we are a stingy nation: on tsunami cluelessness

I watched six hours of tsunami news the first night, dousing myself in CNN reports. I was rubber necking, only i’m not sure if i was trying to see the tsunami wreck or the CNN wreck. I was in complete awe by the coverage, utterly angry in fact. Although there were loads of interviews with survivors, not a single survivor’s voice shown on CNN was brown. In other words, all we saw were the rich white American tourists. Reports babbled on about what would happen if America was hit with a tsunami, complete with little simulations. As the death toll rose, a special report was given from Alaska where the US last experienced a tsunami. Comparisons were made about the magnitude, the harm, the horror. Less than a dozen people were killed in that one. Reports were given about how to protect yourself from a tsunami if it were to hit New York. Dear fucking god we are a selfish nation.

So, our country was guilted into supplying more money for the relief and Bush gets on TV to defensively resist accusations that we are a stingy nation. Of course we are a stingy nation – we always have been. ::sigh::

Then i woke to the following email in a thread on a mailing list:

what i’m looking for is an organization who will take my volunteer efforts in SE asia. i’ll fly out there, no problem. i’ll perform hard labour for 2 weeks straight. but i can’t afford to get my own lodging and food. no one wants my help. anyone know of any organization that would?

First, this man’s intentions are really good – he really wants to help, but his help is constructed in a typically American way. He’s willing to give up time – one precious American commodity – but not money. But let’s think about this. He wants to go to a devastated region that is devoid of food, shelter and water. He wants to put in hard labor to help a starving, dehydrated, homeless population and he’s demanding these amenities!?!?!? You have got to be kidding me. Now, i am guessing that most of the villagers in these regions are putting in hard labor to repair their communities. And they’re doing it without food water or housing. What kind of selfish, clueless request is this? But of course, in America, we want to help with any commodity other than money. We don’t like giving money. That’s fucking ridiculous when almost every NGO and NPO needs money more than anything. They need to buy things in the local regions, help the people there. This is not just true for the tsunami relief situation, but in general.

Consider the clothing drives that are currently going on in the States. You want to ship off your $30 white branded T-Shirt. This was most likely created in an Asian country for maybe ? ten cents ?, sold to a manufacturer for maybe a quarter. You want to package this up, spend a bazillion dollars on shipping and send it back to Asia!?!? If you sent $10, at least 40 of your beloved T-Shirts could be bought. More importantly, the organizing NGOs could buy the most economical T-Shirts, support the local region’s economy and make certain that people got what they needed.

So when you think of donating blood or donating clothing, what are you really saying? You’re saying you’re too damn cheap to donate money. Money is what is needed, money is how these organizations can make certain to buy the maximum amount of needed materials and distribute them in the best way possible. Considering that time equals money, if you’ve read this far, you’ve probably spent $.50 assuming minimum wage only. Consider how much time you spend reading blogs or about the tsunami – donate that time multiplied by your hourly wage. Or, given that it’s New Year’s Eve, why not donate the amount of money that you spent today on champagne, food and party tickets.

We are a stingy nation.

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41 thoughts on “we are a stingy nation: on tsunami cluelessness

  1. mary hodder

    Right on! We are cheap.. selfish.. people stay rich because they hoard their money as much as make it.. and in the US we function on the whole this way.. though many have donated.. we could do so much more than we are.. and it wouldn’t hurt us a bit.

    Also, it’s great to donate time if you have it.. but giving time without being a burden is key to helping.. otherwise you are just equalizing and that’s not helpful.

  2. john

    I’m not sure I agree about saying that donating anything but money should be viewed as cheap/stingy.

    Ask most people if they know what the percent of cash donations they give go to their favorite organization’s overhead or operating costs, versus actually how much is being spent on the actual charity, and I would suspect most people don’t know.

    I was once the designated “rep” to collect donations within my division in the US DOT, to contribute what the Fed calls the “Combined Federal Campaign”…which is basically the US govt’s charitable fundraising campaign. US govt employees can elect to have some money taken out of their check each pay period to go to a charity/cause of their choice, and a book is published with hundreds (maybe thousands) of charities, along with how much money they spend on themselves. A LOT of very well-known charities stingyness would shock you.

    So yes, I think in some cases, I think it’s actually worth it to donate food/clothing/shelter/goods/services *instead* of cash, because sometimes you cash doesn’t end up being as much help as you might think.

  3. marcus

    The coverage by the news wires and networks does not really surprise me anymore. American media seems to be interesting in only showing things that they feel are important to america. How four networks seem to come up with what appears to be the same timing, message, words – albiet different talking heads is a mystery to me. if you go anywhere on this planent, you get several various perspectives that you can read/watch and the truth seems to appear where it really is.

    The contrast of any major international story – where you get the american version, then the reality that most of the world sees amazes me.

    i enjoyed your post about music and creativity a few days ago. when i get a few moments to myself, it would be nice to look at it from where the market is going, and how people can create without stealing and allow musicians to make a living. The record companies seem to be the ones dragging thier feet with the speed and ease of creative change.

  4. quinn

    when i read that i thought that the guy probably had no money, but a bunch of airmiles and wanted to do what he could. showing up without provision of food and shelter would be really stupid- he’d just end up as another strain on the system. maybe no one needs a random guy on the ground; fair enough. but not everyone looking to give away their shirts is stingy. we have a huge gap between the rich and poor and a devastating cost of living in this country; some people really are trying to give away the shirts on their back.

  5. rick gregory

    Wow, what a clueless post danah… You extrapolate from one guy to the whole country. Let’s look at some actual figures:

    89 percent of US households give.
    The average annual contribution for contributors is $1,620.

    In 2000, individuals gave more than $200B to charities (non-profits, specifically).

    As of last night, people had contributed more than $5M via Amazon to the Red Cross. An aqaintance of mine’s law firm wrote a $100,000 to Doctors without Border two days ago.

    Are we perfect? Nope. But this kind of weak logic doesn’t really do anything to help.

  6. Adam

    I do have to agree with your assesment of the situation. Not only is the news coverage biases, as always but the real issue I’m seeing is the viewers response. Our forever-passe’ attitude to the world at hand has left us looking at this as nothing more than another sad story. I’ve yet to see someone call us on the fact that we showed more social vigor over september 11th then this powerful tragedy that easily dwarfs the death tolls of the trade towers. Aside from that there is the simple ignorance of assuming everywhere is like here… I mean they must of homeowners insurance , right? They have living assistnace programs, or health care programs, or relatives to stay with, right? *cringes* NO, no no and no. This was how many countries, how many home, how many lives…all in countries that most of our noble citizens view as “third-world” or “exotic getaways”. These people had very little in comparison to the glutony we display. These people live in economic times that make our recessions look like High Tea in the royal palace. Our welfare mothers and trailer trash neighbors, still have it better.

    Donations of any type can help, but the reality is…our apathy rules! We are a juvenile nation.

  7. orcmid

    On the pervisity of our media always making it always about us, I have no contribution other than to suggest that the panderbox be unplugged.

    I am willing to accept that people who want to contribute in-kind or in-labor are basically good-hearted and touched to want to make a tangible, personally-experienced difference.  To obtain perspective about that, I recommend http://www.cidi.org/understanding/faq.htm and http://www.cidi.org/incident/tsunami/ for information about what is involved.

