continue work to increase the effectiveness

of management of the health insurance program and further enhance strategies relevant to the

needs of the tribals through policy studies with various experts in the field. As of March 2007, 14,012

members have been insured through the efforts under the project, the claim limit that the policy

oversees was increased to Rs. 2,500, including the claim limit for delivery admissions at Rs. 1,000,

and there has been a consistent increase in the premium collected over the years which was over

Rs. 134,820 in 2006. As the project is nearing completion, plans are underway to consolidate the

learnings and a dialogue has been initiated to develop a comprehensive community based health

care programme in the next fiscal. In addition, the Trust is trying to develop a comprehensive health

programme focusing on Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health through an innovative lifecycles

approach in the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the next financial year.


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Under the sub-theme of Specialist Care for the Disadvantaged, the Trust supports initiatives in

the field of homelessness and mental illness, disability and inclusion, cancer research and palliative

care of the terminally ill, care to geriatric homes, etc. and has tried to cultivate an emphasis on care-

giver support, research and documentation, and community based rehabilitation to strengthen its

approach in the same.

The Trust’s work saw significant developments in the field of mental illness. The Banyan, one of the

key agencies being supported by the Trust in the area of mental health, consolidated its work towards

the running of a transit care centre with around 50 recovered patients getting valuable input on

livelihood options and life skills development. 30% of the transit patients have been rehabilitated and

a database for logistic support and follow-up has been created. Disbursement of disability allowance

has been undertaken amongst 90 residents, reasons for readmission have been investigated and

steps to reduce the same have been devised. Efforts to replicate the mental health helpline in Trichy

were undertaken and a sensitization programme for health and judicial staff was carried out as

well. Under community mental health care efforts, approximately 750 people accessed health care

provided in 12 general health camps, mental healthcare awareness was initiated among 34 SHGs,

and an initial orientation session was conducted with rural welfare officers of 50 panchayats.

A family hailing from the Adivasi population of Gudalur Valley, Tamil Nadu, receive medical attention from health staff recruited and trained locally by ASHWINI.


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The Trust expanded its work on Mental Health during the year and new grants were developed with

Karuna Trust and Ashadeep. These organizations are now being supported by the Trust to take

mental health care to the community through the implementation of a Mental Health Helpline, the

running of a transit care centre, rehabilitation out of the beggar’s home, and community mental

health care programmes being carried out by these organizations. In addition, they are working with

the government machinery in their respective

states to enhance sustainability and provide

mental health care to the rural populations.

Whilst Karuna Trust is implementing its work

through 25 Primary Health Centres (PHC) in

Karnataka, Ashadeep is making inroads

with the Government of Assam, seeking

co-ordination of the different agencies of

the Government in providing the necessary

support for intervening with the homeless

mentally ill.

Through its renewed grant to Latika Roy

Memorial Foundation (LRMF), the Trust

is spearheading its work on disabilities and

has reassessed grants under its ‘Inclusion in

Practice’ initiative to redefine its approach

on the same. The health portfolio is taking its

work forward with an increased emphasis on early identification of high risk babies, assessment

and early diagnosis of the particular condition, and early intervention (EI) through appropriate and

timely speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. Hence, a holistic model focusing on

medical outreach and interventions, while at the same time, working towards both educational and

social inclusion is being supported. The project implemented by LRMF continues to provide services

through its Early Intervention Centre (EIC) in Dehradun, focusing on the overall development of the

child and plans to open a satellite centre at Doon Hospital as well. Taking the initiative of working with

children with disabilities to the rural populations, the Trust is supporting Rajasthan Mahila Kalyan

Mandal (RMKM) to enable mentally challenged children become self sufficient through provision

of education and training in rural areas of Rajasthan. Simultaneously, efforts are also undertaken

An emotional reunion between a mentally ill patient rescued by Ashadeep and her daughter.


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to facilitate the involvement of the family, schools and the community to further inclusion of these

children in mainstream life. RMKM is running a day care centre in Ajmer and in the rural areas of

the Beawar block and provides home based care to 200 children who are unable to come to the

centre on account of either family or medical conditions. The organization has successfully inculcated

reverse inclusion in its two centres and has around 144 children attending the centre everyday, of

which 50 are normal and 94 are children with disabilities. The organization is now planning to pilot

inclusive education in six government schools and is developing curricula for training of teachers, etc.

to facilitate better integration of the children in mainstream schools. While working on the above, the

Trust is also keen to develop tools for assessment and follow-up related to disabilities to encourage

standardization in the sector and to improve early identification.

Cancer is another thrust area of the Trust’s work under the sub-theme of Specialist Care for the

Disadvantaged. The health portfolio is supporting efforts to improve the treatment protocol for Acute

Lymphoblastic Leukemia in India through a grant to International Network for Cancer Treatment

and Research (INCTR). Through the year, the Trust focused on strengthening the management

capacity of the organization through repeated visits, teleconference chats, and giving detailed

feedback to improve the quality of implementation of their work. Bangalore Hospice Trust (BHT),

an organization working on providing palliative care to terminally ill cancer patients, is in its third

phase of engagement with the Trust and has shown growth in terms of its capacity during the year to

reach an average occupancy touching a maximum of 47 patients. The Trust also continued efforts in

Activity based learning engages these children with disabilities at LRMF’s Early Intervention Center, Dehradun, and prepares them for a wholesome and meaningful life.


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Kamala is a poor mother of three young children, suffering from cancer of the cervix. When the ailment had reached an advanced stage, her family doctor referred her to the Kidwai Cancer Hospital, Bangalore, where the authorities declined possibility of any treatment. At that juncture, the Bangalore Hospice Trust (BHT) stepped in to treat her. The Home Care service team created by BHT has been looking after Kamala in her own home for nearly five months, providing her with help and succour, besides counseling her family on how to deal with the disease. When her condition worsens and the pain becomes acute, they admit her at Karunashraya, the 50-bed hospice run by the BHT. At the Karunashraya, Kamala is given professional medical treatment. Though illiterate, Kamala has exhibited steely resolve in dealing with her condition. With a loser, addicted to the bottle, as her husband, Kamala was naturally concerned about the studies and well-being of her children. BHT contacted another non-profit organisation, which helped enroll all three kids in a school and committed to looking after them, holistically. Now, Kamala bids her time….but her mind is at peace, knowing that her kids would be well cared for.

BHT introduced its Home Care Service in 1995, to improve the quality of life for terminally-ill patients and their families, and has treated over 1,691 patients at home, since then. The Karunashraya, set up in 1999, treated over 600 people in the year 2006-07. The number of patients cared for, to date, stands at over 4,486. Their palliative care includes psychological support to patients and their families through counseling, helping them deal with the trauma of the disease and the impending end. All their efforts are directed to the alleviating of distressing symptoms in the terminal stages of cancer, thereby bringing much needed peace and giving a dignified end to life. Since a majority of the patients treated by the Home Care Service, or at Karunashraya, are either very poor, or at best, from middle class families, the treatment is offered totally free, or at subsidised costs.

The Trust recognizes that death is a severe stress factor and families of terminally ill patients need as much nurturing and support as the patient to cope with the trauma associated with the same. In its efforts to support innovative strategies for institutions providing specialized care to the disadvantaged, the Trust has, since 1999, supported BHT’s endeavours of providing palliative care to terminally ill cancer patients, through their Home Care team and through their hospice Karunashraya.

Terminally ill patients receiving in-house palliative care at BHT’s Karunashraya enjoy a game of carrom under the careful supervision and participation of the paramedical staff.


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cancer towards screening and early identification on one hand, while on the other, improving capacity

for diagnosis and treatment. Charutar Arogya Mandal (CAM), established to address the health

care needs of the rural communities of Anand and Kheda districts of Gujarat, is working to identify

at-risk cases of cancer and increase referrals of the suspected cases of cancer at Sri Krishna Hospital

through the support provided by the Trust. Through various awareness campaigns, early detection

camps and treatment programmes, the organization has educated over 15,000 people on various

types and early signs of cancer, made referrals related to oral, cervical, breast and other cancers for

over 2,000 patients and is conducting approximately 13,000 house hold visits per month.

While considerable efforts in the area of public health have been devoted by the government towards

setting up infrastructure, the efforts on public health training still need considerable improvement. One

of the glaring gaps in the system continues to be the lack of technically trained and experienced public

health professionals. Having identified this need, the Trust is supporting Community Health Cell

(CHC) to implement a programme for identifying and nurturing individuals from a range of disciplines

to expand the number and quality of professionals working on community health. Overall, 40 young

professionals have been offered training, of which 23 fellows were provided scholarships. Due to the

success and the popularity of the project, CHC has decided to continue the Fellowship programme

as one of its core activities and is in discussion with the Trust on ways to take this forward during

the next phase of engagement. Other than general public health training, the health portfolio of the

Trust is supporting organizations imparting specialist training to improve the capacity and expertise

in a given field of medicine. Towards this, a grant to Children’s Kidney Care Centre (CKCC) aims

to provide support to specialists undergoing training in pediatric nephro-urology at the Centre. The

trained Fellows bring pediatric renal care to remote locations in the country, benefiting people in

areas of reduced access. CKCC implements a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme and

organized a lecture to update knowledge in pediatric renal disease among the medical fraternity for

around 30 participants. Medical Research Foundation (MRF) is a leading name in eye care in

India and through the Trust’s support, is providing specialist training to ophthalmologists to enable

them help patients suffering from cataract. Its innovative ‘Community Ophthalmology Fellowship

Programme’ is aimed to enhance the technical skills of the participating ophthalmologists in diagnosis,

surgery, post operative care and documentation and record keeping. Over the six years of support

provided by the Trust, through two three-year grants, around 300 candidates have been trained by

the organization and over 6,000 sight restoration surgeries have been performed on the deserving

poor. An impact assessment study to evaluate the outcomes of the Trust’s collaboration with the

organization was undertaken during the year. The study commended the work of the organization,


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Dr. Vinay Vishwanatha was academically one of the best students from the prestigious Bangalore Medical College (BMC), Bangalore and was extremely out-going as well. However, the end internship period of his medical student life was, in his own words, “tumultuous and stressful, with unresolved confusions”. Parental pressure to ‘settle down’ early, societal pressure to obtain the ‘degree’, professional pressure to ‘choose an area of specialisation’ and peer pressure to ‘bee-line to the west’ was enough to induce a momentary lapse of reason for a young person like Dr. Vishwanatha. In this moment of confusion, Dr. Vishwanatha got in touch with the Community Health Cell (CHC), Bangalore and its Community Health Fellowship Programme, which, in a way, decided the course of his professional career.

During the six-month Fellowship Programme, Dr. Vishwanatha was exposed to various activities, including: (a) a month-long exposure with tribal communities in Maharashtra to prepare a case study on the ‘Tribal Malaria Control Programme’; (b) evaluation of the Mitanin Programme being undertaken by CHC; and (c) organization of medical relief for the tsunami affected communities in Tamil Nadu. “The Fellowship Programme has completely changed the course of my life, both on personal and professional fronts,” recalls Dr. Vishwanatha. Soon after his fellowship, he chose to work with a comprehensive rural health project in Hunur village, located within the remote Chamrajanagar district of Karnataka, where he facilitated a series of trainings to community health workers. The interaction and experiences whilst treating the marginalised sections of the society, residing in remote locations, were instrumental in helping Dr. Vishwanatha identify his future plans. Whilst currently pursuing his Masters degree in Public Health from the John Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, he is keen in his desire to continue to work for the downtrodden communities in India, whilst focusing on campaigning for health rights and training community health workers.

The public health sector of the country is plagued with critical gaps in human resources and lack of appropriately trained and sensitized manpower. Based on this, the Trust has invested extensively in addressing the training and capacity building needs of professionals in the health sector. Amongst its objectives, CHC aims to create awareness regarding the principles and practice of community health, promote and support community health action and undertake research on community

health and development. Since its inception, CHC has spearheaded community health action, innovative training, networking and policy action research in community health. Hence, the Trust partnered with the organization and through the support provided by the Trust, the Community Health Fel lowship Scheme was initiated by CHC, in 2003.

Consequently, under this P rogramme, over fo r ty young professionals have been oriented and trained in community health, post which, over 95% continue to work on community health issues in various parts of the country. Salient highlights of the Fellowship Scheme

included three annual community health workshops, field placements in community health projects across the country according to learning needs of each individual intern, individual mentorship throughout the fellowship phase and participation in several national and international meets held in the country. This sustained exposure and training and mentorship support has strengthened the motivation of these individuals to choose community health as their life option and in-turn has enhanced quality and availability of professionals in the sector.


What is happening to health in India today ?

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both in terms of enhancing the skills of the ophthalmologists, as well as improving the quality of lives

of the beneficiaries. Presently the Trust is considering a third phase of support to MRF to spread

the training programme to other centers across the country to empower the medical fraternity and

benefit the communities in multiple locations.


grants, as against Rs. 24.28 million towards 12 grants during 2005-06. Also during the reporting

period, the Trust pro-actively strengthened its Human Resources within the health portfolio, which

now constitutes two qualified full-time professionals. The Health portfolio was in a cusp period and

a large number of ongoing grants were scheduled to draw to an end during 2006-07, which could

have resulted in a significant decrease in disbursals. However, by prioritizing the existing grants and

developing new projects, the Trust arrested the possibility of a drop in disbursals and even managed

to marginally increase disbursals by 4% as compared to the previous year. Over the coming year, the

Trust would also finalise its strategic plan for the Health portfolio, which would form the basis of its

grant-making efforts over the next five years.


