CHARM: Flood-preparedness in Bihar
Accounting for nearly seventeen per cent of India's total flood area, North Bihar is a flood-prone region in a flood-prone state, rendered ever more vulnerable by frequent changes in river courses. No less than 76 per cent of North Bihar's total area is susceptible to flooding (compared to 37 per cent for Bihar as a whole). Last year's floods left 19 of Bihar's 37 districts marooned, severely affecting 21 million people, more than a quarter of the state's total population. Though the official toll was around 750 people, the loss of cattle proved economically devastating for the smallholders and peasants of this poverty-stricken state. And more havoc was to follow - once the water levels started receding, sanitary conditions worsened, sources of drinking water got polluted, food supplies ran out and what shelter was available proved inadequate. Death and morbidity rates skyrocketed in the months following the disaster.  
The CHARM project working in Kiratput block of Durbhanga district intends to avert repeat occurrences of these terrible conditions. By developing the community's capacity to address health issues in flood-affected area, by ensuring pre-positioning of medical supplies and by attempting to supply in-time medical relief to flood-affected populations, CHARM is aiming to prepare these long-suffering villages - in case the rains decide once again to visit their wrath.

Aranyika
AID has been a partner of long-standing to Aranyika, a small group comprised of a handful of highly dedicated core volunteers that live in Kodepalli and surrounding villages and work with villagers in solving local problems. The current proposal hopes to provide core support for five full time volunteers including Aranyika's coordinator.
In the coming year, Aranyika volunteers will be helping villagers plan for the maintenance and cleaning of drinking water wells and springs. Another item on the agenda is strengthening the Water User Associations that were formed after the repair of Tabelugummi dam, also with Aranyika's assistance. Bringing back to these parched surroundings, the blessings of water.

Nisarga:
The Kondh tribals of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh have been the subject of various subtle and not-so subtle tactics of exploitation by local money lenders. Many a tribal who borrows money at the onset of the rainy season in June-July to finance agricultural expenses ends up paying monthly interest rates in excess of 75 per cent for the short six-month period till it comes due after the harvest at beginning of the next year. In case of crop failure the moneylender considers the interest as principal and compounds the interest. With no other alternative but to sell his produce to the same money lender, the tribal faces high rates of interest both in cash and kind. The money lender manipulates measurement to his own advantage, dictates prices and extracts from the tribal all surplus.
Nisarga, an AID Bay area partner that has operated schools in the area is now promoting a cooperative for Khond tribals of 10 villages in Visakhapatnam district to remedy this imbalance. The project aims to provide access to affordable credit for the Kondhs and decrease dependence of the community on local money lenders. The early phases of the project have met with an overwhelming response from the tribals who have deposited some Rs.20000 among 186 members towards membership and share capital.