    David Weinberger just asked about avenues for these kinds of contributions, and I have commented more fully at http://www.hyperorg.com/blogger/mtarchive/003518.html with the upshot being that going to an existing emergency is not the proper way to be trained to serve in an emergency. And people might want to look at ways they can assist locally and also prepare themselves to work in emergencies, locally at first, internationally if they are willing to do what it takes to be qualified and available.

    Meanwhile, cash is very useful and the need is still critical and immediately useful.  Sometimes the most effective avenue to making a difference is not the most satisfying.  It’s called generosity.

  8. ladymisstree

    Hi, found your blog from a link on another and I just wanted to address john’s comment about sending goods.

    The charities themselves are asking people NOT to send goods. People send useless things, high heeled shoes and crap they don’t need. Not only that, but the cost of packing and transporting this crud is unspeakably high. If you send money, there are no transportation costs and it’s something you know they need.

    The charities can spend the money on things that are really needed, like water purifiers and medical supplies. So think twice before you donate that almost expired tin of baked beans or those jeans you don’t fit into anymore.

    Send money. Please.

  9. mo j.

    Coming across this post drove my attention to a discussion I had missed the other day … finding now those articles like in NY Times or this one, which interestingly just appears in the german section”>http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1445695,00.html”>section of DW (thus sorry just in german).
    Reading all this for me the question is not so much who is the most stingy one, but as written in the post on this blog here, that obviously just the fact having western tourist involved into the disaster draws further attention towards it. Thus to watch the news the recent days left me quite ambivalent seeing those (in comparison few) westerners suffering losses of beloved ones and those many thausend ones hardly coming into focus, who live there and lost beneath dear family members and friends, their house and work ….. if not their life, though exsistence ….

  10. chris

    It is interesting to hear what the American media is talking about. The news in Canada has been much different. There have been many interviews with Thai people, both in Thailand and immigrants living in Canada. Canada doesn’t really look down on immigrants, you see, that is how their population grows. The news coverage of the tsunami is not just filler between stories about the NHL lockout and the latest bumbling of politicians. It’s to provide information to members of society who still have family and friends in the devastated areas.

    During last night’s New Year’s celebration downtown, they were encouraging people to either come down to donate at the Red Cross booth or on their website. Before we changed the channel at around 10, they had raised $3000 out of their $5000 goal for that night. Every time they plugged the charity, they made sure to emphasize that every donation counts: just $2 will purchase a case of fresh water.

    It was always the unselfishness innocence of children they showed the most, happily dropping coins in the box on New Year’s or telling parents how they wanted to break open their piggy banks for the cause. Children who wished they were grown-up so that they were able to help in a way that made a difference.

  11. Preoccupations

    Aid to Asia: relative generosity, governmetal aid

    Japan pledged up to $500 million in grant aid for tsunami disaster relief on Saturday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced, making the country the largest single donor to victims of the catastrophe. The Japanese announcement came a day after Pre…

  12. William S

    Actually, they did need blood donors here in Thailand.

    Maybe becasue money is an increasingly universal measure of value in an economy like ours one is reluctant to give it as it seems not to mean anything in and of itself. It seems crass to merely give money. I don’t think it’s simple moral stupidity.

    Also interesting is that sympathy in the US seems to move contrary to its normal direction. I mean, not feeling what it is like to be the other person, but feeling as if the other person were you.

  13. arakyd

    So right, in fact, Americans are setting new records for stinginess. The people are stingy, the government is stingy, the corporations are stingy, even the military is stingy! These people don’t give, and if they do give it’s only out of self interest or guilt, so it doesn’t really count.

    Yeah, ok. What is America? I live there, America is *ME*. What am *I* doing? That’s the most important question to ask about America.

  14. hornsofthedevil

    actually, you are seriously misguided in your assessment of America being “stingy”.
    it may seem like a convenient moral high ground to take – but it is a fake one.

    America accounts for 40% of the total of worldwide contributions to charity.

    the representative from the UN was basing his bashing on figures that the US is among the lowest in government organized charity contributions. that is NOT an accurate representation of what America donates to charity as almost all charity here is from the private sector.

    the UN rep has since recanted his statement as it is outlandishly false.

    and perhaps – you might consider the fact that with the frantic state in the regions hit by the tsunami, the prioroty for the news crews(who i am no fan of) was to get soundbytes and first hand accounts as soon as possible and the ones that were ready to them immediately in english were those of tourists.

    i would imagine interpreters have higher priorities dealing with the aid workers pouring into the country than with following a news crew around.

    the US is not a stingy country.

  15. Josh

    In reply to the post above from hornsofthedevil…

    Jan Egeland, the UN relief co-ordinator, made the inital remarks about “stingy” nations. He didn’t actually mention the US, but made a general remark about western nations. Everyone assumed he meant the US (which he probably did, but I suspect he was also implicating Western European countries too), and hence the susbsequent brouhaha.

    Also, strictly speaking he hasn’t recanted his statement – he praised the subsequent amounts of money that were raised and the public’s response to the disaster.

  16. hornsofthedevil

    but he was wrong.

    we do not donate .1% of our gross income to charity. our government regulates contributions that add up to that amount. that isn’t a reflection of our effort – this is not a socialist society.

    contributions from the private secotr in the US account for 60% of the money at the international food bank.
    CARE, The Red Cross, UNICEF, none of these would be able to operate at even half capacity without the contributions from the private sector in the US.

    Jan Egeland was wrong.

  17. Lmickeyd

    Let’s face it, the media couldn’t wait to bash on the US after this tragedy occurred. Americans have always been generous, the most generous in all the world when it comes to donating cold hard cash. It doesn’t work both ways however. Where was the rest of the world during 9/11?

    We continue to face a double standard when it comes to our country and the rest of the world. We are expected to help everyone, everywhere but when we need help we get the cold shoulder. We are despised by many because of our successes, not our failures.

    Many people, particularly from the Middle East, cheered when the WTC fell. What are they donating to the tsunami efforts? Maybe all of you whiners who have a constitutional right to criticize the US should dig into your own pockets! Stop looking for your government, who affords you the opportunity to become whatever you choose, to be the big daddy.

    The US will always be criticized, no matter what we do. Let’s face it, when you’re the top dog everyone wants to do something to bring you down to their level. In addition, it is the private donations from individuals and corporations that make up the vast majority of donations.

    Let’s do what we can to help, not bash on the US.

  18. JoytotheWorld

    It’s not everyone jumping on poor USA. In other countries the people have also criticized their government leaders for not responding quickly. I think in Sweden they say that the person who would have been responsible took the news and then went to the opera and finally went to her office two days later.

    The idea that no one helped USA after Sept. 11th, 2001, is also more than just a little ungrateful.

    What interests me much more in this blog entry, however, is the criticism of the media. When it comes right down to it, political leaders get their news from the very same sources that we all do. And most of the U.S. media do seem to be out of tune with the rest of the world, even with the rest of the western world, aka allies. If interested, you can read my thoughts on a blog I’ve just started at http://www.JoyWonderWorld.blogspot.com – I can report on news that I follow in the States, Germany and in Denmark.

  19. Josh

    Nobody is bashing the U.S. Calm down. The initial criticism from the UN was directed at the slow repsonse of governments to the disaster (and that includes European governments). And let’s be honest it did take a while for all of us to wake up to the magnitude of this disaster (the public have risen superbly to the occasion though).

