ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents

Page

1. About SRUTI

2. Note from the Executive Director

3.

Activity Report for the year 2013-14

a. Fellowship Programme
i. SRUTI Fellows at a Glance
ii. New Fellowships and Fellowship Exits
iii. Sathi Milan
iv. Focus Areas of Fellows
b. Networking and Advocacy

17

c. Resource Mobilisation & Youth Outreach

18

d. Disaster Relief

19

e. SWSF
4. The SRUTI Team

20

5. Overview of Resource Mobilisation

21

Annexure 1 - Fellowship Disbursal Sheet

Annexure 2 Every Scrap Counts Contributors
Annexure 3 - Auditors Report | Balance Sheet 2013-14

ABOUT SRUTI
SOCIETY FOR RURAL, URBAN AND TRIBAL INITIATIVE
SRUTI Society for Rural, Urban and Tribal Initiative, was established in 1983, on the belief that individuals are powerful
instruments of social change and transformation. Founded by Bunker Roy, Dr. Ramalingaswami, Ela Bhatt, Lotika Sarkar,
Poonam Muttreja, Samir Chaudhuri & Tara Ali Baig SRUTI supports collective social action among some of India's most
marginalised communities. December 2013 marked the 30th year of SRUTI.
The Fellowship Programme, Advocacy and Outreach Programmes, and the Resource Mobilization Programme, form the
key pillars of SRUTI.
SRUTIs vision is to work towards a society based on the core values of
justice, equity, compassion, respect and dignity for all; it aims to harness
the power of individuals in doing so. SRUTIs core mission, therefore, is
to identify and invest in individuals - the SRUTI Fellows - armed with
zeal and a vision to work towards the ideals of a more equitable
democracy; individuals with idealism, staying power and the ability to
mobilize communities at the grassroots to seek solutions to address
their most pressing issues through the idea of the sangathan, a local
level peoples organisation.
The importance of collective social action and local leadership at
the grass root is the crux of the SRUTI Fellowship Programme.
SRUTI and its Fellows believe that social change and sustainable
economic development can be achieved by empowering oppressed and
vulnerable communities to access justice, equality and opportunity and
be true stakeholders in a democracy.
Some key issues addressed by the SRUTI Fellows and their sangathans
are: Jal, Jangal, Zameen (Land rights and Forest rights & Conservation);
Education; Panchayati Raj Insititutions; Governance; Welfare schemes
and Programs; and Agriculture and Livelihood.
SRUTI extends a mix of financial and non-financial support for training
and facilitation to a group of Fellows through a Fellowship Programme
that has evolved substantially over the decades. The Fellowship
Programme is financed by resources mobilized, to the extent possible,
from within the country, through support partnerships and a range of
fundraising efforts.

Jashn-e-Zindabad, India International Centre,

Delhi, 2014.

