• Identify the 'guilty' and vigorously prosecute them.
• Provide urgent relief & rehabilitation help to the survivors of the massacre
• Protect against future attacks on Hindus And possible backlash against Muslims
• Form 'Sadbhavana Committees' all over the State of Kashmir to strengthen communal harmony.

"We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the 24 people killed in Nadigram and laud their courage for staying back in Kashmir valley to preserve the unity and integrity of India.. We stand with you in your hour of grief and promise to work with you to defeat the forces of hatred, communalism and separatism."

This statement was released by Mr. Satinath Choudhary, the national co-coordinator of Non Resident Indians for Secular and Harmonious India.

Individuals
Shrikumar Poddar, Okemos, Michigan, USA,K. S. Sripada Raju, East Lansing, Michigan, USA,Devesh Poddar, Okemos, Michigan, USA ,Najid Hussein, Bear, Delaware, USA
Satinath Choudhary, New York, New York, USA,Mayurika Poddar, Okemos, Michigan, USA

Organizations
India Foundation, Lansing, Michigan; International Service Society, East Lansing, Michigan; Washington Watch Inc. East Lansing, Michigan; Vaishnava Center for Enlightenment, Lansing, Michigan; Educational Subscription Service, Lansing, Michigan; Seva International, Okemos, Michigan; India Development Society, East Lansing, Michigan; NRIs For Secular & Harmonious India, New York, NY, USA.

The International Service Society of Michigan worked with various organisations in Gujarat and Rajasthan for drought relief "Gujarat relief efforts began with four major voluntary groups spread over many different districts. Drinking water and fodder shortage were the biggest problems encountered…the small and medium farmers were forced to give away their animals…"
The work the various organizations did: The Urmul Trust in Bikaner, Rajasthan desilted ponds in six districts making them potable. The PSI offered only technical support and were grateful to the villagers, "Who paid all our expenses"

The Rajasthan Gau Seva Sangh also in Bikaner, Rajasthan started a fodder centre for abandoned cows, to feed the cows during the drought. The Rural Education and Development Society in Barmer, Rajasthan working in one of the worst affected drought areas , Baytu got a water tanker to supply water to the villagers and the 500 cattle.
Thirteen ponds were dug and many more deepened so that water was made available to those in Barner by the Lok Kalyan Sansthan working in Baytu. The Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti of Udaipur set up Rs 20,000 as a revolving fund for fodder for cattle. They were responsible for deepening three wells on the area while arranging for the fodder supply.

With cattle being the main source of income for the villagers, it is imperative to save the lives of cattle along with those of the people, and so in Jhadol district of Rajasthan the donated amount was set up as revolving fund for distribution of fodder.
With regular fodder supply, the cattle of Surendra Nagar, Gujarat are now giving an increased milk yield. Initiated by MARAG as an income generation activity, the extra yield means increased income for the villagers.
Meanwhile, three local groups, Bhagirathi Uttar Buniyadi Vidyalaya (BUBV), Centre for Environment Education (CEE) and SAVARAJ worked to strengthen womens' groups in their areas.

A women's group formed by BUBV in Hamapar village, working with yuvak and mahila mandals worked out appropriate strategies in the targeted villages to cope with the problems of fodder distribution and drinking water scarcity irrespective of caste or economic status. A committee of 5 women from the mahila mandals and 5 men from the Yuvak Mandals managed the purchase and distribute fodder, and a registration card given to beneficiaries recorded the assistance give, 450 farm cattle were saved…and the villagers themselves contributed 40% of the cost. The above support lasted for only 8 days…when there was still no sign of rain, the villagers, now more confident and competent approached the block level officials to sanction a cattle camp for their village…inspiring other villages to do the same. CEE arranged for fodder supply in Bhoria village, Jasdan, Rajkot with the help of the local youth groups….the fodder programme made the kolis and bharwads, two unit and break a silence that had grown between them for the last several years.. SAVARAJ helped supply water and fodder in Revaniya, Kotada and Lakhawad villages in Jasdan district.

