| Association for
India's Development
Courage | Commitment | Change | March
2010 | | | | | | | |
Dear Friend,
Every month, at chapter meetings and at other AID events across the globe, volunteers update the community about the projects that they are involved with, host awareness and fundraiser events, and lend a voice to the issues faced at the grassroots level in India.
In this edition of TMIA, we bring you a few select stories that represent the diverse facets of AID's work. While one story echoes the voices from the year-long struggle of the people in the Mahuva region of Gujarat, as they fight non-violently to preserve their land and their livelihood, another recognizes the dedicated, principled volunteers who have worked hard, with limited means, to preserve the right to education in an East Delhi settlement. Fundraisers and other community events are an important aspect of our chapter activities. In addition to gaining local support, successful events work wonders for focusing, motivating and inspiring our volunteer pool. AID Seattle recently co-ordinated an event, Tarana, that brought their community together in a musical performance by a popular band, dedicated towards promoting their common cause. Not very far away, Bay Area volunteers co-hosted an event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Across the country, in Austin and Memphis, two teenagers demonstrate the power of the motivated youth, in making a significant difference toward the causes that they embrace.
Warm regards,
Volunteers, Association for India's Development | | | | Parichay: Enabling Education in an East Delhi Settlement
The residents of T urkmirpur had little access to education or vocational training prior to 1998, when Vijay Bajpai started Parichay. Today children of a range of ages learn reading, writing, linguistics and mathematics to prepare themselves for a formal education. Supported by AID Pittsburgh, Parichay is working to spread awareness on mental disability, with the aim of integrating the mentally challenged into the mainstream of society. [Read more...] | | |
| | | Tarana: Music for a Cause
The Seattle chapter hosted a creative fundraiser, featuring the popular band AllGoRhythms, making for a great evening of music with a message! [Read more...] | | |
| | | And Once Again we Ask: Whose Land is it Anyway?
It was a rude shock to many farmers in Mahuva that the Government of Gujarat (GoG) had sanctioned around 3,300 hectares of fertile agricultural land for setting up a cement plant by Nirma Private Limited. The plant is expected to employ all of 418 people with an investment of over Rs. 2,500 Crores. It will unfortunately destroy the lives and livelihoods of over 50,000 people. People of at least 15 villages have steadfastly and nonviolently opposed this project over the past year.
[Read more...] | | | | | | As Our Youth Lead...
 Varun Bhatnagar, a 16 year old high school student from Austin, wanted to do something for India. So, he took the lead to organize AustIndia, an event that raised $2,000 for the local AID chapter, and turned a noble thought into a significant achievement. Neha Kumar, a high school student from Memphis and the founder and president of AID's Mid South chapter, is now launching a book, to raise funds for AID India! Read on to find out how YOU can contribute to Make Life Sweeter! [Read more...] | | | | | | Remembering Bhopal
 The Bay Area chapter in partnership with FOSA, marked the 25th year anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Their event called attention to the government's failure to clean up the factory and its surroundings - a failure that has left 20,000 dead and 100,000 with chronic and disabling illnesses. Amongst the thousands of witnesses to this disaster was Seshadri Satyanarayan, an AID volunteer who was fourteen years old at the time of the Bhopal disaster, and saw his own hometown devastated by the Methyl Isocynate (MIC) leak that left behind a legacy of innocent victims who continue to suffer and struggle. [Read more...] | | | | | | Call for peace in Chhattisgarh
Press Statement, April 6, 2010. AID strongly condemns the killing of over 70 CRPF jawans in an attack by armed people reportedly belonging to the CPI(Maoist) on Tuesday morning in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. Our heartfelt condolences and sincere wishes are with the family members and the near and dear ones of the jawans and police personnel who have lost their lives. We appeal to the national and state governments, as well as the Maoists to immediately relinquish violence and call off all military offensives, and come to the dialog table along with the grassroots and civil society groups. [Read more...] | | | | | | Recently Approved Projects
Your contributions have supported Cyclone Aila survivors through a Community Kitchen and Seed Bank in the Sunderbans, facilitation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in Purulia district, assessment of environment regulation such as Coastal Regulation Zone notification, the Forest Conservation Act and the Biological Diversity Act, and integrated development in Srikakulam on issues concerning children, women, energy, health, livelihoods, learning, hunger, agriculture, capacity building and proper implementation of government programs. [Read more...] | | | | | nferences | Issue/Region Cells | Poems | Project reports | Press releases | | |
|