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COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH PROGRAMMES Rs.

Action Research & Training for Health (ARTH), Udaipur Towards improvement of maternal and child health through trained nurse midwives and savings and credit groups, in Rajsamand district, Rajasthan, by strengthening outreach programmes, refining trainingmaterial and developing manuals. 1,800,000

Rural Women’s Social Education Centre (RUWSEC), Chengalpettu Towards meeting operating costs of a reproductive health clinic in both, traditional and allopathic treatment, laboratory and ambulance services in Chengalpettublock of Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu. No disbursals

Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS), Bilaspur Towards consolidation of Primary Health Care (PHC) services in villages in the Adivasi areas of rural Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, through the Village Health Worker based strategy to improve child health and nutrition, decrease morbidity and mortality associated with tuberculosis & malaria and to address select publichealth questions in PHC through service delivery and action based research. 3,200,000

Association for Health & Welfare in the Nilgiris (ASHWINI), Nilgiris Towards a community based health insurance programme for provision ofin-patient health care services to tribals accessing care at the GudalurAdivasi Hospital. 700,000

SPECIALIST CARE FOR THE DISADVANTAGED

Rajasthan Mahila Kalyan Mandal (RMKM), AjmerTowards delivery of services to 260 mentally challenged children and piloting inclusive education at six government schools and at RMKM’sday care centres in Beawar block, Ajmer district, Rajasthan. 650,000

Latika Roy Memorial Foundation (LRMF), Dehradun Towards enabling inclusion of children with mental disability through continuing support to an Early Intervention Center (EIC) in Dehradun, establishment of a Satellite EIC in Doon Hospital, organizing outreach and training programs for medical, paramedical and teaching professionalsand conducting awareness campaigns in the community at large. 1,600,000

The Banyan, Chennai Towards supporting its comprehensive programmes in mental health, which include: (a) work at the transit care facility with focus on follow-up; (b) strengthening its mental health helpline; (c) initiating a community health care centre based community outreach model for mental health at Kovalakuppam in Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu; and (d) incorporatingaction research and training as an important component of its programmes. No disbursals

Health: Details of grant disbursals in 2006-2007


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Ashadeep, GuwahatiTowards strengthening interventions for treating mentally ill persons in North East India, through the expansion of residential interventions for homeless mentally ill women in Guwahati and the organization of outdoor services and outreach programmes in the rural areas to provide easier access to psychiatriccare and rehabilitation interventions for the marginalized population in Assam. 2,000,000

Karuna Trust, B R Hills, KarnatakaTowards facilitating mental health care for the homeless mentally ill, through the establishment of a transit care centre, mental health help line and upgradation of Beggars Home in Mysore, besides integrating mental health care at 25 Primary Health Centres in Karnataka to provide community based mental health services. 1,600,000

Association for Health & Welfare in the Nilgiris (ASHWINI), Nilgiris Towards an integrated community based mental health programme focused at indigenous people of the Gudalur valley in the Nilgiris, which creates awareness about mental illness, helps the community take responsibility of the mentallyill, ensures early detection and maintains continuity of care and support inrehabilitation. 1,400,000

Bangalore Hospice Trust (BHT), Bangalore Towards the continuation of home-based palliative care for cancer patients through a second phase grant for the part operating costs of Karunashraya,a 55 bed hospice located in Bangalore. 2,500,000

The W.Z.O. Trust Funds, Mumbai Towards meeting part costs of residents of the Bai Maneckbai P. B. JeejeebhoyCentre for Senior Citizens, Navsari, through a second phase grant. 552,000

The W.Z.O. Trust Funds, Mumbai Towards meeting part costs of residents of the Bai Maneckbai P.B. Jeejeebhoy Centre for Senior Citizens and Dolat & Hormusji Vandrewala SeniorCitizens Centre, Navsari, through a third phase grant. 720,000

International Network for Cancer Treatment & Research (INCTR), New Delhi Towards improving the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in India through a new treatment protocol that has shown higher success rates in the westerncountries. 1,700,000


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BUILDING ORGANISATIONAL CAPACITIES AND HUMAN RESOURCESTOWARDS PROGRAMME EFFECTIVENESS

Community Health Cell (CHC), Society for CommunityHealth Awareness, Research and Action (SOCHARA), Bangalore Towards promoting careers in community and public health throughfellowships to six professionals each year. 550,000

Charutar Arogya Mandal (CAM), Karamsad, Gujarat. Towards a cancer detection and treatment programme in Anand and Kheda districts of Gujarat, which suggests lifestyle changes to prevent occurrence of cancer, create awareness on the symptoms of thedisease, diagnosis and detection, followed by world-class treatment. 3,660,000

Children’s Kidney Care Centre (CKCC),St. Johns Medical College Hospital, BangaloreTowards strengthening the Fellowship Programme in Paediatric Nephro-Urology offered by CKCC through providing support and continued learning opportunities using telemedicine linkages to the specialists undergoing training. The project also focuses on sensitizing the medical fraternity on the discipline of Paediatric Nephro-urology, creating awareness in the community regardingthese conditions and developing and publishing a handbook on the subject. 700,000

A child afflicted with renal disease receives advanced medical intervention from a professional undergoing specialist training in paediatric nephro - urology at CKCC, Bangalore.


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Enhancing Civil Society and Governance

The Enhancing Civil Society and Governance portfolio was formed as a recommendation of the

SP 2006, which encouraged the Trust to give thrust to its efforts in strengthening the non-profit

sector. The Trust has interpreted this portfolio as one that cuts across all other themes of its work.

The concerns of the other four portfolios get reflected within the grant making in this portfolio,

while simultaneously, efforts are made to integrate emerging concerns from this theme into the

mainstream work of the Trust and its grantees. Over the past five years, with the growth of the

portfolio, this thinking has also taken deeper root. The portfolio currently focuses on:

• Encouraging youth action for development through the ‘Youth and Civil Society initiative’

• Professionalizing the non-profit sector through Human Resource and Organization

Development initiative and Fellowships.

• Strengthening Governance, particularly through citizen engagement with public systems.

During the year, the Trust undertook reviews of several of its various portfolios towards crafting of

its Strategic Plan 2011. Given the nascence of this theme, the review was structured to give more

inputs on the direction of the current themes. An initial study mapped the concept of civil society

and its interpretations by various players. This was followed by a more detailed review of select

initiatives. The review was supported by Centre for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS),

Bangalore, while the detailed review of the Youth and Civil Society Initiative was undertaken by

Dr. V S Vyas. The study highlights evolution of civil society movement in Indian context, through

emergence of the social movement, trade unions and voluntary organizations post independence

and to the recent upsurge of community based organizations.

The ‘Youth and Civil Society Initiative’ of the Trust recognizes the potential role of young people

as change agents. The non profit sector’s response to constructively engage young people with

issues of the underprivileged and marginalized has been sporadic and scattered, at best. While

most development organizations interface with young people, efforts are seldom made to unleash

the vision and energies of youth for development. While deepening work of organizations in youth

development, there is need to also develop alliances to mainstream youth development within the

development framework. The Trust’s initiative attempts to address this challenge by supporting

direct action programmes focused on work with young people in different contexts to generate

learning from field action.

Institutional grants : Enhancing Civil Society & Governance

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Enhancing Civil Society and Governance


The year under review saw closure of the Trust’s second phase of support to Pravah. During this

phase, Pravah worked directly with around 2,600 adolescents, as part of a life skills curriculum

and trained 111 in-service teachers through workshops and 67 teachers through its intensive

internship programme under their teacher training interventions. Youth development work in the

cities of Kolkata and Pune was mapped. The Changelooms Programme, which recognises the

initiatives of young people, mentored 21 youth-led start ups, covering 32 youth, through a week

long ‘Development and Assessment Centre’ and subsequently awarded eight organizations. An

independent impact assessment of the programme captured the impact on the adolescents

(detailed alongside). A renewed phase now supports Pravah to scale up the youth development

and citizenship education through nine partners.

The year under review also saw the closure of the first phase grant made to the Centre for Civil

Society (CCS). The next phase now focuses on continuing the educational programmes while

intensifying support to youth groups that have emerged so far. During the year, the Trust supported

CCS to organize six Liberty and Society Seminars (LSS) reaching out to over 207 students in six

cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Jaipur, organized intensive research internships for 20

students and focused work with eight Friends of Freedom groups.

Participants of ‘I, Society and Public Policy’, a programme organised by Centre for Civil Society, interact with citizens from all walks of life, as part of a research study.

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Assessing the impact of interventions supported under Youth and Civil Society Initiative

Pravah, New Delhi, works with adolescents and young people to build sensitivity and responsibility towards society and develop them into positive change makers. The Trust has supported Pravah under its Youth and Civil Society initiative since 1999, for its evolving programme. In order to gauge the effectiveness of these programmes, an impact assessment study of Pravah’s programmes was undertaken during 2006. Methodology for assessing the impact of their Making Change Makers (MCM) Programme included focused group discussions and questionnaires with a sample of 76 adolescents who underwent the programme and 77 who had not attended the programme as a control group, in five randomly selected schools. Further, a total of 36 alumni students were also tracked and interviewed.

Key findings of the survey suggest that: (a) 59% of the sample group students demonstrate change in their attitude towards stereotypes as against 33% from the control group; (b) 76% showed change in their critical thinking as against 40% from the control group; (c) 92% of sample students as against 28% from the control group students reported pro-active and responsible civic engagement in their priorities; (d) over 52% sample students have inculcated the ability to take action on local issues as against 34% from the control group; and (e) about 20% of the sample group students have got attached with voluntary organizations/activities such as teaching students from marginalized communities. While covering teachers, the study established that: (a) 90% of the teachers / principals found the teacher training experience with Pravah valuable; (b) 63% teachers reported change in their views and attitude to given social issues and challenged stereotypes on issues pertaining to poverty and gender among others; and (c) 50% articulated impact of the training on negotiation, assertiveness and team work.

Like most development work, the impact of working with young people is evident to those who engage with them. This study was an attempt to capture this impact more concretely. Similar attempts at ongoing assessments have been made with other grants. Over the coming year, the Trust and partners would strive to generate more appropriate methodologies of assessment of impact – those which give voice to the young people themselves.

Shramdan by students participating in a Fun Camp organised by Pravah at Mamoni.

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PUKAR is a partner of the Youth and Civil Society Initiative of the Trust, where it anchors a youth led knowledge building initiative reaching out to 1,800 youth in Mumbai and Thane districts over a three year period. The programme initiated in 2004, is now in its third cohort.

In July 2006, Harshad Jadhav, along with an enthusiastic group of six visually impaired students and a similarly handicapped professional joined the PUKAR Youth Fellowship Project, with an idea of carrying out research on matters ‘relating to their own realm’. In coordination with the PUKAR Youth Fellowship team, the group decided to research on the ‘Rights and Plights of Blind Hawkers’. The Youth Fellowship programme kicked off with a three-day orientation workshop, followed by research and ‘art of writing biography’ workshops. As part of the research process, the group discovered that there were more than 1,000 blind hawkers in Mumbai. The study included interviews of 40 different types of hawkers, ranging from those on the railway platforms to those who hawk their wares on the overbridges and in trains. To get an in-depth feel of their travails, some of the blind students even joined hands with these hawkers to experience their harassments. After five months of data collection and analysis, they decided to give a public exposure to this issue. The PUKAR fellowship encourages youth fellows to share and showcase their work through community events. In one such event, they organized the “Blind Hawkers Rights Conference” in Sydenham College, Mumbai. The

hawkers, as well as representatives from various Blind Welfare organizations were invited, besides representatives of other unorganized sectors like sweepers and rag pickers. The event presented an opportunity for dialogue. Significantly, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Central Railways responded to Harshad’s invitation by sending a copy of the Railways’ rules and regulations regarding hawking. The State Labour Commissioner also attended the seminar and advised the hawkers about the benefits they could receive from various governmental schemes.

When queried about the real benefits of the conference to the hawkers, Harshad remarks, “We have heard from them that their harassment at the hand of Railway Police Force has definitely reduced.” The group, now encouraged with the response, wishes to organize other blind groups and initiate dialogue with the railway and the police departments so that their hawking, travel through trains and other related issues of safety can be addressed. Not limiting only to the cause of the visually impaired, the group is also geared up to reach out to other marginalized workers in the unorganized sectors like rag pickers, sweepers, making them aware about their rights.

This, among other stories has vindicated PUKAR’s view that research can be a powerful interventional tool and young people, effective changemakers. In the coming year, PUKAR would explore possibilities of reaching out to other marginalized groups in smaller towns in the country, besides continuing the youth fellowship.

Harshad Jadhav at a community event, focusing on the rights of blind hawkers, organised by his Youth Fellowship group, promoted by PUKAR.


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The year also saw the graduation of the first cohort of a youth fellowship project being undertaken

by PUKAR. The programme focuses on research for building knowledge and empowers youth in

Mumbai and Thane districts, Maharashtra, through documentation of self and locality. During the

year, 24 senior fellows and over 280 youth associated with the project showcased their programme

in the concluding event titled ‘Churchgate to Dombivili’. 31 senior fellows have been selected in the

second cohort of the project, of which seven have been selected from the first year.

