Integrated Rural Community Development Society 25 + years of facilitating transformation…. Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu

Area of operation

About us Integrated Rural Community Development Society (IRCDS) is a development organisation established in 1986 It facilitates community-based action with poor women, children, persons with disabilities, dalit and tribal communities, bonded and agricultural labourers in 93 of 540 Panchayats in Tiruvallur district.

Legal Status Registered under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 Registered under FCRA,1976 Registered u/s 12(A) and 80G of Income Tax Act, 1961 Registered under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000

Vision & Mission Vision : To uphold Love, Peace, Justice and Equality in Society Mission : To build the capacity of the people to understand and change their socio-economic and political situation through facilitating people’s Organisations. Approach : Transforming individuals and community by building noble values, skills,knowledge and action plan for a sustainable development

What We Do ? 1. Women Empowerment: 21,194 members women have been organized into 1435 self-help groups (SHGs) Facilitate 92 Panchayat level federations to ensure community action. Establish multiple livelihood enterprises by SHG members with government and bank linkages. 2.Prevention and Elimination of bonded labour with the support of ILO 1687 families have been prevented debt bondage

3. Short Stay Home for women in distress The women in distress are supported with psychological counseling, vocational training, legal assistance, boarding and accommodation till they are reunited with families. 4. Family Counselling Centre : Provide professional counseling to the people who are in need of psychological support

5.Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities through CBR approach Working on thematic areas of health, education, livelihood, empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities, (2256 persons) their families, communities, organizations.

Vasantham Federation has evolved by the persons with disabilities and is functioning as one of the vibrant disabled people’s movement. IRCDS is serving as Resource organization for various groups working on persons with disabilities related issues.

6. Children Home: The deserted children between the age group of 0 to 18 years are taken care of in our centre. Education, counselling, personality development, food and accommodation facilities are provided to these children.

7. Quality Education for Children: Working with mainstreaming strategy in 12 Panchayats, 21 villages covering 18 Government schools (Primary, Middle and High schools) in Poondi block with 990 children. Aimed to improve Enrollment, retention and quality of education Strengthening school management committees and community participation towards education.

8. Ensuring the Education of children of seasonal migrant brick kiln labourers Working with 2250 children of seasonal migrant labourers in 54 brick kilns in Tiruvallur and 96 brick kilns in Poonamallee block. Working with ICDS and SSA for the enrollment of children Educate, motivate and working with all stakeholders

9. Village Development Model: Creating a cadre of village level volunteers to work as Samaj shilpis Guide and facilitate vulnerable to access entitlements and services from the government. Covered 23 villages for 15 months through 8 Samaj shilpis – mobilized 13 million worth entitlements.

10. Health Awareness on STI / HIV / AIDS Awareness on tuberculosis Conducting health camps / eye camps Assistance towards pulse polio immunization Referral services / facilitation through CBOs

Key strength of IRCDS Local Base :  Based at Tiruvallur – 26 years presence in Tiruvallur District and implemented various projects  Own office building and training hall available in Tiruvallur town  Directly working with the vulnerable & marginalized families (target group)  Has better understanding on community  90 % of the staff are from local community and elevated from the SHGs

Cont…  Closely working with the District Administration, Govt departments and Panchayats. Facilitation support to the target group : to access available resources from the Govt Resource Centre : Extending Resource Person support to : ILO, CBR Forum, Leonard Cheshire Disability and other NGOs IRCDS is functioning as a District Resource Centre and District Convenor for the TNVHA – NGO Network for the past 9 years. Good collection of Govt orders resource materials.

Sustainability : Strong Community Based Organizations promoted by IRCDS in four blocks : 1435 women SHGs ( 21,194 members ), 92 Panchayat Level Federation (PLF) 131 village level DPOs one Dist. level DPO One Tribal Association We have 92 community trainers

CBOs have a sense of ownership and taking forward the activities on their own. Project staff become volunteers and paid by the CBOs - process underway Networking : IRCDS is one of the approved NGOs of Mahalir Thittam (Tamil Nadu Women Dev.Project )since 1997 Member in the five District level Govt. committees

Challenges Inadequate funding to keep professionals Lack of long term funding commitment from the donors/funding agencies Own residential training centre facilities Delay in releasing funds from the Govt.

Way Forward Networking the Panchayat level Federation at Block and Project level – New Light Women Federation Build Training cum Resource Centre for Women and Persons with Disabilities Implement the special programme for widows, deserted/destitute women, mathammas and parentless, single parent children & sexual abuse

Research and Documentation of disability issues and establish networking with grassroot level DPOs and State level DPO Networks. Expansion of CBR project (District level approach) to adjoining District i.e Kancheepuram Prevention and Rehabilitation of bonded labour in rice mill and brick kiln sectors Research & Documentation of 26 years experience and sharing with others Replication and expansion of Samaj Shilpi Programme ( Village Development Model)

Let us invest towards a better today and tomorrow… Thank you