Associations
Paadhai is associated with the following NGOs according to its interests and functions. There is a short summary for each of them.
Desh Seva Samiti (DSS)
Desh Seva Samiti (DSS, www.deshsevasamiti.com) is a NGO operating out of Mumbai. DSS has adopted Bhagat Singh Nagar (BSN) slum community and has ongoing programs encompassing educational support for primary and secondary kids, women employment via Saathi program and setting up canteen in the neighborhood run by women of the community. DSS also runs sports activities for kids of BSN.
In yet another women empowerment initiative, DSS along with the police force has come up with the idea of Mahila Takrar Nivaran Kendra (MTNK) in order to help women in distress. The main objective of MTNK is to coordinate with the police in cases of crimes against women. Volunteers of DSS sit in the police stations and hear out grievances (once a week in each Center unless called in for emergency cases) and resolve issues involving marital conflicts (wife beating, extra-marital relationships, alcoholism, unemployment, financial constraints); sexual and lustful behavior; Divorce, desertion, maintenance and illegal second marriages; and the likes thereof. Currently, five centers of MTNK are functional in the Western suburbs of Mumbai and three more will be functional in Dec 2009.
Paadhai is supporting DSS on the MTNK initiative for the year 2010.
Girijana Seva Trust
Wayanad Girijana Seva Trust (wgstrust.org.in) is a Non political, Non religious and Non profitable Organization. The Trust a charitable institution registered in 2002 with prime and ultimate objective of contributing to the process of education with focus on Re-schooling the school drop-outs among the children from the impoverished Tribal(Aboriginal) communities in Wayanad District one of the most backward District in Kerala State.
As a prime step towards achieving the goal the Trust started one Residential School with 42 students named Vivekananda Residential Tribal School in the same year under the accreditation of National Institute of open schooling of (H.R.D. Ministry, Govt. India). It imparts simultaneously job oriented training in Tailoring and embroidery, Bamboo based handicrafts and Computer training.
Paadhai is supporting WGST in extension of the Vivekananda Tribal Residential School at Wayanad, Kerala.
Bhoomika Trust
Bhoomika Trust (www.bhoomikaindia.org) was set up in February 2001 and its main focus is to support the educational and livelihood needs of underprivileged individuals. Bhoomika Trust has also been working extensively with the victims of natural disasters like the earth quake in Gujarat and the tsunami in South India.
Since its inception in 2001, in keeping with its primary focus on education, the education support program of Bhoomika Trust caters to the needs of students based on merit and means. The assistance goes beyond funding education as the trust sees its involvement more as a “mentor”. It keeps in touch with the students on a regular basis providing guidance, as necessary.
The academic performance of the students and the economic background of the families continue to be the primary factors for eligibility.
Periodic evaluation of the students’ performance and progress is done.
Paadhai is supporting Bhoomika Trust's step-one program which involves placement of physically challenged individuals in companies in Chennai.
Fame
In March 2001, Mr and Mrs NS Raghavan began the Foundation for Action, Motivation and Empowerment India (FAME India) - (www.fameindia.org), a non-profit, non-governmental organisation to nurture and empower differently-abled children, especially from less privileged homes. The organisation focuses on children and young adults with neuro-muscular and developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, Down's Syndrome and muscular dystrophy.
FAME began with five children supported by a special educator and one ancilliary staff member. It grew to a school for 48 children between the ages of 5 and 25 for four years out of a rented house in South Bangalore. Now it has moved to a new school building in Jayanagar, Bangalore, and has extended its services to more than a hundred children, with a number of special educators, staff and volunteers. Most of the students have multiple disabilities and come from lower economic groups.
Paadhai has supported a number of children through Fame.
Amar Seva Sangam
The Sangam (www.amarseva.org), established by S.Ramakrishnan with a few friends in 1981, the International Year of the disabled, was registered under Tamilnadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 Cer. No. TSI 16/1981.The Founder became a Quadriplegic in 1975 when he was in the fourth year Engineering, following an accident he met with while attending the interview for Naval Officers' selection.. After intense self- rehabilitation, he wanted to serve the society and spend his remaining life meaningfully, resulting in the birth of AMAR SEVA SANGAM, named after his Doctor Air Marshall Amarjit Singh Chahal.
In the year 1992 a young Professional Accountant S. Sankara Raman, affected by Muscular Dystrophy and a Wheel Chair user, left his lucrative practice at Chennai, and joined Ramakrishnan with a dream to build a Valley for the disabled.Their vision is to make Amar Seva Sangam a model centre catering to all the needs of the disabled.
The organisation, started with just a handful of children, has grown into an Institution of significant social relevance rendering immeasurable services to thousands of needy disabled.
Paadhai has supported Amar Seva Sangam in the area of Community Based Rehabilitation.
Anawim
Anawim Trust - www.anawimtrust.org - (ANAWIM in Hebrew means Poor) was initiated in 1993 by a group of concerned individuals from Tuticorin District in the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu. Anawim began its work in Kulasekharanpattinam village; presently, Anawim has extended to more than 40 villages and works with the rural communities of Tiruchendur Taluk, Tuticorin District facing severe marginalisation in social, economic and cultural terms. Most of the village people survive by providing unskilled labour for daily wages.
ANAWIM works through three major programmes to empower the rural poor
1. Women
2. Children
3. Environment
Paadhai has associated with Anawim in setting up 4 Supplementary Education Centers in 4 areas to date.