It may have begun as the efforts of one man to fight poverty and polio, but today the Narayan Seva Sanstha is famous all over the north for its various activities. Established in 1985 with a school for orphaned tribal children, in 1998 it began its free polio hospital and has to date done 28,300 operations at their hospital in Udaipur. The fully equipped hospital does operations free of charge and their promise is that" however you come to our hospital, walking, crawling or otherwise, we will see that you are mobile." The Sanstha organizes camps outside Udaipur and has successfully completed organizing 30 such camps, including one in Valhi in January 2003.. If you can get together at least 100 polio patients and can accommodate a group of 50 doctors and workers for a week…the Sanstha will do the operations free of cost.
The NSS opened a branch in Mumbai at Uday Bhavan, 427 Chira Bazaar at an office generously donated by Mr. Santosh Jhunjunwal. The Bombay office would coordinate the work of the 15 branches of the Sanstha in Mumbai. The Mumbai branch would also distribute aids and appliances like calipers, tricycles, wheelchairs, hearing aids and crutches. Contact Mr. Nayan in Udaipur: 0294-2462400, 098290-43480 or Mumbai 98217-43090 Mr. Mangalram.

The right to know
It took the Supreme Court to take recognition of the fact that the people wanted and needed to have information regarding the assets, educational and criminal backgrounds of the people they were being asked to vote for. The recent judgement of the supreme court quashing Section 33B introduced by parliament is not only a victory of the people, it is a vindication of a long campaign through seminars and mail by various NGOs including the Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore.
The first experiment in India to seek systematic information on candidates standing for election was initiated by the PAC in 1998. Later, in Mumbai, AGNI also spearheaded a similar campaign. People can do it!

A model childline
Childline- the helpline for street children which begins with a countdown: the Tel no is 1098 (10-9-8, get it?) has been a marvelous success with 3 million calls already recorded in the few years of its existence, The network of NGOs dealing with street children has been successful in replicating a model that is now being replicated in other states of India and other countries. Founded by Jeroo Billimoria, the Childline India Foundation "uses the strengths of other NGOs and the police. In a short while we hope to be functioning in 50 cities in India."

The Orissa high court has indicted the Orissa state government for its failure to protect the precious mangrove forests in the area. It directed the government to evict encroachers form the Bhitarakanika and Mahanadi delta area on a war footing and directed to court to initiate action against revenue officials ho had failed to prevent encroachments in their areas while telling them to ask for para military and central help if they could not protect the mangrove forest and the Coastal regulation Zones areas. The PIL was filed by Biswajit Mohanty of the Wildlife Society of Orissa.

For animals only
Nineteen animals of the Empire Circus which are legally banned from being exhibited in any performance will be shifted from their cramped confines to a rescue centre at Nahargad in Jaipur. The rescued animals included ten tigers and nine lions. The Empire Circus was not registered with the Animal Welfare Board. The PIL was filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

Kothapally blooms amid drought
Farmers in Kothapally village of Rangareddy district in Andhra Pradesh have managed to grow a crop this summer, despite the drought in adjoining areas, due to a successful watershed development project in the area. The wells in the village still hold water thanks to the construction of 13 check-dams and mini-percolation tanks in Kothapally area. This, coupled with soil and water conservation measures undertaken as part of the project, has ensured that the village wells retain their water.
The project was the brainchild of the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) and a consortium of partners. The Andhra Pradesh government is using the project as a model for its Drought-Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) and the AP Rural Livelihood Programme. The consortium of partners in the project included the Andhra Pradesh government, DPAP, the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, the National Remote Sensing Agency, MV Foundation and the Farmers Association.
Dr. SP Wani, Icrisat's coordinator for the project, says that the net result was increased agricultural productivity in the village. While maize yields improved to 3,480 kg per hectare, from 1,500 kg, sorghum yields improved to 2,425 kg per hectare from 1,700 kg earlier.
(The Hindu Business Line, March 17, 2003 )