NOTE FROM DIRECTOR

Friends,
2013 was a land mark year for SRUTI - Society for Rural, Urban and Tribal Initiative, having completed 30 years
since its inception in December 1983.
Founded by stalwarts of the social sector to support social change on the ground, the past 30 years of the SRUTI
Fellowships has woven a rich history of hope, effort, struggles, experience and victories. The commitment,
passion and resilience of the SRUTI Fellows, and the people in the sangathans, has countered and changed the
course of entrenched injustices and deprivation across 19 states in India; often at the cost of difficulty and
sacrifice in their own lives. SRUTIs existence is a tribute to these outstanding people, their selfless work, and
their spirit.
SRUTI and its Fellows believe that directional social change and sustainable economic development can be
achieved by empowering marginalized, oppressed & vulnerable communities to access justice, equality and
opportunity and be true stakeholders in an integrated and powerful democracy. The process of change also
critically integrates the productive convergence of forces government, judiciary, civil society, grass root
communities, media, academic, professional and business communities - to collectively and successfully create
change in society; not just through charity but true engagement and fair leveraging of resources in a
participatory democracy. For this, development - that delivers dignity and opportunity to all, sustains natural
and social resources, and simultaneously boosts the countrys economy - needs to be worked on as a common,
consultative, collaborative agenda. The SRUTI Fellowship Programme continuously works to integrate this vision
into its outreach. The importance of collective social action and local leadership at the grass root is the crux of
the SRUTI Fellowship at its heart is the idea of People for Change.
To celebrate the victories of various people's movements and their contribution to better governance and a more
participatory democracy over the last three decades, SRUTI - hosted an evening of music, theatre and poetry 'Jashn-e-Zindabad' in collaboration with the India International Centre at the Gandhi-King Plaza on the 15th of
February 2014. The event also marked the celebration of SRUTIs 30 year journey and was followed by 2 days of
sharing of experiences by Fellows from across the country.
SRUTIs 30 years has had its share of trials and victories what endures is the rich experience of human
generosity and solidarity and a shared vision of hope and justice that binds all those associated with it through
these years the Founding Members, Fellows, Support Partners, Members of the Board, SRUTI personnel, well
wishers and friends. SRUTIs journey flows into the next decade as a powerful confluence of history and
experience and a fresh young surge of energy and determination.
The FY 2013-14 was also a watershed year for SRUTI as new partnerships were forged, new Fellowship
associations were evolved and new areas were reached out to, with Himachal Pradesh being added on to the
Fellowship outreach. The Resource Mobilisation effort was also stepped up and was rewarded with success. This
was also a critical time of growth for the SRUTI Team, with young team members emerging to lead the next phase
of stability and growth for the organization.
Along with the various victories there were also challenges on many fronts in 2013-14. The most pressing were
the natural disasters in 2013. With the support of donors, SRUTI Fellows in the Himalayas and along Indias east
coast were able to respond to people affected in their areas - by the rain and landslides in Uttarakhand in June
2013, and Cyclone Phailin that struck the east coast in October 2013.

It is the courage and resilience of the people on the ground that builds hope for the days ahead. SRUTI salutes all
its co-travellers through these long years. We would like to acknowledge the inputs, guidance and support of the
individuals, support partners and networks that have added value and stood by SRUTI, at different times. A special
thanks to the Members of the General Body and Executive Board for their guidance and engagement. At the end, a
salute to all the SRUTI Fellows and the SRUTI Team, a group of young dedicated people, for their tireless energy
and selfless commitment.
With wishes for many victories ahead!
Shibani Chaudhury
Executive Director
March 2014

Activity Report for the year 2013-14

SRUTI

Fellowship
Programme

Fellowship
(Financial Support)

Resource Mobilisation
and Outreach

Programme

Emergency Relief
and Welfare

Training and
Facilitation

SRUTI team member, Shweta, with sangathan members at Bolangir, Odisha

Sathi Milan. USO House 16-17 Feb 2014, Delhi

FELLOWSHIP
SRUTI FELLOWS AT A GLANCE
Since its inception, SRUTI has supported the work of more than 128 Fellows and their teams of volunteers & activists
at the grass roots in 18 states across India.
SRUTI currently supports 30 Fellows, 117 karyakartas (volunteers/activists) in 13 states: Uttarakhand, Delhi,
Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
and Himachal Pradesh.
The current combined outreach of SRUTI Fellows is over 7000 villages and 250 urban clusters covering nearly 7 lakh
families and over 30 lakh people.
ANDHRA PRADESH
1.
2.

B. Sunanda - Mitra Association for Social Service, Chittoor

K. Sehadevaiah Navjeevan, Nellore

BIHAR
3.
4.

Kailash Bharati Mazdoor Kisan Samiti, Gaya

Sanjeev Dom Bahishkrit Hitkari Sangathan, Khagaria

CHHATTISGARH
5.
6.
7.
8.

