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Social Education for Rural Development - SERD
Introduction
Social Education For Rural Development (SERD) is a non-political, not-for-profit, secular organization founded in 1991 under the charismatic leadership of Mr. L. Pandi. It is a registered society under Tamil Nadu Society Registration Act. Mr. Pandi, a graduate in physics, has taken the challenge of developing the quality of life for the poor with special emphasis on marginalized communities like the scheduled castes and tribes. His own personal experience has led to this dedication. SERD is one of the leading Voluntary Organizations in Tamil Nadu working for the development of the rural poor in the fields of awareness generation, community mobilization through self-help approach, economic empowerment, education, health, livelihood means through skill development and vocational training. SERD give priority for the most neglected groups and follows rights based approach in service.
Vision Statement
An equitable and just society free of poverty, violence, discrimination and man made calamities where everyone enjoys equal rights for a peaceful living.
Mission
Sustainable development of the communities to achieve welfare and well being of all persons irrespective of their social, cultural, economic, religious and political background, and more specifically downtrodden scheduled caste and scheduled communities by fostering self-help approach.
Objectives
- To eliminate extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition
- To combat imbalances in human treatment, violence and discrimination and to build human right culture
- To remove illiteracy
- To foster solidarity, peace, secularism and non-violence in domestic, social, and political spheres
- Gender equity
- Social justice
- Community participation
- Democratic approach
- Poor irrespective of caste, creed, race, religion or sex.
- Women and children from economically and socially backward communities
- Vallayars (rat eaters), Snake charmers (Kattunayakan tribals), Narikuravars (bird hunters)
- Beggars
- Gypsy community (rag pickers)
- Dalit community
SERD is working in 386 villages under 104 panchayats of 4 districts - Shivagangai, Ramnad and Virudhunagar - in Tamil Nadu.
Decision Making Process in SERD
The Board of SERD is democratic in its functions and work style. It believes in transparency and good governance, which provides adequate opportunities to its staff for their development and capacity building. Clause 14 of SERD bye-law, the 7 member Executive committee has to meet every three months to discus the activities and future direction of the organization. The secretary in association with the president and the treasurer is entrusted to make decisions to achieve the goals of the organization and to act up on resolutions passed by the Governing body from time to time. The secretary is primarily responsible for translating organizational policies in to action. He has been empowered to recruit staff or committee(s) from time to time for the effective implementation of projects. Board members can take part in the recruitment and selection process of the staff and other personnel required for the organizational development. The secretary is entitled to share or withdraw the powers, convene staff meeting and represent SERD in external meetings. The secretary and the treasurer are jointly responsible for all financial transactions, management of organization”¦s assets, maintenance of books and accounts, and submission of duly audited financial statements to the Executive body and General body for approval.
Major Activities
- Promotion of Self Help Groups (SHGs):
SERD has promoted SHGs for women, and with special focus on most neglected communities. A total of 1275 groups have been formed with a total membership of 15,139 members. There are 1173 women's groups and 102 men's groups. Bank linkage and outside financial support are facilitated to all these groups. More than 30 crores (302,351,000) of rupees is given to these groups by banks till today. Under the government schemes of TADCO and DRDA, SERD channelized 47 lakhs and 59 lakhs respectively. 2160 members from 200 groups are brought under group insurance scheme. We also provide trainings on micro credit, income generation programs, leadership, gender and empowerment to the SHGs members.
- Vocational Training and Income Generation Programs:
SERD give skill training and financial support to start income generation programs to improve the economic status of the target communities.- Coir making Training : for 25 women (members of self-help groups)
- Goat rearing : for 20 women (members of self-help groups)
- Brooms making Training for 32 women ( member in self-help groups }
- Soft toys making Training for 40 women ( members in self ”help groups )
- Simple chemicals products Training for women ( members in self-help groups)
During the past two years we have trained more than 1,384 people on pickle making and vegetable cultivation, charcoal making, broom making, simple chemical products, soft toys making, tailoring etc.
- Education
School enrollment drive for drop out children: SERD conducts enrollment campaigns in May-June, the beginning of every academic year to motivate the parents to enroll all children in the school going age.
Seven supplementary education centers are supporting more than 150 formal school children to improve their academic performance. This service is given to children of Kattunayakkan, Narkuravars, beggars, Gipsy etc, who are first generation learners.
- Health and Sanitation:
Need based activities are conducted with community participation to health and sanitation facilities in the target area. Medical camps and awareness programs are integral part of our work. A village health nurse visits the communities regularly and attends to their health needs. Live demonstration of nutritious food preparation, first aid, home treatment for simple illness and promotion of kitchen gardens are carried out in the target area.
- Advocacy:
- Advocacy programmes on Child Rights, Women Rights, Dalit rights
- Special advocacy meets on Panchayat Raj, Elections, etc.
- Net Working: SERD strongly believes in the power of networks and need for cooperation with other agencies in the field of development. Over the years, SERD has established good linkages with the Central Government and Government of Tamil Nadu, Nationalized and Scheduled Banks, Foreign Donor Agencies and other NGOs.
SERD is a member in the following networks:
- New Entity for Social Action(NESA) - Bangalore: NESA is a network of NGOs dedicated to work for Dalits (untouchables) and Adivasis (tribals) rights.
- Indian NGOs - New Delhi: This network disseminates information on Government and Non-government development grants and schemes and facilitate experience sharing.
- One world dot net - New Delhi: One world dot net publicize the work of South Asian NGOs with others and give capacity building support to project heads of NGOs
- Clean up the campaign - Australia
- GLI Network - which support our NGOs to publicize their activities through internet and provide international news update on development issues.
- CNRI Network New Delhi: Child rights awareness through strengthening NGO network in India.
Visit the Social Education for Rural Development web site.