    George Bush held a press conference three days after the news of the quake had broken. That gave a bad impression to many, particularly as it seemed it was hastily convened as a riposte to Jan Egeland.

    As for Asian and African countries giving aid, I wouldn’t expect them to give much since they are relatively poor themselves, so I don’t think we should judge them too harshly on this. The only place I can find figures for Middle Eastern donations is at Al-Jazeera. Quatar is giving $25m, Saudi Arabia $10m, but even poor countries like Algeria are donating $2m.

    But please, let’s not turn this into a “my-donation-is bigger-than-yours” type discussion

  20. JoytotheWorld

    Right, Josh, that would be exactly what the effort is not supposed to be. And about the only half-way positive aspect of this horrible event has been, in fact, the unifying effect. That those people have to be helped is one thing we all agree on!

  21. JoytotheWorld

    Oh, as for people in the Middle East cheering when the WTC fell, I understand that there was only one small group of people who cheered in front of the cameras. And that bit of film was played to us over and over.

    It has since been proven that the bit was simulated. A couple of women had been asked to do their typical jig and that strange sound they make, and a group of young teenagers hanging around there were told they would get some cake if they joined in. None of them knew that the film reel would be used as it was – they just thought they’d go along with it. To all of us though, it sure did look as if they were cheering the sad event.

  22. Tess

    Yeah. “We” are. I like to dissociate myself from government seeing that I really have no say in it’s actions, good or bad.

    I think the email just showed.. not selfishness of some people, but rather proves that some people just don’t have the perspective. A lot here is taken for granted. He just didn’t realize what he was asking.

  23. JoytotheWorld

    I’ll take you on again, HornsoftheDevil. That is exactly the same clip of film that I saw. Again and again they showed the same small group of people. Except that I don’t remember that last young man in what I saw at the time. No telling, several scenes could have been spliced together in what you see there, and they could have cut something out in what I was seeing. At any rate, you can see how this piece cuts off with that young man looking so fierce. Just imagine that someone filmed you watching something horrific, and then they cut off the film right where your face looked its worst – and played that over and over again without your permission – and without the original tone. The reporter tells us, supposedly, what the guy said. Do you have that much confidence in what a reporter says? He might even have just plain misunderstood, or got a false translation. There is so much that can be wrong there.

    However, the one woman and the little boys in that clip – they were just by-standers who were asked to perform and did not know what the context was. There is another piece of film that documents the longer scene, showing how someone was hoarding them in there. It shows how the woman was passing by and then agreed to participate before the camera.

    Here again, I think that most of us would also easily fall prey to a clever trick. Maybe they were told something completely different. If this were really a true scene and representative of a general reaction, there would be more evidence of it than this one piece.

    I take everything I see through the media with a grain of salt, including the longer piece that I saw which reveals the whole story of that street scene. Pictures and sound, let alone the actors, are too easily manipulated. That’s how urban legends are and it’s how candid camera works.

  24. leontine

    Here’s what Jan Engelund actually said:

    “We were more generous when we were less rich, many of the rich countries. And it is beyond me, why are we so stingy, really … Even Christmas time should remind many Western countries at least how rich we have become.”

    And here are some numbers from the NY Times:

    “Americans give 15 cents per day per person in official development assistance to poor countries. The average American spends four times that on soft drinks daily.

    “In 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, we increased such assistance by one-fifth, for President Bush has actually been much better about helping poor countries than President Clinton was. But as a share of our economy, our contribution still left us ranked dead last among 22 top donor countries.

    “We gave 15 cents for every $100 of national income to poor countries. Denmark gave 84 cents, the Netherlands gave 80 cents, Belgium gave 60 cents, France gave 41 cents, and Greece gave 21 cents (that was the lowest share, beside our own).

    “It is sometimes said that Americans make up for low official aid with private charitable donations. Nope. By OECD calculations, private donations add 6 cents a day to the official U.S. figure – meaning that we still give only 21 cents a day per person.”

    (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/05/opinion/05kris.html)

  25. Larry McDonald

    I was not suprised at some of the comments to my last blog entry. As I said previously, the US will be criticized regardless of how we responded to the tsunami tragedy. Ironically, if the US government had been the first to respond and hypothetically pledged billions of dollars in aid to the affected countries; it would have been criticized for trying to “buy” support from the Muslim world.

    That’s just the way it is, point blank. No use in trying to sugarcoat it. As I said before, after 9/11 we received lots of sympathy, but how much charitable contributions did we receive from other countries to help rebuild? The fact is, most of the monies given were provided from within our own country. That’s not an attempt to bash other nations, just a fact.

    The US is damned if it does, because it is what they are “supposed” to do and damned if it doesn’t anytime a disaster or tragedy occurs elsewhere. I’m only saying that helping should be reciprocal, not one way.

    As far as the average US citizen’s charitable contributions, I agree that we can all give more. Maybe all of this will make us more aware of the poverty that is so rampant in this world. I just wish the media would be fair and balanced, on both sides of the issue. I do enjoy the debate on this issue, however.

    Let us appreciate the fact that we can participate in discussions like this in a safe, clean environment. I wish everyone well.

  26. hornsofthedevil

    leontime, those figures are not correst.

    i’ll say it again – they are from THE GOVERNMENTS ORGANIZED CHARITIES.
    charities in western europe ALL go thru their government by law.
    it is not that way in America, all chairties are from the private sector. if you REALLY think that Shell, Mobil, Microoft, GM, and the other companies in America are being out spent by the citizens of european nations – you are woefully ignorant of the facts.

    again, 60% of the international foodbank’s gfunding comes form the US. UNICEF, CARE and the Red Cross ALL get huge contributions for the private sector in the us that the NYTimes(in predictable fashion) ignored.

  27. Don't sweat the small stuff

    More US musings

    Dan sent me a couple of posts relating to the US. This post is a swipe at US citizens charitable donations and perception of the tsunami. I watched six hours of tsunami news the first night, dousing myself in CNN reports. I was rubber necking, only i’m…

  28. leontine

    Care to back up your numbers with some sources? I’m totally open to it, but only if you actually give us some real information.

  29. JoytotheWorld

    Well, it’s not true that charities all go through the governments in Europe. Fact is that the nations in Europe are all very much smaller than the U.S. and in lots of ways organized more strictly. But my understanding is that, for example, in Germany all the major charities have an umbrella organization to save administration costs etc. You donate to a particular charity, but this is registered all together. That doesn’t mean that it went through the government. Of course the amount that the umbrella NGO publishes doesn’t include all the private persons who start an initiative and just go ahead and do it (lots of them in every country).

    On the other hand, where the EU nations are concerned, they are donating singly and also through the EU. Germany, as the largest EU nation, will carry a large part of the EU donation in addition to its own government donation. I don’t know if any of the 50 states donate singly and in the national budget. But I don’t see any way to compare the different nations, because some give here, some give there, some give only now, others give continually. It’s too difficult an undertaking.

    What worries me now is all of the news telling us how the governments make big pledges, and then for various reasons the money doesn’t always come across. I think that should worry us more than who gives what.