Alok Shukla Jan Abhi Vyakti, Korba and Sarguja

Jang Sai Gaon Ganrajya Sangathan, Sarguja and Ambikapur
Mamta Kujur - Adivasi Mahila Mahasangh, Jashpur
Rajim Ketwas - Dalit Adivasi Manch, Raipur and Mahasamund

DELHI
9. Anjali Bhardwaj Satark Nagrik Sangathan, South Delhi
10. Sadre Alam Peoples Foundation, North-west, South-west &
South Delhi
HIMACHAL PRADESH
11. Puran Chand Sirmaur Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Sirmaur
JHARKHAND
12. Arvind Anjum Visthapit Mukti Vahini, Singhbum
KARNATAKA
13. Sister Celia Karnataka Domestic Workers Union, Bangalore
MADHYA PRADESH
14. Amit and Jayashree Adharshila Learning Centre, Badwani
15. Lakhan Singh Bundelkhand Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, Damoh
16. Yousuf Beg - Patthar Khadan Mazdoor Sangh, Panna
MAHARASHTRA

17.
18.
19.
20.

Dashrath Jadhav Shramjeevi Sangathana, Latur

Pandurang Biradar Shoshit Kamgar Sangathana, Latur
Ulka Mahajan Sarvahara Jan Andolan, Raigad
Vilas Bhongade Kashkari Jan Andolan, Nagpur

ODISHA
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.

A K Pany Adivasi Kranti Sangathan, Dhenkanal

Amulya Nayak - Adivasi Chetna Sangathan, Dhenkanal and Angul
Pradeep Dash Lok Chetna Sangathan, Rayagada
Prafulla Mishra Adima Adivasi Mukti Manch, Nayagarh
Rashmi Ranjan -Mati Maa Mahila Morcha, Nayagarh
Trilochan Punji Zindabad Sangathan, Bolangir

RAJASTHAN
27. Devendra and Sudhi - Manthan Shikshan Kendra, Jhalawar
28. Khemraj - Khetihar Khan Mazdoor Sangathan, Chittorgarh
TAMIL NADU
29. MS Selvaraj -Vyavasayigal Tozhilalargal Munnetra Sangham, Nilgiris
UTTARAKHAND
30. Basanti and Rekha - Maati Sangathan, Pithoragarh

NEW FELLOWSHIPS 2013-14

Four new Fellows were selected during this period from the states of Delhi, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal
Pradesh. Brief profiles of the new Fellows are given below.

Sadre Alam Peoples Foundation, Delhi

Work Area: Resettlement colonies in Delhi and Khagariya, Bihar
Issues: Rights to the City; Education; Gender; Migration and Identity; Communalism; Governance;
Youth Training
Originally from Bihar, Sadre Alam, 37, took an active part in urban social work from his days in
Jawaharlal Nehru University. Associated with Students Federation of India (SFI), he was FounderConvener of the Dastak Cultural Group where he immersed himself in theatre and art.
Sadre went on to work in Bihar to help with flood relief efforts. He was actively involved in the rehabilitation process of
families relocated from 50 slums near JNU to Pappankalan in South-West Delhi. Following this, Sadre decided to focus
on core urban rights - matters of housing, minimum wages, social security and basic facilities across slums and
resettlement colonies in the city. He recognized youth knowledge-building to be a long-term solution to curb
disillusionment and lumpenisation among young people and saw it as an opportunity to creatively channel the energies of
unemployed and disadvantaged children and youth living in these areas.

