Report of Activities of IFHD in 2002
(Given in the alphabetical order of the subject)

A I D H :

Promotion of bi-culturalism continues in cooperation with our Paris-based “International Association for Human Development (A.I.D.H)”, not only among members, but also through members to spread/share some of the values that are worth sharing/spreading in France and India. We have been providing logistic support.

A I P E O :

Though we could not attend the Tri-Annual Conference of this “International Association for Partnership between Enterprises and NGOs’ (AIPEO)”, held in Valbonne, near Nice, France in February 2002, its first and new Executive Committee meeting held in Paris was attended by Dr. Rao Chelikani along with Dr. Serou Polayya, as its resident representative of the Indian Chapter, and Mr. Srikanth Yadav on behalf of IFHD. During the meeting, it was decided that the Valbonne final report will be published in India and posted directly to all the members. We also made the English version of the summary of the report and got it printed. Copies are available in our office

Dr. Soma Sekhar has held a few workshops in a few districts of Andhra Pradesh, India on the concept of Enterprise-NGO partnership. Though we contributed to the promotion of the concept at the international level, we could not make much headway in its promotion in India.

COMMUNITY-BUILDING:

1) Building communities of sharing and caring among the residents in their neighbourhoods, with the instrumentality of their resident welfare associations is another original line of action conceived by IFHD. Starting with the Balaji Residentcy, an apartment building where IFHD is installed, in the entire Tarnaka area in which such residential buildings and area-wise colonies are spread across, there are residents’ welfare associations that have been statutorily formed. We do social engineering to encourage them to become basic units of urban self-governance and elementary schools of participatory democracy. Neighborhood, proximity and mutual advantages help them build small communities of sharing and caring.

2) We have successfully proved the economic advantages of living together. A certain number of Best Practices are introduced so as to form part of what can be termed as ‘Flat Culture’. Our publication, called “A Guide Book for Flat Residents” is very much in demand and is selling well. As in the case of senior citizens’ councils, we would like to bring together all the resident welfare associations into federations for collective affirmation. For example, we propose this grouping of resident welfare associations to be the main components of ward committees to be formed in the municipalities. At present, usually, the councilor or the corporator, elected once in five years, is the sole representative of a wide urban area called ward with no accountability to the citizens till the next elections.

3) A “Standing Committee of Tarnaka Residents’ Welfare Associations” was formed to turn the whole area, with a population of 50,000 residents to be a community in the real sense of the term. Again a lot of time is devoted to this grass-root activity. Monthly meetings are prepared and conducted to promote the above objectives. Officials are invited to appear before this gathering to discuss the existing problems. In the month of July, with the participation of 1% of the total population, a Ward Sabha was conducted in order to make the elected resident welfare associations subject themselves to the scrutiny of the public as well as to draw the micro plan of priorities for the area.

EDUCATIONAL:

This year also we could recommend and get scholarships for a few meritorious but poor students, from the US-based NRI “Foundation for Excellence”. However, our scheme to give loans to students has proved to be total failure, as we could not make them recognise their social debt nor could we inspire in them any sense of gratitude towards the society. We are beginning to consider that in future it is better to concentrate upon giving free scholarships to deserving children from 1st to 12th and thereby reduce the dangers of dropouts and illiteracy.

EXCHANGES:

Exchanges organised this year have not yielded the expected results. Apart from the general benefits that are derived from any distant voyage, we want the exchanges to substantially contribute for better human understanding, solidarity and mutual enrichment. The objective is to facilitate among the volunteers their own individual development by opening up their minds and hearts and in the process to stimulate similar efforts in the receiving groups. We find that this is achievable only when the exchanges are contracted with clear understanding between two or more sending and receiving organizations. This year we received volunteers from Netherlands and France. Though a few IFHD members did travel, it is not done in the process of exchange.

F A P S C O:

In view of increasing longevity, healthy life and leisure, the senior citizens are becoming a growing phenomenon. IFHD thinks, while attending to their small creature comforts initially, they could be a great resource for national development. A “Federation of Andhra Pradesh Senior Citizens’ Organisations (FAPSCO)” was formed, for the first time, in collaboration with 35 to 45 senior citizen councils and efforts are being made to rope in such Councils from the districts as well. Logistic support is provided by IFHD. Monthly meetings are conducted, in addition to events of state-wide importance. It can become an organization of political significance as well. 1st October is celebrated as the World Elders’ Day.

IFHD BUILDING:

The construction of a building for the IFHD office could not be undertaken, as the site purchased is not legally constructible at present. The situation is a result of bad advice received.

IFHD-UNESCO Club:

The “8th Biennial Conference of Confederation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations of India and the Training Programme for the selected leaders of UNESCO Clubs in India” was organised from 12th to 15th May at USO International Centre, New Delhi. “Mr. Ram Mohan Ganta”, Secretary of IFHD-UNESCO Club has attended this programme and presented the activity report for the past two years along with the future plan of activities which drew a great attention of the participants in the conference.

INFOYOUTH:

A meeting organized by UNESCO and the South Asian Foundation in New Delhi in November has provided a new stimulation for youth activities in the SAARC region where all members of VYASA (Voluntary Youth Associations of South Asia), a loose network of youth organizations already promoted by IFHD could meet once again.

“Ms. Sirisha Padala” from IFHD was selected to participate in the “World Scouts and Guides Jumboree” held in the month of December 2002 in Chonburi, Thailand, as a member of the UNESCO team of experts who ran a workshop on multimedia communications.

LOK SATTA:

A movement for peoples’ empowerment in AP takes a lion’s share of our time. Since with Lok Satta we are able to undertake many issues of common interest, we have decided to work under its banner, rather than trying to do it separately. We are working together for reforms in the electoral process, accountable and transparent administration and for good governance in general. Special attention was given to reforms of the police system and formation of Citizens’ ward Councils. We approve of and work for these efforts for institutional reforms and collective assertions, though in IFHD our starting point is the individual’s empowerment and individual’s development. There is convergence. At the same time, while we work with others, we guard ourselves constantly against the dangers of a voluntary, social and civil society movement falling into the trap of becoming part of a club for relations, a math for the glory of a guru, a bhajan satsangh or worse a political party. With Lok Satta’s credibility, public support, dedicated men and women, vision and work of its leader, we could advance in promoting a number of items of our agenda.

(Reports of previous years since 1997, as well as the details financial statements of the Foundation are available on request)