  30. C.Eazhumalai

    Dear

    Greetings. As you understand the recent Natural calamity by Tsunami in Tamil Nadu – India. Where our target area falls at Cuddalore, Kancheepuram,Villuppuram,Thruvallore, and Pondicheery. We have immediately responded and sent a team to assess and support the desevings. The experience is harrible though they are getting rehabilitation. It will also take a long time to be refined

    From our observation in the relief work we have gathered the immediate needs of the people said below.

    1. School Uniforms
    2. Note Books
    3. School Bags
    4. Temporary Shelter

    For long time rehabilitation Restoration of people’s livelyhood such as boat repairing replacement of repaired boats, net, catamaran soil treatment of solinity land die to tidal waves should be again converted a cultivable land.

    Actually we cannot fulfill all their needs but e might fulfill some of their needs mention above.

    You must remember that rural peoples sangam and Front Line jointly promoting Human Rights Defenders strengthening programme. In north Tamilnadu and Pondicherry is an well progress.

    So again kindly request you to consider our request for Tsunami relief.
    Looking forward for your valuable resbons.

    With warm regards

    Yours in solidarity

    C. EAZHUMALAI
    DIRECTOR

    Rural People’s Sangam
    Kalasthambadi Village & Post
    Tiruvannamalai TK & District
    Tamilnadu India
    Pin Code: 606 805.

    Bank: ING Vysya Bank
    Sannathi Street,
    Tiruvannamalai,
    Tamil Nadu-India .Name of A/C: Rural People`s Sangam,
    A/C No:SB A/C No:695

  31. subramanian

    Rural Development Afforestation Socity (RDAS)
    Melkachirappattu Village,
    Meyyur Post,
    Tiruvannamalai Taluk & District, Tamil Nadu ,Pin:606 753
    South India
    Email: rdas123123@rediffmail.com

    TO

    Respected Madam,

    Sub: Tsunami Disaster in Tamil Nadu (India) calamity relief services

    Tsunami relief Team of NGOs doing so far Rehabilitation programmes to
    be implemented proposal submitted – Sanction- requested regarding.

    Cordial Greetings from TSUNAMI Relief Team of NGOs in Tamil Nadu, India

    We wish to introduce ourselves that, the applying network of NGOs i.e. Tsunami Relief Team is consisting dedicated 5 No. of NGOs of Tiruvannamalai District and doing Tsunami Relief efforts in the Tsunami affected areas of Villupuram and Cuddallore Districts of Tamil Nadu From 27th December 2004, the next day of Tsunami disaster (26th December 2004). As an average of 50 no. of our volunteers were working in the Tsunami affected areas with the Government Machinery like Police people, Fire service people by way of transporting the affected people to safer places, transporting the injured persons in the nearby Hospitals, Providing their immediate needs of Rice, Cloths etc.. As on this applying date, we raise local donation from our service areas from the elite group, as well as from the public, like minded people. At the same time, we conducted clear survey on what are the needs of the Tsunami affected people through our field level intervention.

    During the NGO coordination meetings conducted by the District Collectors of Cuddalure and Naga Pattinam in last week the Collectors instructed the participant NGOs to implement any type of Rehabilitation programmes among the Tsunami affected villages to bring the people into regular life with the long term goal of sustainability if possible immediately, because in almost all the Tsunami affected areas emergency Relief Services were so far implemented to the best by different NGOs / Agencies so far. Hence we design the Rehabilitation programmes with a request to consider at the earliest.

    Based on this we herewith submit one Tsunami Rehabilitation project Proposal which is to be implemented among the Tsunami affected areas of 2 Districts. i.e. Cuddallore and Naga pattinam Districts to bring the Tsunami affected people from the Tsunami fear and problem and to regularize their daily life with all needed facilities and to promote income generation opportunities and for there sustainability. The detailed project proposal is herewith enclosed for your kind information. Also, we wish to state that, for this proposed programme to get good results of the programme. We will have to adopt only 10 villages for this programme as first phase.(Five Villages in Each Districts)

    Hence, We request that kindly go through our proposal and our Tsunami Rehabilitation effort proposal may please be considered favorably at your end, and needed financial assistance may also please be released to us in the name of WOMENs EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY (WEEDS) a member organization in our Net-Work having FCRA number to mobilize foreign money at an early date.

    Apart from all these things, we request that, kindly provide your valuable guidances and instruction to implement the programme in better and proper way to get cent percent success and to to bring the Tsunami affected people from their tragedy soon. Please send your all guidances and instructions, correspondences to the following E.Mail ids to avoid unnecessary delay in future..

    1, trusskarai108@rediffmail.com (Convenor of this Tsunami Relief Team)
    2, rdas123123@rediffmail.com ( P.Subramanian) RDAS

    Thanking you and expecting your earlier kind assistance to continue our Tsunami rehabilitation effort at an early date, please.

    Sincerely Yours,

    Tsunami Relief Team,

    Copy Submitted to :

    With a request recommend this proposal to the funding sector addressed in this letter and also requested that if possible please recommend this proposal to any agencies which are well known to you with needed remarks, please

    PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORT (Rehabilitation)

    PROJECT FORMAT

    01. Information regarding the Tsunami Relief Team :-

    1, Name and Address of the Member NGOs of Tsunami Relief Team with the Name and Designation of Conduct Persons:-

    K.MANOHARAN ,Secretary,
    RURAL DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY (RDS)
    ANANANDAL VILLAGE,
    MADURAMPATTUPOST,606804

    Tiruvannamalai Taluk & District, Tamil Nadu, Pin:606 611
    South India

    Mr.A.Natarajan,
    Executive Secretary,
    Tribal Rural Urban Service Society (TRUSS)
    143-A, Min Nagar 5th Street,
    Vengikkal Post, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, Pin:606 604
    South India

    Mr.P.Subramanian,
    Secretary,
    Rural Development Afforestation Socity (RDAS)
    Melkachirappattu Village,
    Meyyur Post,
    Tiruvannamalai Taluk & District, Tamil Nadu ,Pin:606 753
    South India
    Email: rdas123123@rediffmail.com

    Mr.,K.Magesh
    Secretary,
    Womens Education and Economic Development Society (WEEDS)
    Mashaar Village,
    Kallari Padi Post,
    Chengam Taluk, Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu, Pin:606 702
    South India

    Mr.C.Rama Moorthi
    Secretary, E.Mail :
    Multipurpose Organisation for Rural Education & Economics (MORE)
    Pazangur Village & Post,
    Tirukoilur Taluk, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu, Pin:605 751
    South India

    -2-

    02. What type of activity to be carried out in the tsunami affected areas to provide

    rehabilitation to the affected people. State the reason for this.

    We will have to implement some vocational training programmes to the women and adolescent girls of this tsunami affected areas to raise their skill training knowledge and to promote their per capita income to stand on their own leg without any others help atleast in future. Also, we have to implement some rehabilitation activities for the welfare of affected children those who are lost their parents in the disaster affected areas by way of starting and maintaining orphanages to them in the district headquarters of Cuddallore and Nagapattinam Districts. We will have to provide needed food, cloths,education,health care to these orphan children through this programme. Apart from this we have an idea to provide recreation facilities to them to overcome from tsunami fear and to promote good qualities among them.