It was here that Sadre used his theatre experience as a vital tool to connect with youngsters using theatre, along with
other forms of cultural expression. He has led several street theatre interventions on issues that concern youth with a
focus on gender equations and unorganised labour under the banner of Delhi Young Artists Forum a membershipbased cultural network. To consolidate all these efforts, Peoples Foundation was founded in 2009 with one chapter each
in Delhi (Centre for Community Support and Social Development) and Bihar, and one joint cultural forum called
Peoples Canvas. Sadre became a SRUTI Fellow in 2013.
Trilochan Punji Zindabad Sangathan, Odisha
Work Area: Balangir district
Issues: Jal, Jangal, Zameen; Labour; Displacement; Migration; PRI and Governance; Agriculture
Trilochan Punji, 44, began his engagement with grassroots work at the young age of 11 as part of
the mass movement to protect the Gandhamardhan mountain range, one of Indias most biodiverse areas. Punji has led powerful movements concerning the survival of tribal communities in
a region that has witnessed violent conflicts over resource control and subsequent alienation of
traditionally resource-dependent local communities. Movements such as Chasi Mulia Sangathan, Shramik Sewa Sangha
and Lower Sukhtel Anchal Budi Sangram Parishad successfully claimed peasant, labour, tribal and dalit rights over natural
resources and wage entitlements. This has established Punji as a focused and powerful grassroots worker.
A practicing advocate, Punji organizes legal trainings for community members; provides legal assistance to local
communities and represents their issues at state and national level platforms. He was one of the founder members of
the Gadhamardan Surakshya Action Committee and worked as its convener for 3 years. Zindabad Sangathan was
formed in 2000 and is now actively working in 269 villages of Balangir District with a vision of building a mass
organization of vulnerable communities to enable their political assertion. Working in collaboration with state and
national-level solidarity networks such as Lok Shakti Abhiyan, Campaign for Survival and Dignity and other like-minded
groups and individuals, Punji is committed to the collective assertion of communities to access a just and equitable space
in society. He became a SRUTI Fellow in 2013.

Yousuf Beg - Patthar Khadan Mazdoor Sangh, MP

Work Area: Panna district
Issues: Jal, Jangal, Zameen; Displacement; Labour rights; Governance; Migration; Mining
43 year old Yousuf Beg was a petty mining contractor for the majority of his professional life.
Alongside managing his inherited family business, he was a recognized social worker in Panna
town working on issues of communal harmony as part of Aman Ekta Committee. In 2006, he
was approached by Mines, Minerals and People, an alliance of individuals, institutions and
communities affected by mining, to conduct a study on the situation of mine labourers in the region. The findings of this
report shocked Beg and forced him to re-evaluate mining and its real human and environmental implications. Nearly 80%
of the workers, majority of them adivasi, were suffering from silicosis, the most common occupational lung disease. This
led Beg to take up the issue of mineworker rights for safe work conditions and fair wages.
Begs substantial insider experience of the mining industry has provided critical understanding of the issues faced by
mineworkers and enabled him to identify ways to mobilize them. He highlighted the dire reality of children taking up the
back-breaking work to support ill parents and having to drop out of school, perpetuating the cycle of ill-health
generation after generation. Realising that only ownership of resources can provide lasting security, Beg has been
tirelessly campaigning for adivasi resource rights and labour entitlements through capacity and perspective building of
youth. He is attempting to bring effective attention to this widely prevalent social and environmental hazard that has the
backing of powerful mining lobbies and political sanction. Beg became a SRUTI fellow in 2013.
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Puran Chand Renukaji Baandh Jan Sangharsh Samiti, HP

Work Area: Sirmour District
Issues: Jal, Jangal, Zameen; Displacement; Gender; Governance; Food security; Employment
Puran Chand began his public life by playing an active part in student politics during his first year
of college in Nahan. Forced to drop-out due to financial constraints, Puran Chand worked in a
dairy farm for 10 years to support his family. He fought for farmers rights, raising demands for
better minimum support price, supply of seeds and fertilizers and compensation for crops. In
2008, he was able to dedicate himself once again to grassroots social action taking up pressing issues of displacement,
mining, exploitation of natural resources, poor governance and lack of opportunities for unemployed youth of the
region.
Puran Chand led the formation of Renukaji Baandh Jan Sangharsh Samiti, in 2008 to oppose the construction of a dam
on Renuka river as there were no mechanisms to ensure proper rehabilitation and fair compensation for those who
were adversely affected. The project was stalled due to peoples resistance, but dams continue to be commissioned
across the state without a comprehensive understanding of their human and environmental cost in the ecologically
sensitive Himalayan region. Puran Chand spent three years in several parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand to
understand the region as an active member of Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, a state-level network of grassroot organisations.
His key focus currently is to mobilize people to exercise their access to, and control over natural resources as provided
for under various laws. Puran Chand became a SRUTI Fellow in 2014.