Mumbai: Sally Fisher, actress, activist and one of the founders of Intersect blew into town like a hurricane and flew out hoping she had spread the message of "coalitions". "It is the mission of 'The Intersect HIV/Violence against women and Girls Project' to create powerful, broad-based, multi-disciplinary Intersect coalitions across countries worldwide, working on a scale never before attempted. Representing vast numbers of constituents, Intersect coalitions will engage in cooperative action, raise awareness, innovate approaches to education, law and public policy and marshal a formidable, highly visible and vocal force to affect significant change in the lives of those impacted by violence and HIV." This was her message to groups she met in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi.

Judith Heumann, The World Bank advisor on disability and development was in India for a two-week meeting in March with NGOs, self-help groups and the government. "There's need to look at specific areas…ramp access, how the disability can access basic health, provide equal learning opportunities and to remember that the disabled learn things differently."
Afflicted with polio as a child, she had teachers brought home, then attended a basement school and against great odds decided to become a teacher. It was her physical disability that was the cause of her rejection and in a path-breaking court case, she won the right to teach. She was impressed with the self-help groups and NGOs in Andhra who have intervened with villagers to make them accept disability as a disability not a disease or curse!

The Centre for Advancement of Philanthrophy which moved to their new office at Mulla House, Fort last year organized several regional and national level conferences last year:"Manager's Course in Fund raising", "Strengthening Philanthropy in India", Excellence in Volunteerism", "The ABCs of Proposal Preparation and writing"; South-ASIAN Fund raising workshop"; "Effective Governance through Effective Boards"; Management training for Voluntary Organisations"; Intensive course on Fund raising".

Two books published by them are available free from their office: "Overview of Laws governing voluntary/no-profit organizations in India" by Noshir Darawala which contains the several changes made under the Finance Act 2002, as also guidelines under FC RA. The other monograph is on "Development concepts and the role of the Development worker" By Pheroze T Contractor.

A Training of Trainers program, developed and facilitated by "Habitat For Humanity International" and organized & supported by Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy was held in February at the Blue Diamond Hotel, Pune.

"The Training Of Trainers (TOT) program seeks to develop and enhance the skills of those persons who are involved in a training capacity". The course gave effective ways to design, teach and lead education and training initiatives such that learning lasts. The program focused on exploring adult learning principles, design and delivery techniques and group feedback. The program used the Vella approach as its basis. Actual practice sessions for each participant were held to enable learning into practice and receive feedback. Among those who attended the course were: The speakers included:

Comet Media Foundation a non-profit voluntary organisation working in the area of educational communication and media for the last eighteen years organises workshops that are designed to be experiential rather than theoretical. Though the workshops are aimed at individuals involved in the teaching process either in a formal or a non-formal set up, the workshop design makes the programme relevant, to even those individuals who are not directly involved in teaching.
March 25 on Motivation: Resource Persons: Sangeeta Shankar and Richa Ganeriwal. The workshop explored ways in which children can be motivated to achieve their goals.
Teaching through Stories on April 1: Resource Persons Sangeeta Shankar and Richa Ganeriwal in Hindi and English,the workshop explored the use of stories as a tool for everyday teaching and learning. The objective of the workshop is to show how a well known story can be adapted to teach something new, even a topic from the school curriculum.
Theatre as a tool to deal with various personality Problems.:Resource Person Manjul Bharadwaj. The workshop on 3rd and 4th April '03 in Hindi demonstrated how theatre can be used to help individuals with personality problems.
Child and adolescent mental health: Resource Persons: Vaibhavee Gadre and Neelofer Shenoy on 8th April '03 in Hindi as well as Marathi. The objectives of the workshop are:to help members become aware of children and adolescent's mental health needs and psychosocial development how members could identify a child/adolescent in distress and their role in the process of helping problematic children and adolescents
Child sexual abuse and how to deal with it. (Resource Person Freny Italia) on 24th and 25th April '03 in Hindi, Marathi as well as English.
The objectives of the workshop were to sensitise people in the helping profession to recognise/identify child sexual abuse and to develop ways of networking and referral on the issue of child sexual abuse to enable early identification and reaching out to children experiencing child sexual abuse and to equip members with counseling skills and the use of art and play therapy with children who are sexually abused. Contact Mrunalini Jog (Workshop Coordinator) on 23869052 or 23826674