With the completion of the first phase grants under the initiative, there was a thinking on new

emerging directions. The SP 2011 exercise also supported this process. The review appreciated

relevance of the initiative and suggested that it continue to recognize youth development and youth

in development as a continuum. A recommendation was also made to adopt a state approach and

to expand such work into smaller towns and cities. This thinking is reflected in the new grants made

during the year.

The Trust made its first grant under this initiative towards a field project in rural areas, with

support to Foundation for Education and Development (FED). The Trust supports educational

programmes for school drop-outs, adolescents and youth in Desuri and Bassi blocks in Jaipur

district of Rajasthan and strengthening youth collectives at the village and block level promoted as

part of the Doosra Dashak programme. This grant, besides giving direct benefit to the communities

through the established Doosra Dashak methodology, is also expected to give useful insights into

strengthening community based organizations of young people. In the area of livelihoods, a grant

Youth participants installing a Rain Water Harvesting System as part of their internship of ‘Water Lenses Course’, conducted by Samvada.


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to Samvada was supported towards building alternate livelihood skills among disadvantaged and

marginalized youth from rural areas around Bangalore. This grant builds on Samvada’s experience

that there is need to select participants in line with the capacity of each course, build institutional

collaboration for internship and tap professional expertise, build and pilot other streams of alternate

livelihood. The grant will also support building organizational capacities of Samvada to support

this transition. In a further effort at mainstreaming, a collective of persons passionate about youth

development has been seeded, in partnership with Pravah to focus on developing youth leadership

and cross sectoral policy to strengthen youth programming in the sector.

In keeping with the focus on keeping CS&G a cross cutting portfolio, a study was undertaken during

the year, to explore possibilities on integrating youth development within community development

programmes. The study ratified the need and potential of this approach. It recommended setting

up of Active Citizenship Cells within non-profit partners that focus on this agenda. This will be an

important priority of the Trust in the coming year. The Trust will also work to develop the support

infrastructure available to youth led groups.

Non profit organizations work in a challenging, dynamic and unstructured environment, tackling

issues which do not have cut-out solutions. The work demands skill and commitment, supported by

scrupulous planning, strong internal systems and processes. Human Resource Development and

Institution Building are key challenges that non profit organizations face, in their quest to engage

in good quality grassroots action. Professionalisation of the Sector has been the key tenet

of the Trust’s grant making. The Trust launched its Human Resource (HR) and Organization

Development (OD) initiative, post a study undertaken on human resource and a subsequent

symposium on institutional development in social development held during 2005.

The initiative focuses on: (a) creating a cadre of people to augment the OD/HR practices in the

development organizations; (b) creating a community of OD/HR practitioners for knowledge building;

and (c) facilitating OD/HR services to select organizations, preferably existing partners, in transition.

During the year, the Trust sanctioned new grants to Human and Institutional Development

Forum (HIDF), towards building a cadre of organizational change facilitators within development

organizations through a one year distance learning programme. A total of 18 participants from 16

organisations located in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kutch, Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune are

participating in the programme. Some knowledge building efforts were made by Satyam Foundation


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through its Community of Practice of Organization Development.The Trust supported Mobile

Crèches towards capacity building of human resources and facilitating planned organisational

development interventions, besides supporting a day care programme at one of the resettlement slum

in Shadipur, New Delhi. It also continues to support Professional Assistance for Development

Action (PRADAN) in its human resource development initiatives focused on the apprenticeship

and the middle management.

In the coming year, the

initiative would focus

on building competent

human resources for the

development sector through

developing linkages across

key non-profit organisations

and in developing capacity

building options for middle

management cadres in these

organisations.

The Trust recognizes the

role of individuals in making

significant change in the

society. While there is

interest and passion to bring

change, effectiveness of such

initiatives can be enhanced

if backed by professional

mentorship. To encourage

reflection and building

perspective of individual

action through provision of focused mentorship input, the Trust supports Fellowships through host

organizations. Its grant to Prerana was restructured in recognition of the role of the mentor. During

the year, an effort was made to capture the learnings from the fellows and the mentors, hailing

from different locations in north Karnataka, in the form of a workshop that was held in Bangalore.

Three fellows were supported in the first year through the grant to Anveshi and in the second


Team members of Mobile Creches participating in the session of a motivational workshop held in New Delhi.

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year, six new fellows from different locations within Andhra Pradesh have been selected. Through

the grant to Ashoka Innovators for the Public, fellowships are supported in the Central Indian

region. Currently, two fellows in Madhya Pradesh are supported. During the year under review, three

more fellows have been selected in the states of Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. Another significant

effort in this direction is the partnership with the National Foundation for India (NFI), which

focuses on supporting small non profit organizations in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa. 35

organisations received such support under the Sir Ratan Tata Trust Fund for Onward Grant making

at NFI during the year.

In the area of Governance, the grant to the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies

(CSDS) has instituted the Rajni Kothari Chair in Democracy. In its third year now, Professor

Ramin Jahanbegloo from Iran, who succeeded Professor Douglas Lummis as the new incumbent,

participated in various lectures and seminars. Prof Jahanbegloo has been the head of the Department

for Contemporary Studies at the Cultural Research Bureau, Iran, besides authoring over twenty

books in English, French and Persian, including the well-known Conversations with Isaiah Berlin.

A book titled ‘Talking India: Ashis Nandy in conversation with Ramin Jahanbegloo’ was published

during the year.


HR and OD initiative: Participants at a workshop organised by Satyam Foundation in Hyderabad, focusing on challenges and issues in working with Community Based Organisations.

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As part the SP 2011 exercise, the Trust sought inputs on possible governance initiatives from review

teams of different themes. Given the focus on community based organisations in all grant making

of the Trust, a consultation was organized, which helped to outline the possible areas for support

to these organisations. These suggestions will be collated and a new direction defined for the

governance sub-theme of the Trust.


grants, as against Rs. 39.57 million towards 15 grants during 2005-06, indicating a drop of 10%

in the quantum of disbursals. Over the coming year, the Trust would enhance this thematic area

through scaling up and deepening its Youth and Civil Society initiative, building alliances for human

resource development as part of the organizational development and human resource initiative,

and strengthening its Governance initiative through building capacities of community based

organizations. Over the past five years, initiatives under the themes of education and rural livelihoods

have matured. There has also been a greater clarity on initiatives within the CS&G portfolio. In the

coming year, the Trust will make an earnest endeavour to integrate youth development, organisation

strengthening and supporting performance of public systems within its grant making. This will make

CS&G a cross cutting portfolio in both, letter and spirit.


Grant Disbursals for Civil Society & Governance: 1997-2007

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Enhancing Civil Society & Governance:Details of grant disbursals in 2006-2007

FELLOWSHIPS Rs.

Institute of Rural Management (IRMA), Anand Towards fellowships for the doctoral programme and deferred fellowships for postgraduate diploma in rural management, referred to as Amul-Tata fellowships. 2,890,000

Prerana, Raichur Towards providing fellowships and comprehensive support to ten fledgling voluntary initiatives, over a period of three years. The grant is expected tooffer an opportunity for strengthening individual spirit and citizen action. 800,000

Ashoka Innovators for the Public, New DelhiTowards providing fellowships to social entrepreneurs in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, whilst encouraging fellows collaborations onorganisational effectiveness. 2,020,000

Anveshi - Research Centre for Women’s Studies, HyderabadTowards a fellowship programme to mentor promising individuals from underprivileged communities in and around Hyderabad, with a view to upgrade their skills and knowledge base on development issues andenhance their professional contribution to the development sector. 1,200,000

FOSTERING LOCAL PHILANTHROPY

National Foundation for India (NFI), New Delhi Towards a grant making partnership for onward grant-making in Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh, besides providing support towards researchand documentation and enhancing NFI’s capacities as a grant-maker. 2,500,000

ORGANISATION AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), New Delhi Towards strengthening human resources at PRADAN, through fine-tuning the apprenticeship skill building phase, besides supporting the on-going professionaldevelopment of the staff. 6,000,000

Gandhigram Trust, Dindigul Towards a review exercise, supporting Gandhigram Trust’s efforts atre-examining relevance and performance for organisational renewal. No disbursals

Human and Institutional Development Forum (HIDF), BangaloreTowards piloting a one year distance learning programme for building a cadre of organisational change facilitators. Upon successful completion of the program, these facilitators are expected to subsequently work and enhance organisationaleffectiveness of non-profits helping them manage change internally. 2,000,000


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Mobile Creches, New DelhiTowards capacity building of human resources and facilitating planned organisational development interventions. The grant also supports their day care centre for disadvantaged kids at Shadipur, an underdeveloped slum in Delhi. Changes effected through these processes will result in building greatercommunity ownership and improved quality of work. 700,000

YOUTH AND CIVIL SOCIETY

Centre for Civil Society, New Delhi Towards a programme, encouraging youth participation in civil society, through well designed programmes for college students and those in schools of journalismand media. 511,092

Centre for Civil Society, New Delhi Towards a second phase of support, encouraging youth participation in civil society, through well designed programmes for college students and those in schools of journalism and media. The grant also supports strengtheningof youth groups formed during Phase I through structured mentoring. 3,500,000

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New DelhiTowards encouraging youth participation in civil society, through exposureprogrammes and a certificate course in environmental research andcommunications. No disbursals

Pravah, New Delhi Towards a school based programme in life skills education and seeding a resourcecentre for the youth centred action, besides augmenting Pravah’s humanresources. 2,186,178

Pravah, New Delhi Towards a third phase of support, focusing on scaling up youth development and citizenship education, through developing intensive partnerships with nine partner organisations, besides developing a learning network of these partners. The grant also supports identification and strengthening of youth led groupsand initiatives through a structured programme and sustained mentorship. 2,600,000

Partners for Urban Knowledge, Action & Research (PUKAR), MumbaiTowards a youth centered knowledge building initiative on development issues through scientific research and dissemination that aims toreach out to 1,800 youth in Mumbai and Thane district, Maharashtra. 2,600,000

Samvada, BangaloreTowards supporting alternate livelihoods for marginalized youth through developing and imparting short term and collaborative courses on livelihood skills and citizenship, reaching out to a total of 260 youth from rural areas around Bangalore.The grant also focuses on building organizational capacity. 2,200,000

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Foundation for Education and Development (FED), JaipurTowards expanding ‘Doosra Dashak’, a field programme focusing on education and development of persons in the age group of 11-20, to 80 villages across two blocks in Jaipur district of Rajasthan. This is expected to enhance educational levels of around 600 youth, thereby preparing ground for social, cultural and educationaladvancement and facilitate formation of 40 youth and women groups in thevillages. 2,500,000

GOVERNANCE Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), New Delhi Towards instituting the ‘Rajni Kothari Chair in Democracy’ at CSDS, with the objective of strengthening CSDS’s tradition of research on democracy and promoting understanding about democracies in developing countries through workshopsand seminars involving grass-root organizations, activists, media andacademics. 1,280,000

Foundation for Democratic Reforms (FDR), Hyderabad Towards supporting citizens in identifying basic services that need improvement and work towards their betterment. After identifying services, citizens would undertake surveys, prepare status reports along with recommendations and implement these recommendations by partnering with the government andthe media. The project would cover urban and rural areas throughoutAndhra Pradesh. No disbursals


Participants engage in group-work within a learning event of the Organisational Change Facilitator Programme being implemented by HIDF in Bangalore.

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Arts & Culture

Following the comprehensive review of the portfolio in 2004, the Arts and Culture programme of

the Trust was restructured to build specialized institutional support in the arts. The thrust areas

being presently emphasized are:

• Advanced Learning in the Arts

• Arts Management

• Art Education

• Arts Therapy

During the year under review, the Advanced Learning in the Arts initiative saw considerable

progress vis-à-vis new grants made. A special focus within this initiative, on architecture and design,

saw the founding of the Design Research Cell at the School of Interior Design, Centre

for Environment Planning and Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad on September 2, 2006, the

University’s anniversary. A major seminar on ‘Interior Design Traditions in India’ and the showcasing

of three publications accompanied the launch. The Trust’s recognition of the unique role of Design

in the humanities has been strengthened by a new grant made in the year to the well known Srishti

School of Art, Design & Technology, Bangalore, to create a new interface between science, art

and design.

During this period, the programme also committed support to the starting of a Media Resource

Cell at the A.J. Kidwai Mass Communications Research Centre (AJK-MCRC), Jamia Millia

Islamia University, New Delhi. The Cell has subsequently opened its resources of documentary

cinema, still photography and related material to researchers. With substantial premises near

completion, the Cell promises to assume the role of India’s leading resource for documentary

cinema. In theatre, the Centre for Performing Arts (CPA), University of Pune, conducted a

remarkable performing arts festival simultaneously in Mumbai, Nasik, Ahmednagar and Kolhapur

during November 2006. Under the aegis of the Trust, the Centre, popularly referred to as the Lalit

Kala Kendra, was able to facilitate its students of music, dance and theatre to travel to significant

training institutions in India, such as dance legend Kumudini Lakhia’s Kadamb, Ahmedabad, K.N.

Panicker’s Sopanam in Kerala and the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, where they studied

under the renowned Guru Ulhas Kashalkar. The programme’s focus on teaching and archiving

art history was initiated with a grant to the well known Department of Art History, Maharaja

Sayajirao University, Vadodara. In the coming year, the Trust is focusing on significant expansion

within this area.