SATHI MILAN
The two-day Sathi Milan (Fellows Meet) was organised on 16th and 17th February at USO House in Delhi. The meet was
unique as it focused on the individual journeys and struggles of the Fellows and karyakartas. The experiences shared
were hard hitting, poignant and telling of the circumstances and
strength with which the Sathis have lived their lives,
contributed to society and held together their families.
Subjection to atrocities, discrimination and struggles were
narrated along with the motivation, strengths and social nets
that enabled them to work directly with people over a number
of years, constantly battling extremely difficult internal and
external conflicts.
Devendra from Rajashtan, coming from a middle-class family
started working in the villages after finishing his engineering,
without any idea or knowledge about the development sector.
He gave up a lucrative career and faced severe opposition from
the family. He went on to work for over 20 years with
marginal farmers raising issues of land rights and starting a
handloom cooperative which gives employment to many
households.

Fellow Rajim Ketwas from Chhattisgarh sharing her stories of

struggle at the Sathi Milan

Rajim Ketwas, mentored by renowned trade unionist Shankar Guha Niyogi in Chhattisgarh, has always been a fiery
advocate for the oppressed. Born in a dalit household in Odisha and having migrated to then Madhya Pradesh, she
witnessed her father dying of an explosion in a factory where he worked. She began working with SHGs and mine
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workers, mobilizing them and organizing meetings with Niyogi ji. She was married as a child but fought against it and left
her husband, marrying later out of her own choice. She was unfortunately widowed when her husband died of illness.
She raised two daughters single-handedly, bravely standing up to difficult times including being imprisoned. Today, she
has been actively advocating the issues of violence against women and dalits across the state of Chhattisgarh.
Kailash Bharti from Bihar, born in the feudal region of Gaya, was part of the historic decade-long peaceful struggle in the
70s against the illegal occupation of 9,700 acres of agricultural land by Bihars biggest landlord, the feudal Sankaracharya
Math in Bodhgaya. He was imprisoned several times on false charges and faced many atrocities in and out of jail. He
continues to raise crucial issues of land rights today and is a leading face in the struggle against feudal practices in Bihar.
Basanti from Uttarakhand comes from an agricultural family but was married and became a mother very young. She was
ostracized for marrying outside her caste but her continued resilience eventually persuaded the community. She later
joined the campaign against alcoholism and domestic violence, both rampant issues in the area. While her husband and
family were supportive, she mentioned how it was never possible for her or other women in the area to move beyond
the gendered household responsibilities of cooking, cleaning and caretaking. Through the sangathan, she has attained
valuable economic independence by running a home stay program for tourists.

WORK UNDERTAKEN BY FELLOWS: THEMATIC AREAS

Right to life with dignity for vulnerable groups is a central thrust of the Fellowship Programme. In keeping with this, the
focus of Fellows in 2013-14 was to ensure control over natural resources; explore sustainable livelihood opportunities;
enhance agricultural productivity; and rejuvenate traditional socio-cultural forms and expressions. Follow-up with
concerned administrative bodies at local and state-level to ensure implementation and proper functioning of welfare
schemes was carried out.
The work undertaken by the Fellows during this period contributed towards achieving the overall objective of
preventing alienation of resources and forming pressure groups to guarantee basic entitlements for exploited groups.
More specifically, the work undertaken by the Fellows during the period under report may be grouped into the
following thematic areas:
Jal, jangal, zameen
o

Forest rights and conservation

Land rights

Education
Panchayati Raj Institutions
Governance
Welfare schemes and Programs
Agriculture and livelihood

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Jal, jangal, zameen

For a majority of the population, survival directly depends on access to land, water and forest resources. Where communities have
had long-term rights to these resources, they have often regulated their use to prevent over-exploitation and abuse, ensuring their
own subsistence while conserving nature. However, this relationship between local people and their natural environment has been
ruptured by policies that have accelerated exploitation and deprived village communities of their right to subsistence, destroying the
natural base on which all life depends.
Several SRUTI Fellows are engaged in campaigns to defend jal-jangal-zameen (water, forests, land) against projects that entail
large-scale displacement without suitable livelihood alternatives. They also mobilize communities to stake a claim to resources that
are rightfully theirs, using laws like the Forest Rights Act and schemes such as Common Land Development Program. Still others
are working with villagers to establish fair and sustainable ways of managing natural resources as local control over these
resources is a key element in achieving socially just and ecologically stable development.