Theme: Empowering Women through Information and knowledge from Oral tradition to ICT.
Information and knowledge created by women, for women about women.
Organisers: The Centre for Woman's Development Studies, New Delhi
Venue: University World College, Pune
Dates: June 10-13

Conference: HR Educators Training programme
Organisers: Human Rights groups,
Theme: To integrate knowledge, responsibility and programmes related to social and development sectors in India
Venue: Yuva Centre, New Mumbai
Dates June 5-July 5.

Books
The Long & Winding Road- From structural change to Structural Transformation. A backgrounder on NGOs & People's movements by Walter Mendoza and John D'Souza. Published by CED. Pages 99. Rs 250/-

Through short historical pieces, the book traces the growth of movements- starting from Gandhian to Sarvodaya and Naxalism to modern day empowerment. Tracing the history of the NGO movement, the book surprisingly makes for easy and interesting reading as well. Although it does go in for some development jargon, the book should be compulsory reading for students of development or others who want to understand what has been happening in the NGO field since a century. The different types of NGOs, their attitudes to finance, people, the process of development; the political process, aid, delivery systems ( jargon!), the voluntary sector, institutionalisation of NGOs, accountability, governance. Written in short article form with relevant comments from other authors on each subject, and a competent bibliography with each of its chapters, the book is a compendium of information, thoughts, perspectives and comments on NGOs.

Ageless Mind and Spirit: Faces and Voices from the World of India's elderly- Samar and Vijay Jodha 324 pages, Neovision Publishers Pvt Ltd. Rs. 2500/-

Made with love and an inquiring spirit, this 324 page book has 140 images of elders in various professions, some famous, some unknown…they are faces lined with the depth of experience but seldom with the lines of despair. It took the two brothers eight years to compile all the photographs as they travelled the breadth of the country. Both have full time careers yet they took time off to shoot these pictures.

FILM'S
Joginis- Servants of God- Directed by Sejal Shah: 30 mins. In English.
The documentary about the descendants of Yellamma is not the first on the issue, but Sejal takes a look into the beginnings of the life of a Jogini as a one-year old. A flash of lights that flame and flash on a background of rangoli gives the film a beautiful beginning…as it traces the lives of other joginis and then the ritual marriage of`13-year old Renuka as she is initiated into prostitution, the film relies on interviews. "Once dedicated, the Jogini's first night after her marriage is with the village priest/headman/buyer and subsequently she cannot refuse any man, whether paid for her services or not". Left with many illegitimate children, she is often left with no choice but to dedicate a child to the goddess, thus perpetuating a custom banned the government in 1998. Contact Sejal Shah 91-22-26288011.

Akshara Women's Centre is presently involved in four programmes:
The Community Inititaitves programme which is presently working in the slums of Dharavi (infamous as the world's biggest slums at onetime). The project aims at helping the community see women as assets to their families by giving them value-added vocational courses, language skills. Contact:

Apne Aap Women Worldwide is the new group promoted by Ruchira Gupta for empowering Women in Prostitution. The project took off in Kolkata's Kalighat area where a drop-in centre has been established, a library and a centre for children has also been opened.
Apne Aap WW inaugurated, on March 19th, a drop-in centre and capacity building centre in Mumbai's Kamathipura area

The Modicare Foundation headquartered in Delhi is working in the field of Aids through awareness programmes in schools and colleges. The Foundation started its first counseling centre at the Jai Prakash Hospital, a VCTC (voluntary Counselling and Test Centre) that all those sent for testing get re-testing counseling. On World Aids Day students from various schools and college came together in an education programme at Dilli Haat, in Delhi. "The responses were mixed- participatory, ambivalent and some completely negative."