Institutional grants : Arts & Culture

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Temperature and light are the two most important conditions within a space that define user comfort. They are, hence, the ones that need maximum attention and sensitivity in terms of their intensity and control mechanisms. It becomes the interior designer’s prerogative and responsibility to ensure optimum comfort through sensible design. Meet Sanyogita Maru, a Research Associate with the School of Interior Design (SID) Research Cell at the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad, who has been studying the thermal effects of furniture on interior environments. Her undergraduate research dissertation has been published as a Thesis Monograph titled “Exploring the Realm of Energy and Comfort in Interior: Experiments to understand Thermal effects of Furniture on Interior Environments”.

“The publication of my dissertation has provided me the much needed spring board for further enquiry into the field and helped me identify my current research focus - ‘Building Energy Simulation Tools’”, remarks Sanyogita, who specifically studies the processes employed for virtual simulation of interior environments, to analyse their energy efficiency and their climatic adaptability and logic, besides ways and means of achieving energy efficiency through cutting-edge interior design practices.

In 2006, the Trust sanctioned a grant to CEPT for operationalising its new Design Research Cell housed in the SID. The raison d’être of this Cell revolves around enhancing and disseminating new research, whilst focusing on publishing advanced monographs and teachable research publications in the areas of: (a) traditional habitats; (b) traditional crafts of India; and (c) sustaining advanced research on issues concerning interior design such as of energy efficiency, the roles of light, vegetation and water, building products and the history of the field in India. The Cell’s work enables dissemination and mainstreaming of cutting-edge curricula in areas such as environment and resource conservation, indigenous architecture, traditional craft practices, diverse design practices and new technological advances. It also enables the hands-on creation of prototypes and simulation systems, in a specially designed laboratory, which will permit same-scale prototypes of various situations in space, through space and scale simulators, which would permit empirical research under ‘candid’ space scenarios.

The Trust’s support to CEPT falls under the sub-thematic area of Advance Learning in the Arts, which seeks to support significantly located institutions within the University system capable of ground-breaking disciplinary transformations in their field. Design is a new and increasingly critical presence within the emerging humanities disciplines in India and the Trust vindicates CEPT’s ability to substantially impact the field of design, architecture and built-environment theory.

Students performing an experiment in the workshop at the School of Interior Design.


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The Arts & Culture programme’s focus on Arts Management is dedicated to generating a broad

based infrastructure that will identify new art-making practices, both, through new institutions

capable of innovative practice, as well as those offering specialized arts support. During the year

under review, the Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art Research (ALTAR)’s extraordinary

theatre, the Sir Ratan Tata Trust Koothu Kovil, saw the rehearsing of Tim Supple’s acclaimed production

Midsummer Night’s Dream, along with several other productions, as the organization implemented

a grant designed to enhance its performance outputs. The Trust’s emphasis on theatre institutions

exploring new models for institutional regeneration will be further enhanced by a new grant made

to the Prithviraj Kapoor Memorial Trust and Research Foundation, Mumbai (better known

as the Prithvi Theatres) to set up an all-India ‘Theatre Forum’ to document the conditions under

which theatre groups across India survive. A commitment to independent publishing in India was

furthered by a grant to MARG Publications, Mumbai, towards institutional restructuring.

The year also saw some significant developments within older grants. The India Foundation

for the Arts (IFA), Bangalore, was able to raise substantial revenue from Indian philanthropic

sources, as part of its effort to expand local Indian support for the arts under the Sir Ratan Tata

Trust Draw-down Fund created in 2000. The Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts (ACMA),

Bangalore, has also enhanced its financial stability with the support of the Sir Ratan Tata Revolving

Fund. An important event in ACMA’s calendar is the Sir Ratan Tata Trust Colloquium. This year, the

Participants during a rehearsal of Tim Supple’s production ‘Midsummer Night Dream’ at the Sir Ratan Tata Koothu Kovil, constructed by ALTAR, in Pondicherry.


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colloquium was conceptualized and designed in collaboration with the IFA and titled “Accessing

Arts Education: Possibilities and Challenges”. It brought together a range of voices, ranging from the

highest echelons of policy-making to practitioners with extensive classroom experience, including

Prof. Krishna Kumar, Director, NCERT, Shubha Mudgal, Chairperson of the NCERT’s Focus Group on

Art, Music, Dance and Theatre, NCERT, U.R. Ananthamurthy, Sadanand Menon and Venu G., founder

and director of the Natana Kairali, Kerala.

During 2006-07, the Trust’s support increased by an impressive 50% over the previous year, disbursing

Rs. 8.1 million (US $ 0.19 million) towards six grants, as compared to Rs. 5.40 million during 2005-

06. With dedicated human resources in place, the portfolio will be significantly enhanced over the

coming year. The Trust’s programmes over the coming year would also support several new works

in arts pedagogy and research under the Arts Education and Arts Therapy initiatives. Within the

Arts Education initiative, the Trust supports efforts among arts institutions seeking to translate their

practices into pedagogic structures. The Arts Therapy initiative supports the growing field of arts

practices interfacing with therapeutic experiment, including psychiatry and psychoanalysis.


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ARTS MANAGEMENT Rs.

Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Research (ALTAR), PondicherryTowards partial institutional sustainability, thus helping ALTAR enhance itsperformance outputs, host troupes from abroad and optimally use its theatrefacilities. 800,000

MARG Publications, MumbaiTowards an institutional restructuring exercise, which seeks to modernize and professionalize MARG through computerization, marketing and sales,besides expanding its publishing base, warehousing and office premises. 2,600,000

Shri Prithviraj Kapoor Memorial Trust andResearch Foundation, MumbaiTowards developing an all-India ‘Theatre Forum’ that explores and documents the conditions under which theatre groups survive across India. This forum aims to address the needs of independent theatre groups in India, in its cities and innon-metropolitan spaces. No disbursals

ADVANCE LEARNING IN THE ARTS

Centre for Performing Arts, University of Pune, PuneTowards strengthening faculty, curriculum and outreach programmes ofthe Centre for Performing Arts, Pune, popularly known as Lalit Kala Kendra. 1,100,000

A. J. Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre (AJK-MCRC),Jamia Milia Islamia University, New DelhiTowards enabling the AJK-MCRC to set up a financially self-sustaining Media Resource Cell, thus strengthening its academic base and bolstering its ability toimpact the field of communication studies. 600,000

Department of Art History & Aesthetics,Maharaja Sayajirao University, BarodaTowards an academic enhancement support programme which: (a) facilitates the dissemination of research through faculty and student fellowships and through publication support; (b) organizes two major conferences and an ongoing visiting faculty programme that facilitates the mainstreaming of new research into teachable form; and (3) undertakes a major archival initiative, digitizing its precious holdings of endangered visual art material, spanning the entire range of Indian art, in a way that could make thisresource available to art history departments in India in teachable form. No disbursals

Arts & Culture:Details of grant disbursals in 2006-2007


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School of Interior Design, Centre forEnvironmental Planning and Technology, AhmedabadTowards setting up a new Design Research Cell, housed in the School of Interior Design, which enhances and disseminates new research, whilst building graduate and post-graduate level curricula in traditionalhabitats, traditional crafts of India and advanced research in the field. 1,500,000

Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, BangaloreTowards introducing a new interface between science, art and design in two studio labs, called the ‘Intersections’ lab and the ‘Sangam’ lab. Whilst the former focuses on issues arising from the areas of biology, biotechnology and combines these with the areas of telematics, telepresence and information arts and critical design, the latter looks at urban ecosystems and develops a series of art-works, including installations, exhibitions and archives,centered around the urbanization and development of the city of Bangalore. 1,500,000

OTHERS

India Foundation for the Arts (IFA), Bangalore For a draw-down fund to enhance grant-making across their thematic areas. Thegrant includes a challenge for IFA to raise matching funds from other Indiansources. No disbursals

Attakkalari Public Charitable Trust ofContemporary Performing Arts, BangaloreTowards a Centre for contemporary movement arts in Bangalore, which will enable it to function as a training institute for professional dancers, develop a repertory company to create innovative performance worksthat break new ground and organise festivals of art for the public. No disbursals


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Endowments

Non-profit organisations are constrained, at times, in expending a significant proportion of their

efforts towards procuring funds for its activities and programmes. With a view to sustaining high

quality, cutting edge institutions, the Trust makes endowments which are meant to bolster the

corpus of the organisation. Hence, freed from the rigors of generating resources, the Trust hopes

that these organisations can focus on their activities.

After a hiatus of almost three years, the Trust made a new endowment of Rs. 100 million (US $ 2.38

million) to the Tata Medical Centre Trust (TMCT), Kolkata. TMCT is setting up a Rs. 2.20 billion

hospital in Kolkata, upon the lines of the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, specializing in the

detection and treatment of cancer. Slated to be commissioned in December 2007, the hospital would

be equipped with the latest state-of-the-art facilities to tackle with the increasing cases of cancer,

especially in the eastern region of India. The Trust’s corpus amount is expected to generate an

annual income of Rs. 9 million, which would be utilised by TMCT for the activities of the hospital.

With this large endowment disbursed to TMCT, the disbursals during the year were four times

greater than during 2005-06, when the Trust had disbursed Rs. 25 million and is in fact, the largest

endowment grant made by the Trust. However, this sharp increase is a one-off endowment made

by the Trust to another Tata institution for a very worthy cause and is not an indicator of a shift in its

Endowment strategy, which generally discourages direct endowments to new organisations.

Institutional grants : Endowments

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Organisations which have received endowment grants from Sir Ratan Tata Trust since 1995

1. Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), New Delhi2. Bombay City Policy Research Foundation - Bombay First, Mumbai3. Sir Ratan Tata Foundation at the London School of Economics (LSE), London, United Kingdom (U.K.)4. University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India (UPIASI), New Delhi5. Indian Centre for Philanthropy, (ICP), New Delhi6. N.R. Tata Bandra Agiary Trust, Mumbai7. Sir Ratan Tata Buildings, C.J. Colony Tardeo Trust, Mumbai8. National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi9. Eklavya Foundation, Bhopal10. Child Relief and You (CRY), Mumbai11. Viswa Bharati, Santiniketan12. Co-operative Development Foundation (CDF), Hyderabad13. Indian Grameen Services (IGS), Hyderabad14. Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy (CAP), Mumbai15. India Foundation for the Arts (IFA), Bangalore16. Eight rural schools set up by the Society for Integrated Development of the Himalayas (SIDH), Mussoorie17. Amar Seva Sangam (ASS), Ayikudy18. Navinchandra Mafatlal Sadguru Water and Development Foundation (Sadguru Foundation), Dahod19. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi20. Society for Rural Urban and Tribal Initiatives (SRUTI), New Delhi21. Children’s Book Trust (CBT), New Delhi22. Various tank farmers associations in south India through the DHAN Foundation, Madurai23. Vrindaban Charitable Trust (VCT), Mumbai24. Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art Research (ALTAR), Pondicherry25. Higher Education Committee (HEC), Mumbai26. J.N. Tata Parsi Girls’ High School, Nagpur27. Bai Navajbai Tata Zoroastrian Girls’ School, Navsari28. Medical Research Foundation (MRF), Chennai29. Tata Medical Centre Trust (TMCT), Kolkata

Endowments: Details of grant disbursalsin 2006-2007

Tata Medical Centre Trust, Kolkata

Towards building up the corpus of the Tata Medical Centre Trust, interest from which would be utilised for various charitable activities of its under-construction150 bed hospital in Kolkata which would specialize in the treatment of cancer. Rs. 100,000,000

Institutional grants : Endowments

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Small Grant Programme

Launched in 1998-99, the Trust’s Small Grant Programme (SGP) has disbursed over Rs. 144 million

(US $ 3.43 million) through 431 grants that were made upto March 31, 2007. Originally conceptualized

to cater to the needs of small welfare oriented organisations, the programme was subsequently

amended to include larger organisations that needed support for strategic planning or evaluation,

conducting reviews and appraisals and strengthening internal systems. Grants made to the latter

have been classified under the ‘special’ category, as against ‘regular’ SGPs made to smaller

organisations. The SGP is also used to field-test new ideas and innovations, support preparatory

phases prior to long duration projects and conduct critical workshops, events and external reviews

within key programmatic initiatives.

During the year, the Trust disbursed Rs. 26.56 million (US $ 0.63 million) towards 55 grants, as compared

to Rs. 33.49 million disbursed during 2005-06 towards 80 grants, which points to a decrease of 21%.

Around 55% of the total number of grants made under the SGP fell within the ‘regular’ category.

Notably, 48% of the disbursals in the SGP were towards grants within the Rural Livelihoods and

Communities (RLC) portfolio, with 18%, 16% and 12% being outlaid towards Education, Civil Society

& Governance and Health portfolios respectively. Disbursals within the portfolio have declined over

the past three years, due to adoption of a stringent procedure for selecting new organisations

under the SGP. Consequently, there has been a decline in the number of ‘regular’ SGPs during the

year and a corresponding fall in the overall number of grants made.