    Secondly, the living people those affected in tsunami disaster were lost their fishing nets and boats, and they need new nets, and boats and repairs to the same to continue their own jobs. Hence, we will have to provide training programmes on how to prepare the nets, and in carpentry trade to the youths of fishermen communities. We expect that after this training they will comeforward to manufacture the fishing nets in their own areas, and comeforward to repair the damaged boats etc,

    Thirdly, all most all of the affected area people .were lost their huts, houses in this disaster. Now they were accommodated in temporary shelters, school buildings, public buildings temporarily. In this situation, they requested us to provide housing assistance for their own use. For this, we have an idea to build low cost houses 500 meters away from seaside to atleast 250 no. of affected families from 5 villages.

    These three things is to be immediately done in the tsunami affected villages to rehabilitate the affected people and to bring sustainability among them. At the same time, these things were insisted by concern District Collectors to us while at the time of NGOs co-ordination meeting conducted by the District Collectors in last week. Hence we propose this as need based one at this moment. .

    03. Experience of the Tsunami Relief Team in emergency Relief efforts in the past years:

    This Tsunami Relief Team having much experience in working in emergency efforts while at the time of Flood held in November 1996 and in Drought periods. We carrying out resource operation like transporting affected persons by blood to the near by safer areas, and providing their immediate basic needs of Rice, Cloths, etc.. by collecting the same from target village people and from elite people of target villages and distributed the same to the affected people co.odinating with the health team working in the blood affected areas, and provide trauma counseling to the affected people about blood etc.. Also, we already working with the rural development department people (Block Administration) in drought well, tank desilting works etc.. In some times, we provide our physical assistance to the people at the time of fire accidents in slum areas of target villages.

    -3-

    04. How many volunteers available with the team of tsunami relief effort as on applying

    date ?

    We now having 50 to 60 no. of rural volunteers as on date. We now mobilizing the services of 30 volunteers in Tsunami affected areas. In future on getting this programme assistance. We will have to utilize the all volunteers in the proposed programme.

    05. If medical assistance to be provided in the Tsunami affected areas, What are the

    source to be mobilized for providing Health assistance to the affected people?

    We will have to utilize the services of the locally available well- Experienced / Well qualified medical officers & Team in near by the affected villages to provide health assistance to Tsunami affected people once in 15 days by paying honorarium to the Medical Officer and the team staff. The needed medicine will be procured by ourselves for free distribution to the patients as prescribed by the Medical Officer.

    06. How the proposed Tsunami relief fund will be utilized by the Tsunami Relief Team,
    explain the details:-

    We wish to state, the applying Tsunami relief Team in functioning as net work of dedicated NGOs of Tiruvannmalai District to recover the Tsunami affected people from their Tsunami fear with the intension to regularize their life to normal.

    This team consisting 5 partner NGOs of Tiruvannamalai District and carrying out its Disaster relief efforts in its target areas as per guidance and instruction isasu8ed by its convener then and there for proper implementation of the programme. Among this 5 organizations, the partner NGO of WEEDS having status to mobilize foreign money and duly registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi under FCR Act, to mobilize the foreign money.

    We will have to mobilize this proposed Tsunami Relief Grant through this FCRA account and then disbursed the project amount to the member NGOs of this team as per project proposal. The work of each member organization will be supervised by the Convener of this team, and needed project reports will also be collected and compiled by the convener of the team and submitted to the funding agency. On completion of the project, the whole project accounts will be submitted to the Chartered Accountant of FCRA having organization and then the clear audited statement will also be obtained from him for utilizing the project amount. Then it will be submitted to the funding sector along with final Project Implementation Report (PIR) at the end of the proposed programme.

    07. Information Regarding the proposed programme :-

    a) Title of the Proposed Programme:-

    To implement rehabilitation programmes to promote sustainability
    among the tsunami affected target group to regularize their life
    style in mere future.

    -4-

    b) Duration of the Programme

    One year from the date of implementation of the programme

    c) Details of the areas to be adopted for the proposed disaster relief effort

    programme?

    For this proposed programme, we will have to adopt 5 villages in each Districts i.e., Cuddllore and Nagapattinam districts as allotted by the concern District administration. Because, the recent instruction of our Tamil Nadu Government is the villages to be adopted for Tsunami relief effort is to be allotted by the concern District administration i.e. The District Collectors to the NGOs / Well wishers to control the workload of Government. In this situation, we now in a position, not to furnish the exact village list in this proposal. The same will be furnished at the time of programme implementation.

    d) Past Activities of the Tsunami Relief Team in carrying out Relief efforts as on
    date :-
    In this connection, we will have to furnish the following real factors for your kind information. The Tsunami tidal wave disaster was actually happened on last 26th December 2004. We heard the tragedies of the same through media on the same date, and send messages to our rural volunteers immediately, and organize them in our partner NGOs offices to discussion about the activities to be carried out up to our level for the sake of affected people. On completion of our discussion with our volunteers, we came to conclusion that immediately we will have to move to victim spot to help the affected people in any way. Our Executive Committee Members of each member organization are also accept this one and come along with us to proceed to the programme spots.

    The next day, i.e 27th and 28th of December 2004. We instruct our member NGOs to raise local donation from the target village people and from elite group by way of collecting cash, Cloth and rice up to their willing. In mean time, we send our part of volunteers to the victim spots which is nearer to our district in Villupuram and Cuddallore to do their help in the programme spots to the affected people, wish giving instructions to them, to co. ordinate with the Government machinery already who were carrying out their resource operation in the Tsunami affected areas.

    On 29th, we went to victims spots with the locally raised cash, rice and cloths and distributed to the affected people to satisfy their basic needs to our level best.

    After that we working with the Government departments like Medical Team, Police people, Fire service people in rescue operations and continuing our humanitarian assistance to our level best as on this date.

    d) Assessment of the area problems while at the time of field level intervention:-

    We access the following facts, while at the time of our field level
    intervention:-

    All most all the houses and huts were destroyed and demolished in this Tsunami
    tidal wave.
    -5-

    Among these 3 districts as an average of 3500 no. of people were died as on date.

    More number of elders lost their families and relatives in this district.

    More number of children was lost their parents and now in the stage of orphans.

    All most all of the people were lost their houses, household things in this disaster
    and now they were accommodated in schools and Public buildings and some of
    them were under tree shadows.

    All most all of the school going children were lost their school book materials,
    Note books and Uniforms in this disaster and in a stage to not to continue their
    school studies for want of all these things.

    More number of people including children were mentally affected and having
    Tsunami fear at present.

    In all most all Tsunami affected areas, the existing living people were in need of
    safe drinking Water, through the same in provided by the Government and in
    sufficient.

    More number of people were physically, as well as mentally affected in this
    Tsunami disaster and need frequent health assistance immediately.

    More number of affected families are fishermen Communities. They lost their
    fishing nets and due to this, they were in a stage to purchase new one to continue
    their own jobs.

    The women, adolescent girls and youths were in need of skill training
    programmes to raise their skills, and their income sources alternative to fishing
    job.

    f) Objectives of the Organization:-

    To bring the Tsunami affected people in to regular life without Tsunami fear.

    To conduct orphanage to the children those who were lost their parents in the
    recent tsunami disaster.

    -6-

    To implement skill training programmes on need basis among women, adolescent
    girls and youths among the fishermen communities in the tsunami affected areas
    to promote their per capita income.

    To provide proper health care to prevent them from health hazards, waterborn deceases etc..

    To provide needed educational materials to the school going children to continue their school education.