Forest rights and conservation

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was passed in 2006, but
overall awareness and understanding about its provisions is still unsatisfactory. The SRUTI Fellows and karyakartas
worked towards spreading greater awareness regarding rights and entitlements guaranteed by the Act. Capacities of
grassroot volunteers, activists and the community as a whole were strengthened. The sangathans have been focusing on
resubmission of community claims over forests as per the September 2012 amendments to the legislation as well as GPS
training to substantiate such claims. Collection of Non-Timber Forest Produce (such as mahua, herada, behada, amla);
trainings/shivirs on Forest Rights Act; and forest conservation programs were undertaken in Jharkhand, Odisha,
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, AP, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and MP.
Forest rights and conservation Outcomes:

Meeting on forest and resource rights of communities living in Mudumalai in

Tamil Nadu organised by VTMS sangathan

More than 3600 individual forest pattas and 70

community forest rights (CFR) entitlements
successfully received by people in Odisha,
Chhattisgarh, AP and MP

5245 individual and 70 CFR claims applications

facilitated in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, AP and MP

Rights over 3000 hectares of forest land and over

315 hectares of land for common land-use
facilitated in Chhattisgarh, providing livelihood
security for 600 families

10,000 bamboo plants processed for plantation in

Odisha

More than 404 Forest Rights Committees followed

up with verification process of over 24,513
individual and community forest claims in 8 states

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Land rights

The Fellows and their sangathans actively participated in drafting of rules for the newly passed Land Bill - Right to Fair
Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Discussions and
perspective sharing meetings were organised once the bill was passed. The Fellows based in Bihar and Tamil Nadu have
been working on equitable redistribution of land that has been specifically earmarked by the government for members of
the dalit community. Identification of wasteland in Maharashtra, Odisha and Bihar was also done during the period for
the same purpose. Land conservation practices are being adopted in AP, Odisha and Jharkhand through consultations
with community members and land development initiatives that would aid in increasing land productivity. Common Land
Development Program scheme is being implemented in AP as part of ensuring community rights over land to primarily
adivasi communities.
Land rights Outcomes:

Rights over more than 1133 acres of land

enabled, benefiting over 662 landless families
with pattas and homestead land in Odisha,
AP, Maharashtra and Rajasthan

Over 2300 acres of grazing and homestead

land regularized, benefiting more than 2000
landless families in AP, Maharashtra, Odisha
and MP

A sangathan in Maharashtra worked to

achieve cultivation rights over 86,407
hectares of shrub land in Vidarbha area
(recently recognised as non-forest land by the
government) for marginalized communities

Follow-up of land redistribution for 1000

families in Odisha and MP under land reform
programs

Land cleared for cultivation by yanadi adivasi community under Common

Land Development Program in AP

Education
In our unequal society, access to education has mostly been the monopoly of already-privileged upper classes. It has helped further
entrench and consolidate prior social advantage, converting economic and political capital into upward mobility and status; instead
of bridging the gap between the rich and the poor, public education has in effect, widened the social distance between the well-off
and the poor, dalit and adivasi. Additionally, conventional education systems in India promote narrow career paths driven by
12