Institutional grants : Small Grant Programme

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Whilst exploring new options for engagement in other regions of the country, the Trust made a

grant to the IWMI-Tata Water Policy Research Programme, Anand, towards undertaking

research studies which would help in obtaining detailed understanding of the natural resource

based livelihoods prevalent in North East India and subsequently paving way to undertake a

pilot project for livelihood development. These studies are a pre-cursor to the Trust’s up-coming

North East Initiative. Under the Trust’s flagship Central India Initiative (CInI), several grants were

made to organisations to facilitate work on livelihood projects. The SGP served as a tool to test

the potential of these organisations, most of which were engaging with the Trust for the very

first time, prior to a long-term programmatic support. Noteworthy amongst these include grants

made to Sri Ramakrishna Sarada Math and Mission (SRSMM), Hazaribag, for building the

capacity of its staff through training in Natural Resource Management, with the aim of helping

tribal communites in Katkamsandi Block, Hazaribag district, Jharkhand and Nav Bharat Jagriti

Kendra (NBJK), Hazaribag, towards developing a detailed project proposal for the development

of 12 tribal villages in Namkum - Khunti block of Ranchi district, Jharkhand. NBJK subsequently

commenced its Integrated Natural Resource Management based livelihood project reaching out

to 350 tribal families in six villages in Murhu block of Ranchi district, Jharkhand, addressing various

livelihood needs of the community. The Trust would consider SRSMM for programmatic support

next year, contingent on its performance during the on-going planning phase. A grant was also

given to Agrarian Assistance Association, Dumka, towards an integrated livelihoods project

that enhances income and local employment through modern techniques of paddy intensification,

besides promoting horticulture with farmers in villages of Dumka district, Jharkhand. The outputs of

this pilot would form the basis for a long term programme in this area.

Under Phase II of the component ‘Improving Community Health through Drinking Water and

Sanitation’ within Himmothan Pariyojana, grants were made to Himalayan Institute Hospital

Trust (HIHT), Dehradun and Himalayan Gram Vikas Samiti (HGVS), Gangolihat, for undertaking

a six month pre-planning phase prior to setting up of village level drinking water and sanitation

schemes in 48 villages in Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand. A grant

to Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB), Dehradun, facilitated day to day monitoring

of the project areas under the Organic Basmati Export Programme (OBEP), imparting technical know-

how to farmers, spreading knowledge about organic certification and establishing market linkages,

thereby helping the OBEP achieve its objectives of expanding the area under organic Basmati.

Finally, a grant made to Peoples’ Science Institute (PSI), Dehradun, enabled a comprehensive

review of the different watershed projects underway in Garhwal and Himachal Pradesh under


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Six year old Savita is studying in Class I of a school run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Like many of her fellow class-mates, Savita had struggled in classroom reading and writing activities, being unable to recognize most alphabets. Fearing ridicule from her ‘cleverer’ friends, Savita would not even make an attempt. However, of late, she has begun exuding a newly found confidence, along with her classmates. They have started participating actively in reciting the alphabets, besides learning to look for words hidden within ‘akshar’ (syllable) charts, which they subsequently read and write. This transformation has been brought about through the Early Literacy Project (ELP), which is working with classes I, II and III within select MCD run schools in South-west Delhi. Most children within these schools belong to migrant families from different parts of India and bring with them varied linguistic, social and cultural traditions. For young learners like Savita, the dialect spoken at home is often not the same as the Hindi used for curricular transaction in the classroom, making the transition to school difficult. They also do not have any support for reading and writing at home, since their families come from oral traditions. Addressing the diverse needs of over 50 children of different ages within one classroom has been a challenge for the ELP.

The ELP believes that it is of primary importance for children to experience and understand that reading and writing have deep connections with their lived experiences and inner worlds, and could, in fact, be considered the written forms of spoken language. Initially, a multi-pronged approach is adopted, based on the simultaneous introductions of

letters, words and continuous text. These are graded on the basis of carefully selected alpha-syllable groupings. Akshar charts based on these alpha-syllable groupings are displayed and the children practice reading these and learn to combine different syllables to create words.

The ELP’s approach for early readers aims to create facilitative, non-threatening, ‘print rich’ classroom environments in classes II and III, which enable children to actively engage with a variety of print material displayed on the classroom walls. Reading and writing activities are planned for using these. The print rich class has been conceptualized as a buffer zone between the child’s “real world” and the world of “school”, wherein it can feel free to interact with written text in a variety of natural ways, without being afraid of committing mistakes. Bi-weekly story telling periods have been set up in all ELP classes, which, besides providing children with enjoyment, also give an opportunity to relate these stories with their personal narratives and real experiences.

As part of the sub-theme on ‘Nurturing education as a field of study’, the Trust supports research in critical areas within the field of education. Consequently, through its Small Grant Programme, the Trust is supporting a study being conducted by a team of researchers on the ELP. The objectives of the study are: (i) to develop ‘print rich’ classroom learning environments and related methodologies through a process of sustained interventions in classroom learning materials and transactions in Hindi, with the active engagement of the regular teacher practitioners; and (ii) to assess the impact of a ‘print rich’ classroom culture by periodically monitoring the achievement levels of learners. The study is being conducted in six government schools and covers 1,200 students and 30 teachers of classes I to III. Given the paucity of research in the Indian context, the research and the insights gained through this study would be valuable in benchmarking observable behaviour of children from marginalised backgrounds studying in government schools and fine tuning intervention strategies based on the outcomes.

Early Literacy Project: A teacher uses the Akshar chart to teach these young students at a municipal school in New Delhi.


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the Himmothan Pariyojana. Several grants were also made to organisations within the Himalayan

region, including Uttarakhand Cooperative Resham Federation (UCRF), Dehradun, towards

exploring marketing avenues and mainstreaming the support system for silk blended products of

Uttarakhand, with a view to educate producer groups about the market trends and designs, assist

artisans develop suitable products that can be marketed easily and establish a raw material bank in

the state to enable processing of orders on time.

Within its Education portfolio, the Trust’s Publications initiative ‘Parag’ attained critical mass during

the year. A grant was made to Eklavya, Bhopal, which organised a seminar on ‘Illustrations in

Children’s Literature’. The seminar was a meeting ground for a group of publishers, writers,

illustrators, faculty from design institutes and users like librarians or people working closely with

children and books, to share experiences, concerns and deliberate on ways to promote children’s

books, with special focus on illustrations. Through the Trust’s support, Dhwani Trust, Bangalore,

operationalised project ‘Poorana’, which created teaching aids to illustrate Kannada language and

social studies concepts to 110 teachers and 5,700 students in 29 schools in Bangalore, Karnataka.

The Trust also supported Ravi J. Matthai Centre for Educational Innovation (RJMCEI), Indian

Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, towards hosting the third Sir Ratan Tata Trust

Pedagogic Innovations Conference, held in Lonavala, Maharashtra, during which, 67 innovative

teachers that had been selected at earlier held validation workshops presented their innovations

and were felicitated. In order to strengthen its engagement within Higher Education, the Trust is

making efforts to set up a ‘Resource Cell on Higher Education’. Consequently, a grant was made to

the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS), Bangalore, towards preparatory work

in setting up the Cell for the Trust. The grant seeks to enhance the Trust’s engagement with the field

of higher education and build upon CSCS’s expertise for operationalising the Cell. A series of micro

studies have been commissioned to understand several key dimensions of the higher education

field before designing well informed initiatives to address critical gaps.

Over the past seven years, the Trust has supported Medical Research Foundation (MRF)

(Sankara Nethralaya), Chennai, towards the Sir Ratan Tata Trust Community Ophthalmology

Fellowship Programme. Through the support provided by the Trust, 286 ophthalmologists from

across the country have undergone supervised training in cataract surgery and 6,615 sight

restoring cataract surgeries have been conducted on the deserving poor. Subsequently, the Trust

made a grant to MRF to carry out an impact study of the fellowship programme to estimate the

impact of the programme on the control of blindness due to cataract in India, to evaluate how


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Residents of the winding streets that constitute the Taltala area of Kolkata were used to the sight of a short woman, wandering around aimlessly, muttering away at nobody in particular. Her shabby, tattered clothes, disheveled and matted hair, listless eyes and exposed waif-like body covered with sores and open wounds made for a pitiable sight. Some insensitive kids would taunt her and call her “paagli”. Rani, all of 25 years, was originally a resident of Tillouthu village, situated in Rohtas district, Bihar. She suffered from a mental illness and her condition had worsened over time, for want of appropriate treatment. Unable to bear the torment inflicted by the villagers, Rani ran away from home and ended up in Kolkata. When the local residents were unable to tolerate the ‘nuisance’ that Rani created around their homes, they sought the help of the local police, who admitted her to the Calcutta Pavlov Hospital, where she underwent treatment for nearly eight months.

Subsequently, Rani was brought to Paripurnata for psychosocial rehabilitation, where she was treated with Pharmacotherapy, Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy, besides being trained with domestic and social skills to help her lead a normal life. During the course of her rehabilitation, Rani was able to recall her address in Tillouthu. This was enough motivation for the staff at Paripurnata to locate her family and with a little assistance from the local authorities; Rani was repatriated with her mother. With tears streaming down her face, Rani’s mother embraced her long lost daughter. “We all thought she was dead….after all it was four years ago that Rani had disappeared”, recounted a village elder to whom Rani was like a daughter.

Set up in 1992, Paripurnata, the first of its kind in West Bengal, is a half way home for women who, abandoned by their families, had been confined in jails or mental institutions. With an endeavour to offer “hope for wholeness” to these unfortunate women, the organisation provides them temporary refuge at the Centre. Paripurnata selects eight women at a time from Kolkata’s Pavlov Mental Institute and subsequently treats them intensively for a period of nine months, whilst at the same time, preparing them for rehabilitation and helping them integrate into the wider society. Post repatriation, the organisation keeps in touch with its ex-residents for a period of three years through family counseling, medicines and home visits.

The Trust’s mental health initiative partly focuses on developing approaches to cater to the needs of destitute mentally ill persons. Through its Small Grant Programme, the Trust has supported Paripurnata since January 2005 towards providing intensive skill and vocational training to the ex-residents of Paripurnata and strengthening the capacities of its staff to treat, shelter and rehabilitate mentally ill women. Encouraged by the dedication of the team and the work of the organization, the Trust is considering continuing its support to Paripurnata over the coming year.

This abandoned mentally ill woman was rescued through the efforts of Paripurnata, Kolkata, and she is being reintegrated with her family.


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the programme benefited the candidates in overall development as ophthalmologists, and to

assess impact on the quality of life of the beneficiaries of the project. The study estimated that

the SRTT-MRF fellows and those trained directly by them account for 2.7% of the ophthalmologists

practicing in India and contribute to about 250,000 of the 4,000,000 cataract surgeries conducted

in India every year, which is a significantly high number, highlighting the quantative output of the

project. Also, of the surgeries performed through the support from the Trust, 91% patients had

a visual acuity of 6/12 or better, as against the WHO standard of minimum of 80% with 6/18 or

better for successful performance, hence demonstrating the qualitative benefits of the project.

Similarly, under its mental health initiative, the Trust made a grant to the Richmond Fellowship

Society (India), Bangalore, towards developing a novel integrated community mental health care

model covering 70 villages in the Siddlaghatta block of Kolar district, Karnataka. The efforts were

focused on monthly clinics, day care centers, formation of self-help and carers groups, increasing

community awareness about health and providing learning opportunities for the patients and their

families. One of the verifiable outcomes of the project was a comprehensive study on the mental

health status of the community, which provides options for a replicable and sustainable model for

adoption by other Primary Healthcare Centers and the Government. Based on the learnings of the

project, the Trust is currently exploring the possibility of a three-year support to the organization to

further refine this innovative model, demonstrate impact at a larger scale and facilitate a dialogue

with the Government for wider adoption.

The SGP continues to be a key strategic means by which to expand and diversify the Arts & Culture

programme. Among the strategies used is one of seeding new initiatives at their inception, or

exploring unconventional ideas, as a way of bringing new initiatives and grantees into the ambit

of the Trust. Among the areas developed in the last financial year, through new grants under

the SGP, was one to the independent publisher Women Unlimited, New Delhi, to develop the

Independent Publishers and Distribution Alternatives, a major distribution collaboration of several

of India’s leading independent publishers. In the coming year, the programme expects to scale up

its support for independent publishing in India, which has a major tradition in this area, dating back

to the national independence period, and perhaps, the largest domestic books market outside the

west. The present initiative assists sustainable strategies for the distribution of original books in the

domain of the arts and humanities, in English and in Indian languages. During the year, Women

Unlimited organized important workshops on various aspects of independent publishing in Delhi

and Chennai. The Trust also made two significant grants in the field of theatre. One was to the

famous Ninasam repertory, in Heggodu, Karnataka, for a theatre orientation programme for rural


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theatre activists in the region. The other grant was to the Sanket Trust, Bangalore, home of the

well known Rangashankara theatre, to conduct a translation workshop of Indian plays, with a view

to bringing them to the stage. This continued Rangashankara’s own commitment to bringing Indian

theatre in all languages on the stage. These two grants continue the Trust’s efforts to work with

theatre groups in India and form a counterpart to its theatre infrastructure programme.

Under the Civil Society & Governance portfolio, the focus of the Trust’s work continued to be on its

Youth and Civil Society and the Human Resource & Organisation Development (HR & OD) initiatives.

