WiserEarth Editors
Collaboration in serving the greater WiserEarth community
As active community members, we would like to make this group into a gathering point where we can work together to transform WiserEarth.org into an effective platform of support for the global community of concerned citizens and organizations who are working to create a more just and sustainable world. ...learn more
GROUP DETAILS
Created: Nov 20, 2007
Updated: Nov 24, 2009
Membership: Invitation Only
Semi-Private
Organization Info [Edit]
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Network [Add] · [List] · [Visualize]
Connected with 0 organizations
Connected with 0 people
Connected with 0 resources
Connected with 0 solutions
Connected with 0 jobs
Connected with 0 events
Connected with 0 wikipages
About [Edit]
The Village Community Development Society (VCDS) is an Indian non-governmental organisation (NGO) that works to improve the position of Dalits, formerly known as 'untouchables'. In this group, the focus is particularly on women and children.
The VCDS strives to abolish the causes of poverty such as caste discrimination, racism, uncontrolled capitalism, neo-colonisation and religious fundamentalism rather than symptoms of poverty. It is a non-political, non-religious and non-profit organisation.
The VCDS has a sustainable farm of 4.5 hectares in Vellakulam, where it grows paddy, peanuts, miner millets, block grams, greens, coconuts, herbs and wild trees. All crops are cultivated according to the LEISA approach (Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture), with the support of the LEISA Network of Tamil Nadu and Kudumbam.
Training for farmers, students and organisations
The model farm trains local farmers, students and non-governmental organisations in
Food security
Water harvesting
Soil improvement
Cattle breeding
Multiplication of traditional seeds
Weed and pest control
Composting
The VCDS has conducted certificate courses in biodynamic farming, and it is a LEISA district lead NGO headed by a convenor.
Traditional Farmers' Association
The Village Community Development Society is also the leading member of the Traditional Farmers' association (RTF), which is a self-help organisation for creating eco-villages, using micro-credit and sharing farmers' knowledge on traditional farming. The association has received leadership training from the VCDS.
The Nava Jothi Women's Movement, established in 1985, works for women's liberation. It operates in 40 villages and has approximately 2,000 members.
The movement aims to
Uphold women's rights and help them gain confidence
Solve women's problems
Improve earning opportunities and bargaining capacity
Encourage involvement in village affairs
Develop leadership skills
Prevent violence against women
Support widows and single and abandoned mothers
The topics covered in the work include compulsory marriages, dowry, girl children, rape and atrocities. In addition, the women participate in women's events, such as rallies, conferences and World Women's Day celebrations.
The movement co-operates with district, state and national level organisations.
Nava Jothi Women's Rural Bank
Nava Jothi Women's Rural Bank enables women to borrow money at an annual interest rate of 24%, while private moneylenders charge up to 144%. They form small groups where each member saves 50 rupees (1 euro) a month. To encourage the habit of saving, the Women's movement gives every group a minimum of 25,000 rupees (500 euros) as seed money. In addition, the groups borrow money from a government bank.
The members can apply loans, for example, for the purchase of household goods, cattle and agricultural tools as well as for health and education purposes. They interest is added to the capital of the group. The scheme was originally introduced to counter the private moneylenders exploiting the local population with high interest rates. Now the interest is used for the benefit of the group.
As a result, the women have been able to enhance their economic status, gain a position in the community and act against social injustice.
Cartoon training
The VCDS uses cartoons to encourage illiterate women to participate in local self-government. In many villages, women win elections but their husbands hold the real power. As a result of cartoon training, more women have started to exercise their power. The training is organised in collaboration with World Comics Finland.
The VCDS strives to abolish the causes of poverty such as caste discrimination, racism, uncontrolled capitalism, neo-colonisation and religious fundamentalism rather than symptoms of poverty. It is a non-political, non-religious and non-profit organisation.
The VCDS has a sustainable farm of 4.5 hectares in Vellakulam, where it grows paddy, peanuts, miner millets, block grams, greens, coconuts, herbs and wild trees. All crops are cultivated according to the LEISA approach (Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture), with the support of the LEISA Network of Tamil Nadu and Kudumbam.
Training for farmers, students and organisations
The model farm trains local farmers, students and non-governmental organisations in
Food security
Water harvesting
Soil improvement
Cattle breeding
Multiplication of traditional seeds
Weed and pest control
Composting
The VCDS has conducted certificate courses in biodynamic farming, and it is a LEISA district lead NGO headed by a convenor.
Traditional Farmers' Association
The Village Community Development Society is also the leading member of the Traditional Farmers' association (RTF), which is a self-help organisation for creating eco-villages, using micro-credit and sharing farmers' knowledge on traditional farming. The association has received leadership training from the VCDS.
The Nava Jothi Women's Movement, established in 1985, works for women's liberation. It operates in 40 villages and has approximately 2,000 members.
The movement aims to
Uphold women's rights and help them gain confidence
Solve women's problems
Improve earning opportunities and bargaining capacity
Encourage involvement in village affairs
Develop leadership skills
Prevent violence against women
Support widows and single and abandoned mothers
The topics covered in the work include compulsory marriages, dowry, girl children, rape and atrocities. In addition, the women participate in women's events, such as rallies, conferences and World Women's Day celebrations.
The movement co-operates with district, state and national level organisations.
Nava Jothi Women's Rural Bank
Nava Jothi Women's Rural Bank enables women to borrow money at an annual interest rate of 24%, while private moneylenders charge up to 144%. They form small groups where each member saves 50 rupees (1 euro) a month. To encourage the habit of saving, the Women's movement gives every group a minimum of 25,000 rupees (500 euros) as seed money. In addition, the groups borrow money from a government bank.
The members can apply loans, for example, for the purchase of household goods, cattle and agricultural tools as well as for health and education purposes. They interest is added to the capital of the group. The scheme was originally introduced to counter the private moneylenders exploiting the local population with high interest rates. Now the interest is used for the benefit of the group.
As a result, the women have been able to enhance their economic status, gain a position in the community and act against social injustice.
Cartoon training
The VCDS uses cartoons to encourage illiterate women to participate in local self-government. In many villages, women win elections but their husbands hold the real power. As a result of cartoon training, more women have started to exercise their power. The training is organised in collaboration with World Comics Finland.