competition, exclusion and largely urban aspiration, often resulting in disillusionment and frustration for those that dont make the
cut. For most students from a disadvantaged background, the experience of formal education is oppressive, alienating and
eventually useless for improving their life chances.
Improving access to, and the quality of, education for a majority of deprived Indians requires sustained interventions in public
schooling processes and persistent engagement with government policy and relevant delivery mechanisms. Some SRUTI Fellows
have also started independent schools that provide an alternative philosophy and practice of holistic, socially-conscious education,
models that can help enrich and influence the way government schools are run.
Enrollment of children in government schools has been another focus area for Fellows in AP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha,
Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra and Bihar during this period. Monitoring overall school functioning, the condition of school
infrastructure and mid-day meals was done through Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs). Initiatives such as scholarships
for under-privileged children in and re-enrollment of school drop-outs were started in Maharashtra, MP, Bihar,
Rajasthan, Odisha and AP. Establishment of more Kasturba Kanya Ashrams for girl students of primitive tribal
communities was demanded with the help of PRI members in Odisha. Child Protection Committees (community based
groups at village-level linked to Child Welfare Committee and Juvenile Justice Board at the district-level) comprising
SHG members, PRI members, youth, adolescent girls and parents were formed. Due to continuous follow-up with
concerned administrative bodies, proper implementation of
anganwadi program could be ensured in the Fellows areas in AP.
Education Outcomes:
Monitoring the functioning of government hostels for adivasi
Over 3,151 children enrolled in schools in
children and ensuring availability of basic facilities was also done by
Odisha, Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra and
Fellows in this period.

Bihar
550 children enrolled in 3 alternative
education schools run by Fellows in
Rajasthan and MP with a pass rate of
been 100%
400 students availed of scholarships worth
almost Rs.14.40 lakhs in Chhattisgarh, AP,
Odisha and Maharashtra
Follow-up with 1,140 drop-out children
from schools in Odisha is ongoing
Awareness on RTE raised amongst
migrant workers in 77 brick kilns in
Rajasthan employing labor from UP,
Jharkhand and Bihar

Children at Adharshila Shikshan Kendra in MP learn about

alternative energy by maintaining a gobar gas plant

Panchayati Raj Institutions

A fundamental principle of democracy is that people should have control over the crucial decisions affecting their lives.
Decentralized governance in India was enabled by the 72nd and 73rd Amendments to the Indian Constitution which granted
wider powers to village panchayats and town municipalities. In regions designated under Schedule V of the Constitution because of
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their large Scheduled Tribe population, the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act 1996 (PESA) empowers village
communities to exercise a range of rights over land, water, forests and other commons. Government programmes for rural
employment, education, health, public works and distribution of subsidized provisions now depend on the direct involvement of
local communities in monitoring and execution.
Fellows monitored the effective functioning of Palli / Gram Sabhas and municipal wards in urban areas with active
peoplesparticipation in Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, AP and MP.
Corruption and lapses in implementation of MGNREGA, FRA, PDS,and issuing ofland pattas were taken up with the
Gram Sabhas in the sangathans areas of operation. Various training programmes and workshops were organized to build
the legal understanding and socio-political and economic perspectives of the elected Panchayati Raj representatives.
Village Development Planning sessions were organized with PRI representatives and the local communities in Odisha and
Chhattisgarh.
Outcomes:

Meetings with PRI members regarding roles

and responsibilities conducted in 8 states with
more than 700 elected Panchayati Raj
members

18 village development planning training

sessions organized with PRI representatives in
Odisha and Chhattisgarh

Sangathans played lead role in pressurizing the

Odisha government to enact State Rules for
Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act
1996 (PESA)

Perspective building programs and workshops

done on PRI issues

Village map prepared by sangathan members in consultation with the

community as part of village development planning in adivasi areas in
Odisha

Welfare Schemes and Programs

To effectively realize the powers granted for decentralized governance and to implement the welfare programmes now entrusted
to the community requires collective mobilization. SRUTI Fellows have been working on various aspects of community
empowerment, enabling people to exercise their rights as active citizens and organizing them to take control over their resources
and state welfare funds, to secure the benefits of development.
o

Right to work

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Effective implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
continues to be a major concern among Fellows. Proper distribution of wages for the mandated number of days was
facilitated by SRUTI Fellows in AP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Odisha. Bank accounts were opened
for labourers to receive wages, since most of them live in remote areas with no access to banks. Micro-plans prioritising
land development, plantations, farm ponds, boundary walls and other agricultural projects were prepared and
collectively sanctioned by Gram Sabhas thanks to the Fellows initiatives. Pending wages were also monitored by Fellows
in 9 states and arrears recovered. Fellows in Odisha also kept a watch over facilities such as crches, drinking water and
shade mandated to be provided to workers under MGNREGA.