    To conduct trauma counseling to the target area people to remove the Tsunami fear from them.

    g) Activities to be carried out in the programme villages:-

    ◊ To provide basic needs to the Tsunami affected people.

    ◊ To provide proper health care by organizing medical camps in each target village

    once in 15 days.

    ◊ To provide safe drinking Water facilities

    ◊ To Conduct orphanage to orphan children.

    ◊ To provide educational materials like book materials, notebooks and other things

    to the school going children.

    ◊ To conduct skill Training programme to the affected area women, adolescent girls and youths and to promote income generation opportunities in future to promote their per capita income.

    ◊ To conduct trauma counseling system to the Tsunami affected people.

    ◊ To repair the existing damaged houses. And to construct the new lost cost houses in the victims area to 250 families in 5 villages in each districts.

    ◊ To conduct cultural programmes to the children as well as among target village

    people to change their mind from Tsunami fever and then feed back needed
    awareness concepts among them.

    -7-

    Conclusion

    Through our field level interventions in the past days, we access many more things in the affected villages, by interviewing the individuals and from others, and then we decide in consultation with our team member NGOs Executive Committee as well as with the target people, regarding the immediate needs to be fulfilled among them to regularize their own life style. We also request that, if any rectification need, and or to guide us the proposed programme in proper way for betterment of the needy Tsunami affected people.

    If this proposal is accepted from your side, we request that kindly transfer the project cost to the FCRA account of Womens Education and Economic Development Society (WEEDS) Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu account for easy encashment immediately and to carryout and continue our Tsunami relief efforts.

    Apart from all these things, we request that, kindly make all your future correspondence relating to this programme to the following

    e.mail id: trusskarai108@ rediffmail.com

    with a copy marked to the

    e.mail id: rdas123123@ rediffmail.com

    Because, the first e.mail id. Organization Executive Secretary is a Convener for this Tsunami Relief Team and able to answer all your queries and correspondence immediately to build up our future rapport and to work for needy target group.

    Thanking you and expecting your early favorable reply, please.

    Sincerely Yours,

    (A.NATARAJAN)
    Convener,
    Tsunami Relief Team.

    -8-
    Itemized Budgetary Estimate Required to Execute the Rehabilitation Programme:-

    S.No. Details of Activities Requested

    Amount Rs.
    (1) (2) (3)
    1. Educational Materials to Children
    Book Materials, Note Books & Uniforms to 1125 Childrens each @Rs.240/-
    2,70,000

    2, Orphanage to Children

    Expenses on Orphanage Children including all admissible charges for 50 childrens in 2 places for 12 months 6,87,500

    3, Vocational Training to Women & Adolescent girls

    Expenditure on Tailoring Training Programme to 200 Women (5centers)
    Tailoring Machine Cost 3,500 X 25 nos = 87,500
    Stipend @ Rs.250/- per month for 200 Nos = 50,000
    Tailoring Instructors Salary Rs.1,500 X 3 months X 5 nos = 22,500
    Raw material Cost (LS) = 95,000
    2,55,000
    4, Training to Youths
    Expenses on E.D.P Training to 250 No of Youths in 5 Centers
    Stipend @ Rs.250 X 250 Nos ( 3 Month Training) = 62,500
    Trainers Honorarium 5 Nos each @ Rs.2,500/- = 12,500
    Cost of Training materials Rs.25,000/- per center for 5 Centers = 1,25,000
    Training centre rent in 5 areas each @ Rs.1000/=p.m. for 12 months
    Rs.60,000
    2,60,000
    5, Basic Needs to Target Groups
    Expenditure on Rice with Provisions to 500 no. of families X Rs.750 3,75,000

    6, Safe Drinking Water

    Installation of Sintex Water Tanks ( 500 Liters Capacity ) in Ten Villages each @ Rs.2,500 X 10 Nos + Installation Charges. 48,750

    7, Expr.on repairing of houses to 250 families
    (50 families in 5 villages) Rs.25000/=per house x250 Nos. 62,50,000

    8, Salary to Programme Co-ordinator
    @ Rs.4,000/- per month X 12 Monthsx2 persons

    96,000
    9, Rent for Office Building
    Rs.1,000/- X 12 Monthsx2 Districts 24,000

    10, Documentation, Auditing, Reporting & Evaluation (LS) 25,000
    11, Escalation cost (LS) 1,74,000

    TOTAL 84,65,250
    Requested amount is Rs.84,65,250/=(Rupees Eighty four lakhs sixty five thousand two
    hundred and fifty only)

    (A.NATARAJAN)
    Convener,
    Tsunami Relief Team.
    -9-

    Tsunami Relief Team
    List of Villages affected by recent TSUNAMI disaster happened in Tamil Nadu South India on 26th Dec.2004.

    Cuddalore District Nagapattinam District

    1, ParangiPettai
    2, Killi Kadarkarai
    3, Samyarpettai
    4, Chennur
    5, PuduPettai
    6, VelangrankPettai
    7, Pudupattai
    8, Mulukkuduarai
    9, MGR Theidu
    10, Sinna Vaical
    11, Karai Medu
    12, Pule Medu
    13, TS Pattai
    14, Singara Thopu
    15, Sothi Thopu
    16, Rasa Pettai
    17, Thaikkal Thonithurai
    18, Kannikoil

    1, Naga Pattinam
    2, Serkolize
    3, Nagore
    4, Therangampattai
    5, Poraiyour
    6, Thirumulaivayal
    7, Chandrapadi
    8, Uppanour
    9, Maliladudurai
    10, Velankanni
    11, Vatharaniam
    12, Kadikarai
    13, Vettai karan Erupa
    14, Ramaiswarm
    15, Kovil Pattu
    16, Poombukar
    17, Petenicherry
    18, Podupattinam
    19, Sedrudour
    20, Manian Theviu
    21, Karun Kulam
    22, Perakuthakai
    23, Puspavannam
    24, Vellaipalam
    25, Thoppukarai
    26, Nallu Vethpathi
    27, Vananvan Maha Devi
    28, Kadiyakadu
    29, Seruthalikadu
    30, Kullai Theivu
    31, Akkarai Pettai
    32, Eatchan Kuppam
    33, Namenon Nagar
    34, Seruthur
    35, Ariyanattuthru
    36, Atchana Pettai
    37, Samathanna Pettai
    38, Maraimalai Nagar
    39, Arram Pettai
    40, Velan Thottam
    41, Nammyur Nagar
    42, Keladi Nagar

    Mr.P.Subramanian,
    Secretary,

  32. subramanian

    RURAL DEVELOPMENT AFFORESTATION SOCIETY
    MELKACHIRAPPATTU,VILLAGE,MEYYUR,POST
    TIRUVANNAMALAI.TK.DT,TAMILNADU,INDIA
    ==============================================================
    HELLO SIR,GREETINGS FROM RDAS ,TIRUVANNAMALAI ,INDIA

    RDAS ANNUAL REPORT 2004-2005
    RDAS Through this initiative, two hundred twenty two medicinal Local herbs have been identified up-to-date of which thirty five plants have been standardized for cultivation in the villages, Each village is provided with one standard set, free of cost, planted to serve as a model herbal garden. Villagers can buy additional saplings from collaborating nurseries at highly discounted rates eg nadir herbals provide saplings at 5 Rs a piece.