Within the former, the Trust made grants to Samvada, Bangalore, Mitra Technology Foundation

(Mitra), New Delhi and Anjali, Kolkata, amongst others. While Samvada carried out preliminary

work for undertaking a fellowship programme for artisan youth around Bangalore, subsequently

leading to a two year programmatic grant towards supporting alternative livelihoods of disadvantaged

youth, Mitra made initial efforts for setting up a common platform for youth involvement in civil

society through an intensive study focusing on their interests and aspirations towards volunteering

in non-profits. Anjali carried out a pilot for building youth leadership in Kolkata, focusing on issues

of mental health, through which it has been able to integrate youth development under the overall

ambit of its work. Under the HR & OD initiative, grants were made to Satyam Foundation, Hyderabad

and Communication for Development and Learning (CDL), Bangalore. Satyam Foundation

initiated a community of Organisational Development / Institutional Development practitioners in the

development sector, focusing on documenting cases of organizational development interventions

in non-profits and bringing in knowledge based outputs in the form of a book for the sector. What

may be considered as path breaking, was the coming together of some of the top OD professionals

to review interventions carried out by individual consultants for OD in non-profits. CDL enhanced

capabilities of non-profit organisations in relation to their communication and media skills through

a series of trainings, thereby enhancing the communication strategies of organisations working on

development issues.

Over the coming year, the Trust would continue supporting worthy organisations within the country,

whilst adding value to its Small Grant Programme.


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RURAL LIVELIHOODS & COMMUNITIES R s .

Water Sector Research

IWMI-Tata Water Policy Research Programme, AnandTowards undertaking research studies which would help in obtaining detailed understanding of the natural resource based livelihoods prevalent in North East India and subsequently paving way to undertake pilot studies for livelihood development in specific areas of focus. Thesestudies are a pre-cursor to the Trust’s up-coming North East Initiative. 500,000

Central India Region

Sri Ramakrishna Sarada Math & Mission, HazaribagTowards strengthening staff with comprehensive training in various aspects of Natural Resource Management (NRM), who then helped the tribal community in Katkamsandi Block, Hazaribag district, Jharkhandenhance their livelihoods through improved agricultural practices. 250,000

Programme for Rural Actions & Youths Associationfor Social Service (PRAYAS), HazaribagTowards sustenance of an ongoing education programme for women representatives of 300 Self Help Groups (SHGs) in four blocks of Hazaribag district, Jharkhand, which helps them to manage their day to day accounting, discuss financialmatters with the banks and empower them to fight for their basic rights. 168,000

Society for Upliftment of People with PeopleOrganization and Rural Technology (SUPPORT), HazaribagTowards a second phase of support to strengthen the already formed SHGs in blocks of Mandu and Churchu of Hazaribag district, Jharkhand,for promotion of livelihoods through income generation activities. 250,000

Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK), HazaribagTowards developing a detailed project proposal for the development of 12 tribal villages in Namkum - Khunti block of Ranchi district, Jharkhand. The activities include: (i) identification of the tribal and most deprived villages; (ii) detailed baseline data collection, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and data analysis; (iii) preparation of result monitoring indicators; and (iv)sharing of outputs of study with district level authorities and NGO partners. 250,000

Jamgoria Sevabrata, PuruliaTowards a second phase of support for guiding the process of people’s empowerment in Purulia and Bankura districts, West Bengal, through enhancingthe capacities of local Village Youth Clubs for Natural Resource Management. 228,000

Small Grant Programme:Details of grant disbursals in 2006-2007

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The Time and Talents Club, MumbaiTowards promoting conservation of water through rainwater harvesting and improved storage techniques in three villages of Raigad district, Konkan, Maharashtra, which is expected to lead to reduction of the water scarcity period,besides reducing drudgery of women in fetching drinking water from farawaysources. 235,000

Adarsha Social & Health Services Association (ASHA), RourkelaTowards strengthening 450 SHGs and promoting livelihood generation activities in north-western Orissa, with the objectives of developing the livelihood of therural communities and increasing awareness towards health and sanitation. 480,000

Bhopal Yuwa Paryavaran Shikshan and Samajik Sansthan (BYPASS), BhopalTowards the second phase of the project titled ‘Swayamsiddha’, which focuses on strengthening over 200 tribal women within 18 SHGs of Silwani block in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh and promoting various livelihood interventions for the members,which enhances their income sources and improves their living conditions. 250,000

Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS), JamshedpurTowards undertaking a detailed and all-inclusive planning exercise, prior to implementing land and water management measures under an Integrated Watershed Development Programme in project villagesin the Rajnagar block of Saraikela – Kharsawan district, Jharkhand. 250,000

Agrarian Assistance Association, DumkaTowards an integrated livelihood project that enhances income and local employment through Systems for Rice Intensification (SRI) and increases food security by Participatory Varietal Selection Promotion and multitier cultivation, besides introducing a relevant ‘Wadi’ model of horticulturepromotion with farmers in 10 villages of Dumka district, Jharkhand. 250,000

Peoples’ Science Institute, DehradunTowards strengthening and consolidating the ‘Gram Swaraj Abhiyan’ programme, which addresses the fundamental causes of poverty and underdevelopment in 128 villages in the districts of Naupada, Kalahandi, Bargarh and Bolangir in western Orissa. Key activities include: (a) preparation of Panchayat level development plans and their subsequent formal ratification by the gram sabha; (b) strengthening of village level institutions; and (c) carrying outa campaign on National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). 296,000

Himmothan Pariyojana

Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), DarlaghatTowards the one year preparatory cum planning phase of a micro-watershed projectin Arki tehsil of Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, under ‘HimmothanPariyojana’. 225,000

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Rural Technology & Development Centre (RTDC), Palampur, KangraTowards a one year preparatory phase pr ior to the three year watershed project, during which, RTDC has init iated watershed development activities in the 495 hectare Chhalara watershed, coveringfive villages in Chowari block of Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh. 249,000

Samudaik Shashaktikaran Samiti (SSS), Khetbharar, PithoragarhA supplementary grant to SSS, which is a Water and Sanitation Management Society for Khetbharar vi l lage, Pithoragarh distr ict, Uttarakhand, towards construction of a 1,050 metre long irrigation channel, whichenhances the output from agricultural land by providing irrigation water. 250,000

Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB), DehradunTowards the continuation of the Organic Basmati Export Programme (OBEP) in four blocks of Dehradun and three blocks of Udham Singh Nagar districts, Uttarakhand, with the management of the field motivators who have been helped to form a society, with the objective of delivering services to the farmersin the region, besides collection and sale of organic Basmati, paddy, wheat, etc. 250,000

Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB), DehradunTowards facilitating day to day monitoring of the project areas under the OBEP, imparting technical know-how to new and old farmers, spreading knowledge about organic certification and establishing market linkages, thereby helping the OBEPachieve its objectives of expanding the area under organic Basmati production. 250,000

Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), DehradunTowards a pre-planning phase to establish the feasibility of setting up drinking water and sanitation schemes in 30 villages in Tehri Garhwal and Dehradun districts, Uttarakhand, under Phase II of the component ‘Improving CommunityHealth through Drinking Water and Sanitation’ under Himmothan Pariyojana. 470,000

Himalayan Gram Vikas Samiti (HGVS), GangolihatTowards a pre-planning phase to establish the feasibility of setting up drinking water and sanitation schemes in 18 villages in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, under Phase II of the component ‘Improving Community Healththrough Drinking Water and Sanitation’ under Himmothan Pariyojana. 493,000

Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB) –Centre for Organic Farming (COF), DehradunTowards an impact assessment study of the Centre for Organic Farming’s (COF) activities in selected locations. The study focuses on: (i) economics of cultivation; (ii) employment generation; (iii) soil condition; (iv) biodiversity;and (v) health of farmers, workers, village community and livestock. 300,000

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Peoples’ Science Institute, DehradunTowards a review of the on-going Batch I, Batch II and Batch III watershedprojects in Garhwal and Himachal Pradesh, under the Himmothan Pariyojana. 498,000

Peoples’ Science Institute, DehradunTowards providing development support to partner organizations and communities for watershed projects being implemented in Garhwaland Himachal Pradesh under the Himmothan Pariyojana. 498,000

Himalayan Region

Uttarakhand Cooperative Resham Federation (UCRF)Towards exploring marketing avenues and mainstreaming the support system for silk blended products of Uttarakhand, with a view to educate producer groups about the market trends and designs, assist artisans develop suitable products that can be marketed easily and establish araw material bank in the state to enable processing of orders on time. 240,000

Society for Integrated Management of All Resources (SIMAR),UttarakhandTowards empowering and mobilizing the women community for sustainable management of natural resources in Deval block of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. Activities include: (i) building of institutions of women for health and environmental sanitation, microfinance, etc.; (ii) management of natural resources through water management, agricultural promotion,fuelwood and fodder promotion; and (iii) capacity building of women’s groups. 200,000

Jai Nanda Devi Swarojgar Shikshan Sansthan (JANDESH),Kalpkshetra Bharki, UttarakhandTowards a second phase of support for enhancing the economic development of women and marginalized farmers, by providing better opportunities for vegetable cultivation through improved irrigation facilities, compost production, seed bank formation, and providing other vegetable production relatedinformation, in villages of Joshimath block of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. 206,000

Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG), NainitalTowards administering a grant to Centre for Environment, Development and Research (CEDAR), which is an autonomous research unit, for developing direct sowingtechniques to reduce plantation costs for oak afforestation in the centralHimalayas. 200,000

Ladakh Ecological Development Group, LehTowards a pilot project for improving the living conditions of people residing in structurally disadvantaged areas of Ladakh, promotion through of profitable vil lage-based micro-enterprises and makingsustainable use of the limited natural resource base. 250,000

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Chhattrasal Seva Sansthan (CSS), HamirpurTowards a programme on management of livestock and its resources, with the objectives of: (a) highlighting priority sites, species and strategies for livestock management and other income generation opportunities for sustainable livelihood; (b) developing a participatory methodology for livestock management and other income generation opportunities for sustainable livelihoods; and (c) reducing dependency of fuel and fodder from the forests. The programme helps in sustaining livelihoods of over250 families in ten villages of Tarikhet block of Almora district, Uttarakhand. 500,000

Institute for Development Support (IDS), Pauri Garhwal, UttarakhandTowards training of youth in Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, to promote entrepreneurship development. Activities involved include: (a) formation and capacity building of SHGs; (b) organizing sensitization and awareness programmes, besides training and capacity building workshops; (c) building linkages withfinancial institutions; and (d) providing back ward and forward linkages. 299,000

EDUCATION

Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), PuneTowards second phase support for the children’s science activity centre at IUCAA, Pune, with the aim of demonstrating the possibilities of learning science using low cost material, documenting innovative science experiments and translatingeducational books on science, digitizing and uploading them on the internet. 248,000

The Ravi J. Matthai Centre for Educational Innovation(RJMCEI), IIM-A, AhmedabadTowards supporting the third Sir Ratan Tata Trust Pedagogic Innovations Conference - 2006, held in Lonavala, Maharashtra, during which, 67 innovative teachers that had been selected at earlier held validationworkshops presented their innovations and were felicitated. 470,000

Vakkom Moulavi Foundation Trust, TrivandrumTowards setting up a Teacher Resource Centre in Trivandrum, Kerala, forprofessional development of high school teachers in science education. 217,000 Eklavya, BhopalTowards co-organizing a seminar on ‘Illustrations in children’s literature’ under the Trust’s ‘Parag’ initiative, which brought together a group of publishers, writers, illustrators, faculty from design institutes and users like librarians or people working closely with children and books, to share experiences, concerns and deliberate on ways to pave the way for a more enrichedprocess of promoting children’s books, with special focus on illustrations. 500,000


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Pragat Shikshan Sanstha, PhaltanTowards publication of a supplementary reader, ‘Everyday English’ and a teacher’s handbook, for teaching of English as a second languagein select government middle schools in Phaltan, Maharashtra. 110,000

Dhwani Trust, BangaloreTowards the project ‘Poorana’, which focuses on creating teaching aids to illustrate Kannada language and social studies concepts to 110 teachersand 5,700 students in 29 schools in Bangalore, Karnataka. 250,000

The Bombay Community Public Trust, MumbaiTowards part support for running two Community Learning Centres in Mumbai, in order to provide academic support and access to libraries to school goingchildren in slums in Mumbai. 200,000

Sampurna, New DelhiTowards the research component of its ‘Early Literacy Project’, being implemented in select schools of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The project aims to understand the literacy learning processes of young children from marginalized backgrounds who typically underachieve in school, and use this understanding toevolve effective pedagogic methods of teaching reading writing in early grades. 300,000

The Ravi J. Matthai Centre for Educational Innovation(RJMCEI), IIM-A, AhmedabadTowards developing a framework for projecting, understanding and assessing impact of education projects supported by the Trust, thereby strengthening itsEducation portfolio. 158,000

Centre for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS), BangaloreTowards preparatory work in setting up a Resource Cell on Higher Education for the Trust. The preparatory phase seeks to enhance CSCS’s capacity to serve as a base for providing inputs to the higher education portfolio of the Trust and complete a series of micro-studies for developing informedunderstanding of under-graduate and post-graduate education in Karnataka. 500,000

Ecological Society, PuneTowards a second phase of support for strengthening and widening the scope of the Ecological Society’s diploma course on eco-restoration and natural resourcemanagement. 250,000

Nai Talim Samiti, WardhaTowards continued support to the “Nai Talim” school by rediscoveringGandhiji’s basic education principles, in the present context. 250,000


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Centre for Learning, SecunderabadTowards providing support for running various activities of its education centre, including teacher trainings, learner’s club and health related i n te rven t ions , reach ing ou t to 80 underp r i v i l eged s tuden tsbetween the ages 3-12 years in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. 250,000

HEALTH

The Richmond Fellowship Society (India), BangaloreTowards developing a community mental health care model in 70 villages in the Siddlaghatta block of Kolar district, Karnataka, focusing on monthly clinics, day care centres, formation of self-help and carers groups, increasing community awarenessabout health and providing learning opportunities for the patients and theirfamilies. 175,000