Aasra the drop-in centre for women in distress gives counseling and guidance to victims of domestic violence, marital discord with the legal intervention if required. A short-term shelter is also available at Asha Kiran at Andheri (W). Last month they had at least 7 cases that needed serious help. A department of the YWCA, Aasra has been functioning from the YWCA office at Byculla since the last five years. Aasra needs volunteers for their counseling centres at Byculla and Andheri from 9 am to 4.30 p.m. five days a week.
Contact Neerja Bhatnagar 022-2309 6555/44

The Consumers Education and Research Centre in Ahmedabad has been in the forefront of consumers interests since over a decade. Since the last year they have brought several concerns of consumers to their notice as well as fight their cases in the courts. :It has suggested that the model of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Mumbai, be followed for demutualisation and corporatisation of stock exchanges in India.
*Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS), Ahmedabad, has asked the Supreme Court of India to direct the Railways to take early steps to man the unmanned level crossings and prevent any more accidents at these crossings, resulting in injury and loss of human lives. The Railways should also be directed to adequately compensate soon the families of the five victims of an accident at an unmanned level crossing near Ahmedabad on 24 February 2003.

*When CERS started receiving complaints against LG Electronics selling grossly undercapacity refrigerators, it took a serious view and decided on a test. It purchased three LG Electronics refrigerators of three capacities and entrusted a Gujarat Government-approved laboratory with the test of the three models. The test found all three refrigerators below the capacities claimed. CERS filed a class action suit with the National Commission against LG Electronics for the recovery of approximately Rs. 11 crore of unjust enrichment made through false claims of higher capacities of its refrigerators of three models. The Commission has admitted the petition.

Each One Teach One

EOTO has been working with children in municipal schools since 1983 and started with five students. Today, in Mumbai EOTO is active in five municipal schools with children from 8th to 10th Std. It also has a branch in Bangalore,(two municipal schools), and in Bhopal.

The project involves giving extra lessons to children in municipal schools who cannot keep up with their studies, through tuition's in Maths, Science & English from Monday to Saturday. Conversation skills to build their confidence, vocational training programmes by networking with other organizations, and visits to the children's homes are also done. EOTO boasts of a passing percentage of 90%, (Municipal School average is 40%). The dropout rate of its students is a miniscule 1%

Since June 2002, a computer learning programme was established in Andheri Municipal School with support from Tata Infotech Ltd. Eight hundred school children of 3rd and 4th std. now learn computer basics. A Self Defence workshop for girls and computer hardware training for all the students was also conducted. A new programme was started with 31 mentally handicapped underprivileged children from Sion Municipal School along with an awareness programme for the parents. In partnership with EOTO, the Narottam Sekhsaria Trust run by Gujrat Ambuja Cement has decided to support one more school from June, 2003.
Contact 91-22-24094778

Delhi: The model Udayan Care, an organization in Delhi for parenting abandoned, orphaned and abused children, is to parent children under the care of mentor mothers in homes called Udayan Ghars (eternal homes). Currently there are 24 girls and 11 boys between the ages of 6 and 15 in three Udayan ghars in ordinary localities. The children go to English medium schools. Udayan Care now plans to open an After Care Home for children over 18 at Noida where it has purchased land, which will be ready this year. The centre would also have a section called CREATE (Centre for Rehabilitation, Education and Thought Enrichment; child guidance centre) and ATTITUDE (Amphitheatre for therapy, Theatre, Inspiration, Treatment, Understanding, Development and Enrichment).
It also plans to start similar Udayan ghars in the rural areas for about 20 children.