    The project offers trainings camps to teach villages the benefits of these thirty five plants, and how to identify grow and use them as medicines as well as dietary/nutritional supplements.

    Trained RDAS volunteers, women self-help group members who are part of the Eco-club team, conduct personal follow-ups during village visits regarding cultivation and utilization of herbal gardens and serve as reference points for additional guidance.

    To widen public exposure, RDAS holds seminars and exhibitions, and displays these gardens during local festivals. The project has also secured partnership with the Indian Herbs Research and Rural Development Afforestation society.

    A delegate to the Rain forest information centre, and a member of the alliance for Earth ways, cotton wood foundation, Rainforest concern and the Ecologos institute charitable Registration. With preeminent leaders of the world to forest peace and harmony his humanitarian efforts to rural his rehabilitation project for prisoners in India and abroad are internationally acclaimed, He is the source of strength and inspiration for hundreds of volunteers involved in these project. Who has been associated with the project sine its inception, introduced project and shared with the secretary the transformation it has brought about in the rural areas.

    We invite the support and participation of all individuals groups and organizations in this endeavor, which is destine to bring a permanent trans formation in the lives of people who are trapped in hopeless economic and social situations.

    There is a vital need to expand this project to cover other rural areas. You can fund different RDAS activities, individually or collectively, for a specific area and a certain duration, RDAS will create an opportunity to acknowledge the donor with in the villages, A maximum of four banners will be displayed for any sponsored RDAS activity (i.e Tailoring Training centre, Tree planting, Herbal Garden Develop and Environmental Health Awareness rogramms, organic training centre , health care water and sanitation CAMPS, Eye Camps) excluding, children sponsorship scheme will be announced, community development,

    Some special donation modalities are dusted below.

    Grass root level measures for conservation and education about the environment are an integral part of this project. Afforestation of the waste lands near the villages and within residential and common areas of the villages is also undertaken.

    The village vanashree Eco-centre is an ecological initiative to preserve the rich ecological heritage of the country. The kannamudaiyar Shiva hills conservation campaigni initiated during the international year of the mountain is an ongoing reforest Shiva programme to conserve and protect the kannamudaiyar Shiva temple forest. Near the society mothers rescurce centre” Iruthayangar, permaculture counciling centre,

    In the past two years measures have been undertaken to conserve the ecology of these village mountain, Erikarai, School. Temple, Road Both Side Tree planting and at the Same time create facilities for Local visitors. Thus catering both to man and environment, cleaning campaigns focusing on removing plastic wastes and educating the visitors on the hazards of toxic wastes being dumped in the mountains from a part of on going efforts to inculcate nature awareness amongst the masses. As an endeavor to preserve and propagate the areas rich environmental resources, the village vanashree Eco center RDAS PART TWO tree plantation and supports the protection and propagation of native wildlife.

    To create awareness amongst children about conserving our rich heritage, The village vana shree Eco-centre conducts five day residential Nature Awareness programs involving live demonstrations guest lectures, audio-visual presentations, field trips and a hands -on experience scientific documentation and photography.

    In addition, Ten thousands of trees have been planted in various villages of Tamil Nadu Through the project Large Scale 100,000 Hundred Thousands of Trees planting 2006-2008. AFFORESTATION endeavors. Trekking and outings in the wilderness would be an essential component of this program. Measures against Coaching of wild life illegal felling of trees and trade in wild life products will be initiated at the village Level.

    Schemes for water conservation and rain water harvesting at individual house holds and the community as a whole are also implemented. Agriculture Land Bunding, Community, Temple Land Bunding Rain water harvesting Bunding work – 10 Villages implementing 2005-2008 project.

    YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION

    The project supports destitute children and organizes children and youth development work for nearby tribal villages, discourses with girls, youth are held in educational institutions to introduce early character and social development. Educational Scholarships create possibilities for children who have been deprived of educational due to financial social and caste restrictions, scholarships provide books, educational free lectures are given to the general public as well as to hospitals institutions and universities on health and will-being the project is committed to sharing information in support of the donation quest for world peace ,global understanding and international co-operation. The Projects trans potency and presence on the world wide web, as well as the society numerous publications and partnerships with like minded organisation’s serve as a platform to improve personal and social well being.

    Championing Women and Breaking Social Barriers:

    One of the primary efforts of action for rural women way aim at empowering rural women, an of neglected section of the rural society.

    Community education is imparted to tribal women and dhalith women through educational camps for personality development and personal empowerment health care and prevent live education is also offered to create awareness and sustenance of good practices.

    On the other hand, through the initiative of RDAS crafts, the employed people are predominantly women from economically disfavored families. It is hoped that this endeavor not only will provide rural people with a means to livelihood, but will also preserve the rich creative tradition of rural life.

    Community Health Programme & Water and Sanitation:

    Through various health reach programme the neglected section of society and most remote areas are integrated to revitalize those most in need. Free medical and Eye camps as well as free dispensaries mobile camp and special program for the handicapped water Born dieses, lebreses conducted regularly in the month in the rural area tribal communities to provide relief to the needy.