Samadhan, New DelhiTowards conducting research in a slum in Delhi, for enhancement of services to infants and children with intellectual disability. The project: (i) identifies children with intellectual disability through a survey; (ii) assesses the needs of persons with intellectual disability and their families; and (iii) develops a model of service delivery within the community and addressesthe various needs of persons with intellectual disability and their families. 98,000

Nethrodaya, ChennaiTowards the project “Mainstreaming the Visually Impaired”, which aims to: (a) consolidate the services offered by Nethrodaya; (b) establish newly launched initiatives on computer training and spoken English, besides introduction of training in Tamil shorthand; and (c) initiate services for thevisually impaired female college going students in rural areas of Tamil Nadu. 473,000

Chaitanya Charitable Trust, PalakkadTowards supporting activities at Chaitanya Developmental Training Institute for Special Children in Palakkad, Kerala, including: (a) providing training to the staff for updating their knowledge; (b) making the ‘special children’ participate in social functions such as get-togethers, quiz programmes, cultural events, etc; (c) conducting screening camps, workshops and awareness camps in exhibitions,etc; and (d) working with few schools to implement inclusive education. 436,000

Sakhi, DahodTowards the second phase of a project which focuses on enhancing midwifery skills of midwives, thereby helping to solve the problem of maternal mortality in 15 villages in Dahod, Jhalod, and Fatehpura blocks of Dahod district, Gujarat,through awareness building and training of midwives on safer pregnancies. 490,000


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Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), ChennaiTowards a second phase of support for SCARF’s ‘Home Intervention Programme’, which focuses on providing home based interventions to a larger group of patients, works out the strategies for improving economic productivity of thefamily as a whole and establishes a resource centre at SCARF for caregivers. 494,000

The Banyan, ChennaiTowards hosting the second National Level Workshop on Homelessness and Mental Illness. The key objectives of the workshop were to give a platform for the clients to discuss and formulate remedies and to involve stakeholders in working towards one major issue - Access to Care, besides serving asa platform for launch of initiatives paving the way ahead for the sector. 500,000

Medical Research Foundation (MRF), ChennaiTowards carrying out a study on the impact of Sir Ratan Tata Trust Community Ophthalmology Fellowship Programme. The key objectives of the study were to: (a) evaluate how the programme benefited the candidate in overall development as an ophthalmologist, use of OPD skills, etc.; (b) estimate the impact of the programme on the control of blindness due to cataract in India; and (c) providerecommendations for the next phase of engagement between MRF and the Trust. 379,441

ARTS & CULTURE

Centre for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS), Bangalore Towards conducting approximately 10 special projects / reviews / appraisals for the Trust, with the aim of supporting its Arts & Culture portfolio, besidesproviding handholding support to select higher education institutions in thearts. 250,000

Koothu – P – Pattarai Trust, Chennai Towards creating theatre awareness and building basic theatricalskills among youth groups across five locations in Tamil Nadu. 242,000

World Centre for Creative Learning Foundation, PuneTowards an Arts Based Therapist (ABT) certification course that seeks to demonstratethe efficacy of a new style of arts therapy towards the process of healing. 180,000

Urban Design Research Institute, MumbaiTowards expansion and strengthening UDRI; development of its website as an outreach tool; enhancement of workshops and urban studios;and augmenting the UDRI lecture series. 250,000

Women Unlimited, New DelhiTowards partial funding support to set up mechanisms of distribution collaboration between eight of India’s leading independent academic publishers, and wideningthe base of distribution of at least 10 other independent/small publishers. 250,000


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Ninasam (Sri Neelakanteswara Natya Seva Sangh), Heggodu, KarnatakaTowards conducting four short-term theatre orientation courses, specifically addressing rural theatre activists who are unable to afford long term formaltraining in theatre. 300,000

Sanket Trust, BangaloreTowards a ten-day residential workshop in Pondicherry, conceptualized by the well known translator and theatre curator Arshia Sattar, in collaboration with senior playwrights, translators and guest faculty, during which works by 17 Indian playwrightsin different languages are translated, discussed at some length and staged. 300,000

CIVIL SOCIETY & GOVERNANCE

Samvada, BangaloreTowards preliminary work for an enhanced fellowship programme for artisan youth, which includes research on the same, small one time activity grants to existing fellows and fellowships to facilitate and buildcapacities on livelihood / life skills for under-privileged urban youth. 250,000

MITRA Technology Foundation, New DelhiTowards preparatory work for setting up a common platform for youth involvement in civil society through a study on their interests and aspirations towards volunteering in non-profits in three cities. The support was also towards planned organizational development interventions for enhancing organizationalefficiency. 209,000

Anjali, KolkataTowards a pilot for building youth leadership in Kolkata, focusing on issues of mental health, by encouraging youth to explore and understand mental health issuesaround them and being a source of information and action in their communities. 499,000

Dhriti, New DelhiTowards its “Entrepreneurs for Tomorrow” (EoT) training programme, which develops entrepreneurial spirit and skills amongst young adults. The Trust’s support aims at setting up entrepreneurship chapters in two colleges in Delhi and training 50 students through the EoT Programme for creatingawareness about entrepreneurship as an option for college students. 250,000

Mediact, TrivandrumTowards the project “Media Education for Democratic Society”, which imparts media awareness among 350 students in ten schools of Trivandrum, Kerala, thus creating a youth collective who would partake in discussions and debates on issues of social relevance and role of media as instrument of social communication and transformation. Theproject also envisages development of curriculum on ‘Alternative Media’. 250,000


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Satyam Foundation, HyderabadTowards initiating a community of Organisational Development/Institutional Development practitioners in the development sector, focusing on documenting cases of organizational development interventions in non-profits and bringing in knowledgebased outputs in the form of a book for the sector and budding OD/IDprofessionals. 239,000

Centre for the Study of Development Studies, New DelhiTowards hosting its conference ‘Democracy in Asia’, which would be attended by reputed national and international academics, journalists and activists working in the field of democracy. The conference will addvalue to the Rajni Kothari Chair in Democracy, instituted by the Trust. 400,000

Sampradaan Indian Centre for PhilanthropyTowards their research titled ‘Civil Society and Foreign Development Assistance’, which seeks to study the impact of foreign assistance on the Indian civ i l society and draw lessons on how to maximizethe benefits of foreign funding and reduce its adverse effects. 200,000

OTHERS

VIkram Sarabhai Centre for Development Interaction (VIKSAT),AhmedabadTowards strengthening the Sabarmati Stakeholders Forum (SSF), which is engaged in addressing local level water resources management issues in four districts in Gujarat, related to irregular water supply in urban / peri urban areas forirrigation and industrial purposes, besides pollution caused through agriculture. 232,000

Centre for Advancement of Sustainable Agriculture (CASA), New Delhi Towards undertaking farmer participatory efforts to adopt and promote zero-tillage and surface managed crop residue systems (conservation agriculture),for efficient use of inputs and resource enhancement in North-West India. 238,000

Sophia College Ex-Students Association (SCESA), BombayTowards their project called ‘Natural Eco-Friendly Health Alternatives’ (NEHA), being implemented in tribal villages in Raigad district, Maharashtra, with the basic aim of strengthening the community with a few micro enterprises interventions. The project focuses on: (i) enhancing the health and financial status of members within women Self Help Groups; (b) providing opportunity and experience to enable SHG members to implementmicro-finance projects; and (c) creating awareness on the need for sanitation. 495,500

Ankur Kala, KolkataTowards a self-employment and alternate marketing project, which facilitates sustainable development of women artisans from slum areas around Kolkata, by providing alternative marketing outlets and space for their production work,besides enabling them to upgrade their skills and learn to run their own units. 478,000


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The School of Desert Sciences, JodhpurTowards undertaking interventions that have been proven to improve the natural resources status and agriculture productivity in the Marwar region of Rajasthan. The initial focus is on developing a detailed development plan for the area, which providesoverall base and direction for the proper field level implementation ofinterventions. 500,000

Friends of Vrindavan, Vrindavan, District MathuraTowards the project titled ‘Vrindavan Kuda Prabandhan Pariyojana’, which focuses on managing the municipal sanitation services in Vrindavan block in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh. The broad objectives of the project include: (a) providing professional eco-friendly sanitation service to the community; (b) recycling of the waste in order to minimize the stress on the landfill site; and (c) upliftmentof the Dalits and providing a permanent source of income for rag pickers. 364,000

Muncherjee Nowrojee Banajee Industrial Home for theBlind (MNB Home), MumbaiTowards providing self employment opportunities to visually impaired individuals in their home towns within Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, thereby enabling them manage small shops, Public Call Offices (PCO), milk booths,newspaper stalls, mini trades and hawking of general items and householdgoods. 280,000

World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust, NavsariTowards helping rehabilitate 65 individuals affected by the floods in Surat and its mofussil areas in August 2006, by reestablishing their small businesses such as bakeries, rice / flour mills, groceries, etc., besides helping severalindividuals with repairs to their auto rickshaws that were damaged in the floods. 500,000

Munnarakkunnu Trust, BangaloreTowards the project ‘School in the Forest’ which aims to help individuals discover holistic measures that are beneficial, both to themselves and nature, in areas of livelihoods, land management and development, besides fostering a new alliance between human beings and theirlandscape by improving their knowledge about ecology and biodiversity. 198,000

F K S Foundation, MumbaiTowards meeting tuition and school fees of 20 economically challenged school children in Mumbai, besides providing them books and school uniforms,over a one year period, thereby ensuring access to quality education. 250,000

Seva Sadan Society, MumbaiTowards supporting the educational needs of 20 underprivileged girls in the age group of 8-18 years, from its orphanage in Mumbai, through provision of books,uniforms and medical care. 250,000


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Adarsh Kelavani Mandal, IlavTowards supporting computer education at the R. K. Vakil High Schoolin Ilav, Bharuch district, Gujarat. 250,000

People For Animals (PFA), AgraTowards maintaining a helpline for destitute injured animals and conductingan Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme for dogs in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. 250,000

People For Animals (PFA), BhubaneswarTowards operational costs of the shelter cum hospital for sick and injured animals in Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Support is towards providingmedicines and fodder to the animals. 488,000

SAI Sanctuary Trust, Theralu, KarnatakaTowards the ‘Save Animals Initiative’, which focuses on afforestation and conservation of existing forests in the hilly and tribal Srimangala Nad block of Kodagu district, Karnataka, with the aim of protecting sourcesof fresh water and providing housing and employment for the tribals. 298,000

Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), New DelhiTowards organizing a symposium on ‘Disability and the Law for persons with Hearing Impairments’. The symposium aims at raising awarenessamong the deaf about their rights and improving their access to justice. 400,000

Communication for Development and Learning (CDL), BangaloreTowards enhancing capabi l i t ies of non-prof i t organisat ions in relation to their communication and media skills through a series of trainings, besides adding to the larger body of knowledge on mediaskills through a trainer’s and user’s handbook on ‘Working with Radio’. 500,000


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Individual Grants

The Individual Grants Programme of the Trust supports individuals during their hour of need and

has constituted a prominent position within the Trust’s grant making efforts since its inception.

The Programme adopts a systematic approach and refinements over the years has ensured a well

honed grant making system that identifies those needing assistance and subsequently grants relief

expeditiously. Adding value to the Programme are the well established linkages with renowned

medical and educational institutions across the country that play a pivotal role in appropriately

identifying deserving individuals and streamlining grant-making procedures.

The Individual Grants Programme focuses on providing financial assistance to individuals for:

• Meeting medical expenses during critical illnesses

• Educational needs for higher education within India and assistance for education related travel

overseas.

MedicalAdvances made in the field of medicine, coupled with the availability of adequate medical facilities

within the country, have rendered the possibility of world–class treatment within the realm of the

Indian populace. However, the high costs associated with such treatment options, especially in

the case of debilitating illnesses, limit the ability of the common man to seek such treatment. With

medical insurance yet to make inroads within the country, it is charitable institutions, such as the

Trust, which come to the aid of families in need of support during medical illnesses.

Individual grants

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July 11, 2006 – a date that is etched into the memory of Mumbaikars, especially those that use its lifeline – the suburban trains. People who left home that morning had no inkling of the impending terror, which would cast a permanent scar on their lives. A dastardly act of terrorism, planned with clinical precision, saw seven separate bomb blasts across various locations on the Western Railway suburban corridor, within a span of 11 minutes, ripping train coaches to shreds…and the passengers that were packed into them like lambs to the slaughter. Over 200 unfortunate souls perished that dark evening and over 700 injured, some critically.

Fate had led Kamal Khemka, a 35 year old office-going individual, to Borivali station where one of the explosive devices had gone off, shredding his right arm grotesquely, which subsequently had to be amputated below the elbow. This was a terrible blow to young Kamal, who had only recently obtained a job in a school. With a wife to support, the prospect of leading a normal and productive life suddenly appeared bleak. Kamal was advised to purchase a Myo-electrical trans-radical prosthesis from Otto Bock Health Care India - (a world class manufacturer and distributor of orthotics and prosthetics componentry). The cost of purchasing and fitting this device was Rs. 400,000, (after a rebate of Rs. 80,000 offered by Otto Bock) an amount that Kamal, with a monthly income of Rs. 8,500, could ill-afford on his own.

