About Us
Association for the Rural Development (ARD) was formed by a likeminded group of dedicated social workers with a view to help the poor who were faced by numerous issues related to ignorance, illiteracy, ill health, migration( within the state and interstate),child labour and bonded system and despair, crime and exclusion from the mainstream of society. The status of women and children was most deplorable due to their total subjugation and dependence on the men-folk for their sustenance. The organization was convinced that the backwardness, exclusion, and poverty was mainly due to the lack of awareness among the target communities such as the Tribals, Daliths, fisher folk and Muslims. The organization decided to work with the weaker sections of society and create awareness among them so that they would be able to liberate themselves and form a sociably just and gender equitable society where men, women and children can live with dignity and honor.
ARD initially commenced working with street children who were generally children who have run away from their homes due to some problems or orphans who have nowhere to go and take to living on railway platforms and other such places. These children often fall prey to pedophiles and other criminals and ultimately become anti socials. ARD initiated the “Bala-Thae-jessu” meaning “Light of Children” with support from Action-aid India. After the devastating tsunami of 2004 ARD was asked by ActionAid to expand its activities to cover the Fisher-folk and Yanadi tribals who were affected by the tsunami. It was during this period that the organization came into close contact with the Anadhi / Yanadi community and discovered that this is a segment of society that has been totally overlooked by the Government officials. Though they are mainly engaged in inland fishing and had lost most of their rudimentary nets and traps due to the tidal waves, no compensation was paid to them by the Department of Fisheries, whereas the fisher-folk were well compensated.Whatever be the causes for this community to be excluded and overlooked, the fact remains that even in this day and age this hunter gatherer community, lives on the fringes of society and remains largely unseen or unheard. ARD is presently working in Kota, Vakadu, Chittamur, Manubolu, Gudur, D.V.Satram, Dakkili, Balayapalli, Sydapuram, Rapuru, Chillakur, Venkatachalam, TP.Gudur, Muthukur, Indukurpet, Nellore Urban, Nellore Rural, Kovuru, Kodavaluru, BuchiReddypalemand Alluru Mandals of Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh and is working mainly with the tribal Yanadi community and has gained a clear understanding of their psyche, and problems affecting this community.
Organization Vision: Creating just, happy and Peaceful wealthy Society with dignified life
Mission: Eradicate Poverty of poor (Yanadi community), enabling them to learn, earn and lead healthy and productive lives. Create resources for Yanadis such as capital and infrastructure to transform their future.
Empower Yanadi with awareness of their rights and support yanadi women and girls to full fill their roles as equal shapes of their economy and society.
Goal: To improve quality of life by satisfying basic needs of tribes, (yanadis) fisher folk community and access and enjoy the entitlements through sustained development
Achievements :
113 Catamarans were distributed to 225 families including 61 Yanadi families, 28 old catamarans were repaired for 28 families.
1078 families were provided 5kg of net per family. In these 236 families belongs to yanadi community.
438 single women were supported for fish vending purpose including 254 Yanadi families.
246 houses were sanctioned
257 families were given house site pattas from 5 villages.
ITDA included programmes worth Rs.78.9 lakhs for fishnets, catamarans, cycles and other livelihood programmes.
Tribal community in Andhra Pradesh, could get the rights over 55 tanks spread in 15000 acres of land, in Nellore district. More than 1200 families could enjoy the rich resource of fish in tanks, which were under the occupation of non tribals so far, by getting organised under 33 cooperatives, with the support of ARD. On 9th June, 22 registration certificates were distributed in the presence of the District Collector, Joint Director, Fisheries Department, and the Sub Collector, Gudur
Formed Task Force Groups in 23 villages representating Youth, Women and physically challenged persons. Early warning committee, Evaluation committee, Shelter management committee, Protection committee and Sanitation committee Mock drill practice given to Task Force Group members
Got Captive nursery units in 2 villages’ vinduru & potupalem (Gudur) comprising 50members with worth Rs.18, 00,000/- with fisheries department support (Each costs Rs.9, 00,000/-) also applied for NREGS Works.
Pendal culture works were in progress 41 acres of land in yellasiri (Chittamur), posted 708 poles in 3.70 cents of lands. 15 members applied for 4 pump sets and motors for water facilities worth Rs.30, 000/- (each paid Rs.2100/-) with ITDA Support, got electrification& water facilities with ITDA& Horticulture Department support.· 7 crore rupees proposed with 90% subsidy for 212 acres and Sanctioned Rs.88,93,500/- for pendal culture for 42 acres by 41 families (each acre costs Rs.2,11,750/-), 16 bore wells installed in 34.09 acres for 30 families. Sanctioned 45 Solar pump sets for 190 acres of lands with amount of Rs. 2,20,00,000/-(each set costs Rs.4,90,000/-) sanctioned subsidy loans for 13 families for material ,tools implementation with ITDA Support, posted 61 Electric poles, approved bills for purchase of material Worth Rs. Rs.6,87,500/- in Yellasiri, Chittamur Mandal.
Toilets are sanctioned for 748 families in 49 villages of 8 Mandals, Those of which amount of Rs.15, 000/- spent for each of the toilet, thus with worth of Rs.1, 12, 20,000/-
30 cooperative societies were formed in 8 mandals with membership of 293 women, Through this 17 Societies got registered with 540 women and running effectively, they stood across with net savings of amount Rs.1,72,795/-, with interest amount of Rs.40,257/- ,with recovering debt loan amount 4,09,028/-,finally maintaining the bank balance amount of Rs.1,90,880/-, through these cooperatives, the amount generated were utilized for purpose of Housing requirements, Petty shops, cattle& Animal Husbandry and culturing, Agriculture, Household requirements Etc.,
We have identified 1272 bonded labour in 10 Mandals of Nellore District In Andhra Pradesh
429 bonded labour rescued and released during the year2012.above 25 lakh rupees credit cancelled
55 New Anganwadi Buildings sanctioned and constructed
19 Autos, 7 Boats sanctioned for the Fishing community
89 Cement roads sanctioned in the coastal area
4571 land issues addressed and resolved
18 Cyclone shelters repaired
793 Tribal families got Fishing net, Ice Box and Cycle
106 Bore wells sanctioned in the remote rural village
For 6 villages mini water scheme implemented
127 families got Goats and sheep’s as alternative livelihood
2464 Houses sanctioned to the Tribal families
3199 families got house site
4371 families got new ration cards
11152 families got anthyodya ration cards (35Kgs Rice)
83 Additional school buildings Sanctioned