    1. Rural Development Afforestation Society
    The Rural Development Afforestation Society was established on march 15th, 1995.
    The aims of the RDAS are
    • To work for the reafforestation and conservation of Rural land 100000 seedlings planting 10 villages our working areas project future 5 years planning .
    • To generate awareness of our natural environment, its problems of loss of genetic diversity, erosion of soil and water and to seek solutions.
    • To encourage participation in the regeneration and protection of animal, bird and plant life in the surrounding areas through awareness campaigns, educational activities, employment opportunities and other means.
    • To contribute towards harmonious relationships among all living beings.
    • To co-operate with other individuals and organisations who share these objectives.
    The Rainforest Information Center (RIC), Australia, has recognized Rural erikarai tree planting reafforestation project in south India.
    RDAS is executing the following projects:
    Waste Land Development
    Converting the waste lands inside the MELKACHIRAPPATTU AND AROUND Temple corridors, and other Temple lands into beautiful garden of flowering plants, fruit trees and sacred trees of medicinal and herbal value.
    VILLAGE Nursery (within the outermost, ie. fifth corridor, of the big Temple)
    A plant nursery with enough capacity to supply saplings for our yearly afforestation activity on the rural Hill and, temple lands on the village road. The nursery also supplies saplings to schools, institutions, individuals and NGOs.
    Eco – Club Activities in Schools
    Enthusing school children to form Eco-clubs, educate them through lectures, demonstrations and, video and puppet shows, towards better understanding about environmental degradation and the urgent need to protect trees, to prevent environmental pollution of all kinds and to grow as responsible citizens of the future.
    Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Farm
    demonstration sites for:
    Permaculture (permanent agriculture or permanent culture)
    is the conscious design of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people, providing their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Without permanent agriculture there is no possibility of a stable social order.
    • Models for harnessing non-conventional energy resources like biogas plant, solar heater, solar energy for power generation and wind mills. These will result in less dependence on firewood for the growing population.
    • Methods of soil conservation, effective water management.
    • A well equipped laboratory for biological control of pests, soil testing and meteorological observations.
    • A model sericulture and poultry farm.
    • An education centre for students and villagers with facilities for periodical meetings, workshops, seminars etc.
    Revival of Traditional Herbal Medicine
    Campaign is being launched to educate the poor masses about the local availability of herbs and the need to change over to traditional herbal medicines, highlighting the economy, effectiveness, prophylaxis and absence of side effects.
    RDAS has also helped in the establishement of a Medicinal Plant Development area on 100 hectres of forest land near the KANNAMUDAIYAR temple adjoining the southern slope of the holy MELKACHIRAPPATTU Hill.
    VILLAGE Hill Afforestation
    Thousands of local plants of diverse species are annually planted on the environment education ,non formal education centre for street childrens benefit ,MELKACHIRAPPATTU hill b Rural Development Afforestation Society. Construction of cattle guards, clearing of fire lines and dawn-to-dusk watching to drive prevent goats and cattle grazing and woodcutters, are steps that have resulted in enhancing survival of saplings. The severe, dry summers, the menace of goats and woodcutters, and arson by miscreants pose serious problem for the Society. RDAS feels that sustainable solutions can arise through direct involvement of the local people and accountability of authorities.
    AIYANAR Land
    In the year 2004, TWO acres of barren temple land surrounding the shrine, were planted with a variety of tree saplings and flowering plants after adequate soil and water management measures. Water management work included canalising hill streams to the adjacent tank. The plants were looked after by RDAS by timely watering and dawn-to-dusk watching against cattle. A lush grove developed, and was handed over back to the temple authority in 2004.
    ERIKARAI – 50 .05 Acres
    In the year 2004-2005 bio-fencing of the surveyed boundary was done. Contour bunds were constructed to impound the rain water. Planting of saplings was started in 2004. A borewell was sunk and hand-pump installed in 2004. So far thousands of diverse plants have been planted and are being well looked after.
    Women in Development
    RDAS has set up the MOTHER`S RESOURCE CENTER (Regd) with branches in TEN villages. The Society stresses thrift, nursery raising, organic farming, non-formal education, food preservation, vocational training, etc.
    RDAS goal is the
    • Promotion of a sense of gratitude to Mother Nature.
    • Sustainable development which includes conserving nature’s resources such as biological diversity, soil, water etc..
    • Replacement of environmentally unsound development activity by a safer strategy.
    Directories
    Rural Development Afforestation Society is listed in:
    • ILEIA LEISA NETWORK IN INDIA- A register of Indian organisations involved in Low External-Input, and Sustainable Agriculture – October 1995 – published by ILEIA.
    The Formative Years of RDAS & The Contribution of Rainforest Information Centre , Australia, towards “Project village erikarai soil conservation and tree planting project 2004-2005
    John button , an Australian settled in Tiruvannamalai, dreamt of a forested villages l. contact with John Seed and ruth of the RIC, Australia /Rural Development Afforestation Society
    , was formally registered as a non-profit Society in the year 1995. The first Executive Committee consisted ,RDAS was aided right from its inception by Mr. John Seed (founder of Rainforest Information Centre, New South Wales, Australia). The RIC has contributed over the years in two ways:
    • Routing funds to support our projects.
    The continuous and significant funding from RIC//COTTON WOOD FOUNDATION ,USA between 2004-2005 has helped generate the infrastructure for sustained development of all fronts of concern to RDAS .
    A detailed project submission drafted by the RIC was submitted to the Australian the approval of the latter and start of release of the funds, the RIC sounded many individuals and institutions in America and Australia which heralded the first trickle-flow of financial assistance to RDAS and helped it to embark on activities like nursery raising, afforestation of the VILLAGE Hill and Eco-Club activities in school to start with. to assist RDAS .
    By 2004-2005, the RIC was replaced by RIC of Australia. A project proposal (for the consolidation of the gains of the earlier 2004 TO 2007 project) was submitted by RDAS to RIC which in turn was recommended by Ms. RUTH Light to the Australian Government. This was approved, and RIC/OTHER DONORS gave a grant of (Rs.3,03000 ) for TWO more year for Project..
    At present John Seed & RUTH /RDAS are still continuing efforts to mobilize funds from well wishers, for the Arunachala Reforestation.
    The RIC has been a relentless campaigner for protection of tropical rain forests in the world, projects all of which are damaging the ecology/causing environmental degradation, as a consequence.
    If we are to ensure the safety of future generations, we must act now by contributing to environmental health and protection. We must start by respecting our land and reforesting it. This alone will improve water availability and quality of life. The society desperately needs more involvement, both financial and physical, from the community to enable meaningful spread of its work. We request you to join the campaign by liberal donations (time, material and money). Remittance stating donor’s name and address, may please be made favouring the

    RDAS/RIC/COTTON WOOD FOUNDTION ,USA

    The project initially established Tree planting 10,000, 2004-2005 project tree planting part one is Eri karai, Leg areas , Nursery development, organic Training programme and Tailoring Centre to hold free courses in contemporary crafts for the rural Dhalith women, girls, i8t is hoped that this endeavor will not only provide an opportunity for livelihood to rural people, but also preserve their rich creative tradition.

    Currently, the project employs about 5 works and Volunteers and animators to produce contemporary craft items in addition to traditional nutritional food products, both for village use and for sale to visitors.

    Thankingyou
    Yourssincerely
    p.subramanian

  33. S.T.CHANDEGAOKAR

    PARIVARTAN YUVAK VIKAS MANDAL
    OFFICE: LABOUR COLONY, E.W.S.334, LATUR-413512,
    MAHARASHTRA STATE, INDIA
    PHONE NO.91-2382-254110, Mobile No.9423720298
    ==================================================
    Dear Sir/Madam,
    Subject:- Request for Support to child right and child education, and child labour , and vocational training for women.

    PARIVARTAN YUVAK VIKAS MANDAL, Labour colony, Latur is an organization registered in the year 1994 under the society’s registration Act, 1860 and Bombay Public Trust Act,1950 and Foreign Contribution (Regulation)Act,1976 and registered under section 80G of Income tax act with PAN and TAN.
    The organisation for last 10 years has been working in the field of child education , child rights, has been concentrating on empowerment of women throgh vocational training, rehabilitation programme for disaster affected families, youth educational program, cultural program, environment, social welfare programme, and emergency relief service, etc.
    PARIVARTAN YUVAK VIKAS MANDAL, Labour colony, Latur intened to undertake a project titled child right and child education, and child labour , and vocational training for women.

    We sincerely hope, our proposed programme will be financially supported by the your esteemed organisation.
    yours sincerely
    S.T. Chandegaonkar
    Secretary
    PARIVARTAN YUVAK VIKAS MANDAL
    Labour colony, E.W.S.334, Latur-413512

  34. Masumkhan

    NGO RESOURCE CENTRE, LATUR
    Mr.Masumkhan
    BSW & MSW
    (Development Cosultant)
    Naaz Cottage, Ayesha Colony, Latur-413512, Maharashtra State, India.
    Mobile:91 9422657141 E-mail:masumrim@hotmail.com
    Foreign Funding Opportunity
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    President/Secretary
    NGO/Voluntary Organization/Private Voluntary Organization/
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  35. elderwisdom

    All the debate over who is stingy and who is does not cook rice. Wood, gas, coal, fire, water, pots, rice and a pinch of salt cook rice.These things need to be shipped. Money is necessary. And the buck stops here. Start this minute and send so many dollars it hurts! And then count your blessings.Talk is cheap,children,food and fuel are not….and human lives are not. .

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