The Trust has an institutional linkage with Otto Bock Health Care India since 2006; consequently, the organisation forwarded Kamal’s application recommending financial assistance. Kamal also approached charitable institutions, seeking financial assistance to offset the cost of the prosthesis. He managed to receive a sum of Rs. 108,000 from the Rotary Club and the Trust responded through a grant of Rs. 160,000.

The Myo-electrical prosthesis, fitted in December 2006, has enabled Kamal perform a number of activities in his daily routine such as gripping and releasing objects of different shapes and sizes, writing, lifting reasonable amount of weights…but most of all, it has partly restored normalcy in his life, enabling him to live with dignity. Today, he wants to meet similarly physically challenged individuals and encourage them through his own example.

Individual grants

Mr. Khemka demonstrates the working of his prosthesis, as part of his daily work routine.

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A patient undergoing dialysis at the Hindusabha Hospital, Mumbai, which has an institutional link with the Trust.

Medical: Details of grants made from April 2006 to March 2007

No. of applications No. sanctioned Rs. in million* %

Heart 1,639 489 30.49 28.3

Kidney 559 68 3.36 3.1

Cancer 1,179 381 41.64 38.7

Burns 37 20 2.34 2.2

Tuberculosis 37 11 0.58 0.5

Others 1,115 382 29.25 27.2

Total 4,566 1,351 107.66 ** 100.0

* The amount mentioned is for grants sanctioned and may vary from actual disbursals.

** Equivalent to US $ 2.56 million

Individual grants

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The Trust has continued to utilize its spreading network of medical professionals and social workers

at various prominent government, municipal, private and charitable hospitals within the country.

During the year, fresh linkages were made with nine hospitals, besides extending and strengthening

links to other departments within hospital already having a linkage. The new linkages include

the Burns Department within Masina Hospital, Mumbai, Kalanjiam Foundation, Chennai, Godrej

Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Mumbai and Otto Bock HealthCare India Pvt.

Ltd., Mumbai, to name a few. All new linkages established by the Trust are valid for a specific time

period, post which a review is undertaken to decide further action.

During 2006-07, the Trust sanctioned Rs. 107.66 million (US $ 2.56 million) towards medical grants,

which indicates an increase of 30% over the amount sanctioned during 2005-06. This can be mainly

attributed to the increase in linkages during the year, coupled by an increase in the number of

applications directly received by the Trust. With the number of grants sanctioned during the year

increasing by only 7%, it indicates that the amounts sanctioned per applicant has risen, in synch

with rising medical costs.

EducationThe Trust supports meritorious students through:

• Scholarships to meritorious students to pursue higher and professional studies in India

• Travel grants to provide part-travel assistance for studies and professional development

abroad

The linkages formed by the Trust with educational institutes, including colleges of repute in the

country in the fields of engineering, medicine and management, are the mainstay of the Studies in

India Programme. During the year, the Trust sanctioned scholarships to 1,153 students under the

Studies in India Programme. Apart from the institutional linkages, the Trust also encouraged direct

applications from students pursuing under-graduate courses in the fields of pharmacy, nursing,

architecture, law, fine arts, etc., subject to basic eligibility / cut-off percentages set by the Trust.

During the year under review, the Trust also maintained its association with the British Council,

for providing travel assistance to scholars who were awarded the British Chevening Scholarships,

besides scholarships awarded under their Higher Education Link Programme and to teachers for

undertaking study visits to the United Kingdom under the Teachers Exchange Programme.

Individual grants

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Dr. Kishan Gore is the Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering at Marathwada Agricultural University in Parbhani, Maharashtra. An achiever from the start, Dr. Gore is renowned for his contribution in the field of soil and water conservation and watershed management over the past three decades. In May 2006, Dr. Gore received a pleasant surprise in the form of an invitation to present his research paper titled “Impact and Evaluation of Water Development Works in Maharashtra State – A Case Study” at the CIGR 2006 World Congress to be held in Bonn, Germany. With several hundred papers, covering all aspects of agricultural engineering, slated to be presented during this event, the occasion was an exciting opportunity to meet up with renowned experts in the field of watershed management.

Dr. Gore approached the Trust in June 2006 with an application for a travel grant, which sanctioned a sum of Rs. 40,000 towards his international airfare. Whilst thanking the Trust for its support upon his return, Dr. Gore submitted a short report on the meet in Bonn, which saw 575 participants from over 47 countries presenting 368 papers over an eight day period. Dr. Gore’s paper showcased how an increase in production could be effected through scientific management of natural resources such as soil and water, as opposed to merely increasing area under cultivation, which would consequently put a strain on the fast depleting water resources. With his paper being well received at the Congress, Dr. Gore has now decided to circulate the same to research scientists working in the field of soil and water conservation throughout the country.

During 2006-07, the Trust enabled 1,337 individuals pursue their dreams for higher education

through a grant outlay of Rs. 24.00 million (US $ 0.57 million), as against Rs. 20.63 million to 1,237

applicants in 2005-06, which constitutes a healthy 16% increase in the amount sanctioned.

Individual grants

Dr. Gore makes a presentation at the CIGR 2006 World Congress held in Bonn, Germany.

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Education: Details of grants made from April 2006 to March 2007

No. of applications No. sanctioned Rs. in million* %

Studies in India 1,674 1,153 18.07 75.3

Studies abroad 272 101 2.84 11.8

Short term courses/ Mid-career training abroad 40 22 0.79 3.3

Conferences / presentations 239 54 2.12 8.8

Others 74 7 0.18 0.8

Total 2,299 1,337 24.00 ** 100.0

* The amount mentioned is for grants sanctioned and may vary from actual disbursals.

** Equivalent to US $ 0.57 million.

Individual grants

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Expressions….

....I would like to place on record my very sincere gratitude to the Trustees and the management for this very kind gesture of support in times of need. I can only assure you that I will build up on my 29 long years of service with the Tata Group and continue to give my best….

Anant Nadkarni, Vice President, Group Corporate Social Responsibility, Tata Council For Community Initiatives, recipient of the Trust’s medical grant for treatment of fracture and

ischemic heart disease

….At this point of time, we, the entire family extend our sincere gratitude to the Trust for providing us timely financial assistance towards the cardiac surgery, thus helping save a life….

Mohamed Idress, recipient of the Trust’s medical grant and husband of Sulaika, who underwent open heart surgery

….On behalf of the Institute, I would like to convey our appreciation for the Sir Ratan Tata scholarships granted to our second year students. The scholarships are well recognised amongst the students who consider it to be an honor to be selected as a recipient….

Rajluxmi Vaish Murthy, Chairperson, Financial Aid, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, who recommends students for the Trust’s scholarships

….Whilst I do not see God, I can feel his existence through kind deeds. Your assistance helped me walk again and lead a meaningful life….

Prasad Nandkumar Satbhai, recipient of the Trust’s medical grant for left hip resurfacing

….This contribution from the Trust will help me pursue my post-graduation in the United Kingdom. As soon as I’m financially secure, I shall not only try and return what assistance I have received from the Trust, but also try and help out other deserving students in their studies ….

Anuradha Balakrishnan, Student, recipient of the Trust’s travel grant

….Our faith in prayers have been answered through your financial support….Fazlul Hug, recipient of the Trust’s medical grant and father of 13 year old Faheema,

who underwent cancer treatment

….I felt deeply touched by the generosity of the Trust for providing me this travel grant and I carried this sentiment with me throughout the conference proceedings….

Suparna Shome, Associate Scientist, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, recipient of the Trust’s travel grant

….Along with my wife, I wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Trustees for this munificent grant to my daughter, thus helping her fulfill her educational aspirations…

F. B. Homji, father of Kainaz, recipient of the Trust’s scholarship

Individual grants

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Income

Expenditure

Financial highlights: 2006-2007

April 2006 – March 2007

2005-2006 Particulars 2006-2007

Rs. in US $ in % Rs. in US $ in % million million* million million**

684.36 15.21 87.72 Dividend Income 640.36 15.25 84.95

93.00 2.07 11.92 Interest Income 107.69 2.56 14.29

0.14 – 0.02 Property Income 0.21 – 0.02

2.05 0.05 0.26 Rebate / Incentive on Investments 2.16 0.05 0.29

0.64 0.01 0.08 Refund of Charities 3.40 0.08 0.45

780.19 17.34 100.00 753.82 17.94 100.00

* 1 US $ is approximately equal to Rs. 45 ** 1 US $ is approximately equal to Rs. 42

April 2006 – March 2007

2005-2006 Particulars 2006-2007

Rs. in US $ in % Rs. in US $ in % million million* million million**

585.66 13.01 75.06 Programme Grants / Charities 601.59 14.32 79.81

13.18 0.30 1.69 Administrative Expenses 15.11 0.36 2.00

0.66 0.01 0.08 Property Expenses 0.71 0.01 0.09

7.57 0.17 0.97 Contribution to Charity Commissioner 8.95 0.21 1.19

1.46 0.03 0.19 Depreciation 1.57 0.04 0.21

171.66 3.82 22.01 Surplus 125.89 3.00 16.70

780.19 17.34 100.00 753.82 17.94 100.00

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Liabilities

As on March 31, 2007

March 31, 2006 Particulars March 31, 2007

Rs. in US $ in Rs. in US $ in million million* million million**

11.39 0.25 Immovable Properties 10.36 0.25

1.72 0.04 Movable Properties 2.59 0.06

1,078.78 23.98 Investments 1,188.78 28.30

1.42 0.03 Other Debit Balances 2.20 0.05

32.60 0.72 Outstanding Income 41.23 0.98

129.48 2.88 Cash and Bank Balances 137.26 3.27

1,255.39 27.90 1,382.42 32.91

Assets

* 1 US $ is approximately equal to Rs. 45** 1 US $ is approximately equal to Rs. 42

Financial highlights: 2006-2007

As on March 31, 2007

March 31, 2006 Particulars March 31, 2007

Rs. in US $ in Rs. in US $ in million million* million million**

542.98 12.07 Trust Fund 542.98 12.93

294.31 6.54 Investment Reserve Fund and Other Funds 294.67 7.01

0.58 0.01 Other Credit Balances 1.37 0.03

417.52 9.28 Income and Expenditure Account 543.40 12.94

1,255.39 27.90 1,382.42 32.91

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Guidelines for Grant Applications

The Strategic Plan 2006 of the Trust has identified Education, Health, Rural Livelihoods and Communities, Civil Society and Governance, and Arts and Culture as its five thematic areas. The Trust supports its thematic areas through:

• Programme Grants• Endowment Grants• Small Grants

For Programme Grants, the Trust gives preference to projects that:• are from enterprising organisations, willing to innovate• have a close bond with the community• aim at mainstreaming innovations on scale• build in long-term sustainability in design and cost-effectiveness in delivery• have clear reporting parameters and monitoring milestones• make effective use of human resources• strategically position their intervention in the field

Organisations seeking programme grants should write to the Trust with a concise concept note, clearly stating the purpose for which funding is sought, the problems to be addressed, and a brief outline of the proposed project, stating its rationale, objectives, approach, strategies, milestones, expected outcomes and the estimated budget.

The concept note should be accompanied by the following documents:• Narrative report and audited statement of accounts for previous two years• Registration certificate under the Societies Act or the Public Trusts Act• List of present funding agencies• List of members of the Board• The Curriculum Vitae of the project leader

Subsequent to assessment of the concept note, the Trust invites a proposal, which is meticulously appraised and used as the detailed operational document for programme implementation. Only proposals falling within the thematic areas of support that have been described in the Programme Grant chapters of the Annual Report, are considered. The Trust discourages requests for support towards the cost of construction and purchase of land/capital expenditure. The Trust does not sanction all the proposals invited by it.

Endowment grants are made selectively, after a successful programmatic relationship with the Trust, to those mission-driven institutions which have exhibited enterprise and initiative for at least ten years, who meet the criteria laid down in the 1997 Endowment Strategy and the follow-up Strategic Planning Exercise, carried out in 2001.The grant will be made after a rigorous and thorough appraisal of the institution.

Grants under the Sir Ratan Tata Small Grant Programme are made to organisations with an annual expenditure of less than Rs. 2 million and employing not more than 20 people, for seed support to implement new and innovative ideas. Larger organisations can also apply to the Small Grant Programme for: (a) strategic planning and/or evaluation; (b) focused research activities; (c) mainstreaming of innovations; (d) setting up or strengthening of internal systems; and (e) project planning and appraisal. A letter of enquiry should be sent to the Trust along with a brief description of the past and present activities of the organisation and the purpose for which the funds are sought.

All communication should be addressed to: The Secretary Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Bombay House, 24, Homi Mody Street, Mumbai 400 001 Email: [email protected]

Guidelines

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Layout and printing by Impress, Mumbai

The Trust is grateful to its grantees for the photographs used in the report.

Cover photo: A villager from Ghesh village, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, works in his Buckwheat field.

He is clad in a hand-woven jacket made of Hemp (natural fiber) and uses a Ringal basket to carry his

field implements.

Cover photo credit : Uttarakhand Bamboo and Fiber Development Board (UBFDB), Dehradun.

Visit us at http://www.srtt.org

All rights reserved. No part of this report, including design, may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photo copy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Documents

Sir Ratan Tata’s Vision · 2019-09-11 · SIR RATAN TATA TRUST • ANNUAL REPORT 2006-2007 1 Overview 2006 - 2007 An Overview The year that was: During 2006-07, the Trust completed