IOI Project Details
		Who are we? The International Ocean Institute, Operational Center (India) at IIT Madras is a division of the Foundation for Sustainable Development (India). This Foundation is a Trust set up in August 1998 by IIT Madras in partnership with the International Ocean Institute (IOI), Malta. The IOI is a global NGO working to promote awareness, research, consultancy, training and education for the sustainable use of the oceans and the development of the poorer coastal communities. IOI India has been functioning at IIT Madras since 1993. Who are the partners in this project and what is the location? The Partners are IOI India at IIT Madras and the Anawim Trust. Started in early 1994, the Anawim Trust has been working for the socio-economic development of dalit villages in Tiruchendur Taluk of the Tuticorin District in Tamil Nadu. IOI India and Anawim have been working together for three years in 40 such coastal villages. Funds for this Eco-villages Project have come from GTZ of Germany, the Japan Fund for Global Environment (JFGE), Child Relief and You (CRY) and Asha-MIT. While IOI India channelises the funds and provides information, guidance and supervision, Anawim implements the projects at the field level. In the proposed Project, Asha-Seattle will primarily deal with IOI India in all matters. Which is the target group? The larger target group for the Eco-villages Project consists of dalits, about 12000 landless laborers in 40 villages. While the initial focus was on women, the Project now includes components for helping the children of the villages. This proposal is solely for the benefit of the children of one of these villages. What are the problems of the people? Irregular employment Indebtedness to moneylenders Absence of government schemes to promote employment opportunities Degradation of coastal zone and dwindling natural resources Water scarcity, lack of green cover and poor rainfall Lack of basic amenities including medical facilities Alcoholism among the men which puts women under pressure Children: Malnutrition Poor quality of education Lack of opportunities for education, training and expression of talent High dropout rate especially among girls Forced to look for work without continuing education What has been done so far in the Eco-villages Project? With funds from GTZ, JFGE and CRY, Women’s self-help groups have been set up in all the 40 villages and the total membership now exceeds 1100 Women’s groups have saved over Rs.2,00,000 for lending among themselves About 390 women have been given Rs.2000/- each as micro-credit for starting income generation activities Over 190 training programs have been conducted on diverse topics like ecology, ecotechnologies, income generation, health and hygiene, etc., accounting for 12000 participant-days Tailoring and typewriting classes has been conducted in 18 villages for over 140 women 85 women in nine villages have been trained to ride a bicycle 14000 trees have been planted 250 fuel-efficient stoves have been distributed in the villages Vermiculture, Spirulina culture and rainwater harvesting have been started A cultural troupe has been formed to create awareness of environmental and social issues through street plays and songs What is being done for the children of the villages? During the last one year, with funds from CRY and IOI India: Supplementary Education Centers have been set up in 15 villages, each manned by a part-time teacher. Over 660 children, including 380 girls, attend evening classes (A games hour to begin with, then schoolwork smaller children are attended to first, the older ones stay on, often until 9.30 pm) Parents’ Group formed and meetings are held all the village parents are persuaded to send the children to the Center Children’s Committee has been set up, savings scheme started Teaching aids, play materials and a small library have been provided in each Center What is the Asha-MIT Project? Asha Seattle Question: - What is Asha-MIT's Role in the Project? What is the long-term goal? The Target Group: Children (5 To 17 Years) Set up an Asha Junior Center in each village for the overall development of each child Mind: school work, vocational training for ensuring / increasing earning potential, getting dropouts back to studies, additional knowledge of computers, English, etc. Body: Games, sports, health Spirit: Expression of talents, ecological awareness / activities Where will the Asha-Seattle Project be sited and why? The Project will be implemented in Kuranganthattu, Tamilnadu - Location of Project, among the poorest in the target group of villages, permeated with a sense of resignation and hopelessness Schools are far away and even tiny tots have to go a long way No medical facilities or other amenities No bus stop, even though located on the main road Children forced leave the villages to work in shops and small factories as far away as Chennai and Coimbatore We can make a decisive impact on all the 70 children in this village. What is the immediate action plan? The first phase will be for two years (July 2000 – June 2001) with an input of US$ 5000 from Asha-Seattle. By December 2001 we should have in Kuranganthattu An ASHA JUNIOR