Sperm banks may soon become a reality by December 2003 when the Union health and law departments are expected to start issuing licences for sperm banks.
The modalities of operating a bank have already been finalized according to Dr. Firuza Parikh, a member of the expert team and a gynaecologist at Jaslok Hospital. The banks will have to get a licence from the health departments and will have to go through stringent quality control. The sperm banks will be open to the private sector although a member of the expert team said, "We are mainly looking at NGOs to take up the responsibility."

Mumbai: This year, the Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP) has an ambitious plan to provide doorstep services through Mobile Service units to over 2500 rural disabled afflicted by leprosy. The areas to be covered include Vasai, Alibag, Wada and Shahapur, Bhiwandi, Murbad and Thane. Uran, Panvel, Pali, Ulhasnagar, Dombivili are all to be covered by the services by the end of the year.

The Bridge Trust is an organization that bridges the gap between donor and beneficiary and it recently inaugurated their website - "www.bridgetrust.org".
As Mr J.M. Mehta, founder- President says, "You can contribute Rs 500/- and we will find a beneficiary…and you can present a pair of crutches personally to some needy person" .Presently, on the basis of our donations we are doing some development works in tribal villages surrounding Kasara which falls on the Nasik - Mumbai highway. We have started Computer Based Functional Literacy (CBFL) classes in Marathi for adult women. The software has been specially prepared and gifted by TCS (Tata Consultancy Services). Computers were gifted by "Population Trust". The Bridge Trust also runs Balwadis in a number of villages for children between 3 & 6 years of age. And with donations from Dubai have completed three wells and two check dams.
Contact 5694 9955/2665 5678 ashit.mehta@gems.vsnl.net.in

Bangalore: Samuha, established in 1986 works with vulnerable people to improve their quality of life:people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, women, under-5 children, people with distinct cultural identities and with rural communities in the drought-prone talukas of Northern Karnataka and Bangalore Urban.
Samraksha is its HIV sector and was initiated in 1993 with the twin objectives of preventing the spread of HIV infection, and reducing its impact on those already affected. For the past nine years Samraksha has been working with vulnerable populations on Bangalore's National Highway 13, selected pockets of Raichur and Koppal and in Haliyal taluk of Karwar district. Their method has been to work through mass contact programmes like street plays and AIDS Melas followed by intensive interactive sessions with vulnerable populations like men in prisons, auto drivers, construction workers migrant workers and women in slums. These sessions are at individual and group level.
A Well Woman Clinic, with weekly outreach camps, STI/RTI management within 55 existing Bangalore City Corporation run clinics has been initiated through formal training followed by practical hands on support. The focus of this activity is to increase the base of STI/RTI service providers in the community.
Two Respite Homes (Asha Kiran in Bangalore and Asha Jyothi in Khustagi) provide short-term care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. Services include medical, nursing care, counselling, nutritional support and education on living with HIV/AIDS.
Contact: :080- 354 6965/ 3547424 or samraksha@samraksha.org

Manava seva dharma samvardhani - Chennai

Corporate thinking to run a non-profitable charity organisation - is the uniqueness of this trust, formed by a group of former Chairmen and Managing Directors. With the trustees' background in business, they plan to implement business skills like optimising output, money management and public management among NGOs. The trust has three focus areas on its agenda; national awards for women social workers, finding corporate sponsorship and education.

Corporate sponsorship of social workers involves large corporate companies sponsoring social workers by adding them to their payrolls so they can do social work..

The third agenda is to offer a relevant course in social work for those interested in pursuing social work as a career. The institute, named Centre for Social Initiative and Management (CSIM), started by the trust, will offer a one-year diploma in social work. This course promises to provide help in starting micro enterprises after coursework. Half the duration of study is practical work outside the classroom.

P N Devarajan, one of the trustees, a chemical engineer from IIT Kharagpur, has worked as Group President of Reliance Industries and CMD of Hindustan Organics Limited among his several past assignments. He was instrumental in the forming of Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhini and is actively involved in its running.