Action in Rural Technology and Service (ARTS) has register as society under the societies Act1860 in May 1993. It has been a registered under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in 1998 for obtaining funds from foreign Contribution. ARTS has registered with the Department of Income Tax for the grants received.
Action in Rural Technology and Service (ARTS) is working towards tribal empowerment to improve livelihoods through Natural Resource Development in Kurupam, G.M. Valasa and G.L puram Mandals of Vizianagaram Districts and Burja, Seethampet, Veeraghatam mandals and Amadalavalasa, Rajam, Palakonda (towns with distressed women) in Srikakulam District and also promoting 28 tribal youth working in 414 tribal habitations in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts with support of Action Aid India, WASSAN-FORD, DKA-Austria, NABARD, Aid et Action, SERP-IKP-DRDA, RVM/SSA - DPEP,NCLP and VARA Kommun - Sweden.
In this period project focused on the strengthening of communities into sanghas and federation of the sanghas as “Adivasi Samakhya”, Girijana Sanghtiha, Girijana Samikurutha, Girijana Nava Chaitanya, Grmmena Samikurutha, Adivasi Sanghtitha and Narichetana at project level. The major programme focused to mitigate drought situation in Srikakulam and Vizanagaram districts.
The organization promoted grain banks, kitchen gardens, seed banking and implemented Skill Development Trainings, Community Managed Watershed Programme, Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture, Women & Child Rights and also facilitated programmes to implement NREGS, Forest Rights Act & Land Rights at community level through gramasabhas in rights approach to improve the livelihoods of the communities. The major groups covered in this period are women, farmers,, sanghas leaders and elected members of PRIs in the village.
The Communities are surfed with drought in this area at the same time Kurnool received floods and damaged the lives in that area. Our communities came forward and collected rice, tamarind, dhall and blankets for rehabilitation of flood affected communities. Ms. A. Siri - R.D.O – Palakonda f lagged our material van to reach Kurnool. The youth provided rehabilitation services in flood affected areas of Kurnool and provide ration to the communities with the help of Net work of voluntary organizations of Kurnool (Action Aid partners).
The Major Programmes facilitated in the year 2009-10:
- strengthening of sanghas and federation
- Facilitation on better agricultural practices and soil & moisture conservation through community based watershed programme.
- Facilitation of Maa Thota Programme in 300 acres under Tribal Development Fund
- Facilitation and documentation of land and forest land rights
- Facilitated campaigns on extension of 5th Schedule and Panchat Raj extension to Schedule areas to promote tribal governance
- Facilitated Campaign on Food Rights of communities from Bhamini Mandal – Srikakulam to Bhadrachalam in the tribal region
- Promotion of livelihood skill development programmes through Bio-Compost, Vermi Compost, Adda leaf making, Broom making, Cashew processing and revolving fund support to petty business like sheep, dairy, weavers, salt vendors etc…
- Promoted food crops and kitchen gardens with 1200 families to ensure food & nutrition
- Promotion of women & child Rights by facilitating Women’s day, Agricultural Women’s day, Awareness on domestic violence Act and child malas.
- Promotion of Tribal identity and culture through Adivasi Malas
- Promotion of NREGS and Grama Sabhas
- Facilitated communities for flood relief continuations and rehabilitation at kurnool
ARTS has brought many changes in the lives of tribal children living in Sikakulam and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh state in India. Action Aid has been working here with local organization ARTS since 2001 and thanks to your support that we have been able to improve the quality of poor Tribal people’s lives so that they could live with respect and dignity and able to raise their voices to access their rights.
In this update we want to share with some of our successes and achievement over the past years. ARTS is working in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts with 6493 tribal families living in 165 villages for the past 9 years. Our main aim has been to strengthen the community and enable them to get enough food and resources for a livelihood. The major emphasis is on food security & livelihood through land, forest land rights & governance, women and child development. Thanks to your extended support. These successes and more were only possible because of your sponsorship of a child. On behalf of children, families and their communities I thank you for your generosity and support to our work in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.
Education:
ARTS started its work in the interior tribal villages where community not aware of education and not sending their children to school. There were government schools in the area but people were not aware of the admission system. 268 Children were regularized to join in schools and out of this 6 members have got Govt Jobs in various departments. With the intervention of ARTS, there was change in the lives of children either through providing mid day meals in the schools, to retain the children in schools with joyful life and mobilise the resources for professional studies. The following case study shows how it was possible.
“Aspires to become an Engineer”:
Yendayya belonged to Tiyyaliguda village in Vobbangi panchayat, Kurupam Mandal of Viziaanagaram District. The village is located on the hill top and 46 kms far from the Mandal Headquarter. In this village 45 Savara families are residing. He studied in Vobbangi village till 7th Standard and then he completed 8th standard from Tikkabai Ashram School. He was bright and smart student and securing Distinction marks in all his academics. His parents were illiterate but he has determined to study well, come up in life to have his own identity. This determination led him to secure 537 marks out of 600 in the secondary school certificate (S.S.C) and was the topper in the Mandal. The parents had mixed expressions of sorrow and joy, because of their poverty their son’s further education may not be possible to pursue. Ravikiran, a member of CBO identified the problem of Yendayya’s family in the village and he brought to the notice of Mandal Education Officer (MEO) for support. He brought IIT application sent through online. He also met Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Programme Officer and district Collector. Both of them responded positively came forward to remit the fee of Rs. 36,000. The constant effort of ARTS CBO Ravikiran brought a success. Yendayya says “I am indebted to ARTS CBO Ravikiran, ITDA P.O, Collector and education department for their empathetic cooperation. Now my final goal is to become an Engineer.”