CENTER and Eco-Club in place (with regular activities like education, sports and games, art classes, etc.) for children A low-cost, eco-friendly shed constructed following the ideas of Laurie Baker Every dropout back in school or preparing for Open School Exam Every child doing ‘better’ in school Every child in ‘better’ health, more resistant to diseases Every child 10+ will have at least one vocational skill (plumbing, electrical wiring, vermiculture, nursery-keeping, data entry, etc.) Every child will have attended at least 20 training programs (health, alternate medicine - herbal and traditional, ecology, art, entrepreneurship, etc.) Every child would have got at least four opportunities to express her / his talents Every child will have access to a library of books, videos. Every child (in particular, every girl!) would be able to ride a bicycle Every child will understand / speak rudimentary English All children 8+ able to operate a PC The Eco-Club will take responsibility for keeping the village clean, planting and maintaining trees and ensuring upkeep of water sources. What will be done concurrently for the other members of the village as part of the Eco-villages Project? Many of the activities of the Eco-villages project aimed at the women will be gradually introduced in this village too. In particular, we plan to start spirulina production by women in the village for direct distribution to the children. Several women will be given micro-credit for starting small enterprises. What will the community contribute? Sustaining Efforts by local community Village women’s group or a village parents committee to take ownership of Junior Center Provide labor and other contributions in cash and kind Children: Older children to help the younger ones Whole group to take responsibility for ecological activities What is the long-term vision? (3 to 5 years) Extension of the first phase activities to each of the 40 villages Mobile library for the area covering all the 40 villages Resource Center for children / youth with library, computers, science lab, vocational training facilities Clean / “Green” villages through children’s activities Support to talented students through a mentoring system Support to children with disabilities Career counseling service Publication of Village Voice, a community youth newsletter in Tamil Monitoring of health ………. and so on What do we expect from Asha? Assured funding initially for two years Clear commitment and plan for continuing the funding for at least 5 years if first Phase is seen to be successful Active involvement through visits, provision of resources like books, videos, computers, etc., from Asha-Chennai What will happen if Asha is unable to sustain the funding? IOI India and Anawim have a good track record and we expect to raise funds from other sources, if a need arises. How will monitoring and reporting be done by IOI India and Anawim? Regular reports, impact assessments, photographs, video Case studies of successes and failures Documenting of experience for sharing and replication elsewhere Has there been a site  visit? Three Asha-Chennai volunteers, Lakshmi, Arvind and Priya, accompanied by Prof. R. Rajagopalan, Director, IOI India, visited the Project Area on 16th and 17th October 1999. After getting an overall idea of the IOI India-Anawim Eco-villages Project, they visited Melathonippalam, the village chosen for starting the Asha–MIT Project. The Team heard the villagers talk about their problems and needs. What is being done now in anticipation of the Project? Detailed survey of the status of children in Kuranganthattu Number of children Distribution by age group, sex Dropouts, handicapped, learning disabled General Conditions, nutrition, health Access to schools, water Current Status: Health and education record How does one reach the project site? By train (Pearl City Express) from Madras Egmore to Tuticorin (about 14 hours overnight), then by road to Tiruchendur stay at the TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu. Anawim office is in Veerapandianpattinam, 15 minutes drive from Tiruchendur. What about FCRA? IOI India is a Trust set up in 1998 and hence FCRA registration will be given only in 2001 (after the 3-year waiting period). We have been securing, without any difficulty, prior permission to receive foreign funds under each project. If Asha–Seattle sends a letter of approval, we will apply for prior permission immediately. Asha-Seattle can send the money after the permission is obtained. Until then IOI India will advance the funds to run the Project. This approach is being followed for the Asha-MIT Project. Project Schedule for first 6 months: Items 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appointment of organizer x Setting up and running a center in temporary location x x x x Detailed survey x Design & construction of shed x x x x Health exam x Setting up a library x x procurement of all the materials x x x All other activities including evening classes, games, talent promotion, training, vocational skill development, computer training will continue from January to December 2000. [IOI Project Main Page]
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