Outcomes:

Over Rs.39.7 crores distributed as wages

under MGNREGA for 26,67,382 man days
of work among 52,038 (including 16,963
new) job card holders in AP, Bihar,
Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. Over 55% of
these were women.

More than 1194 micro-plans sanctioned by

the Gram Sabhas

Rs 1.40 crore sanctioned in Odisha for

land development, water and irrigation
facilities in 20 villages

Village meeting being conducted by Fellow Khemraj on MGNREGA in Chittorgarh

district, Rajasthan

Right to Food

Fellows in Rajasthan, Odisha, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra continued their involvement in state and nation-level
campaigns to demand universal food security. Public meetings and village
shivirs were organized to discuss and understand provisions of the proposed
Food Bill. It is generally felt that the proposed Bill is a dilution of the various
demands made by the marginalized and vulnerable sections as there are high
chances of exclusion of the eligible members because of its targeted nature.
Virtually all the SRUTI Fellows monitor welfare schemes on a regular basis
and assist eligible persons to avail of them. This includes old age pensions,
widow pensions and health insurance (Aam Admi Bima Yojana) in the above
mentioned states. The Fellows also assisted families to get BPL/Aadhar cards
made and helped in the preparation and updation of beneficiary lists along
People assemble in Dhonkwadi village in Raigad district,
Maharashtra, to demand corruption-free PDS

15

with the Gram Sabhas to keep exclusion to the minimum as provided in the National Food Security Act 2013.
Outcomes:

319 Public Distribution System (PDS) Monitoring Committees

with membership of over 1000 sangathan members ensuring
better and transparent functioning of ration shops in AP,
Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, MP and Odisha
Issuing of over 4,000 new ration cards facilitated by Fellows
working in Chhattisgarh and Odisha
5000 missing Antyodaya cards re-issued by administration
after sangathans intervention in Maharashtra
Sangathans in Odisha pressed demands for enactment of state
Food Security Act along the lines of the Chhattisgarh model
which allows for larger quotas of rice, edible oils, cereals, dal
etc.

Agriculture and Livelihood

Fellows in Tamil Nadu, AP, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan
and Odisha devoted considerable attention to the issue of
agriculture and livelihood. Several meetings were held with
farmer club for an assessment of agricultural issues faced by
them. In several areas, development of irrigation facilities
was undertaken through MGNREGA. In some of these
states, initiatives to preserve seeds and create seed banks
were also started. In addition, training sessions on climate
change adaptation were organised in Tamil Nadu, AP, Bihar,
Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Odisha. Livelihood
opportunities were also provided through agricultural
initiatives such as silk worm and vegetable cultivation and
processing of NTFP produce and herbal medicine in
Odisha, AP and Uttarakhand. Grain banks were mobilized
by sangathans in Odisha and Uttarakhand. Organic farming
and low-cost farming are being encouraged and follow-up
work is being done with farmers across states.

Outcomes:

21 farmer clubs with more than 400 members

formed in AP, enabling them to negotiate for
better prices for fertilizers, seeds and equipment
10,000 plants including saplings of custard apple,
guava, sagwan and mahogany distributed in 30
villages in Jharkhand
Organic farming done on 170 acres of land In
Maharashtra
1805 families from 125 villages benefitted from
NABARD-aided credit loan, horticulture and
livelihood schemes in AP
Cooperative loans worth Rs.42 lakhs were availed
of by 98 SHG members
3 new womens cooperatives set up for processing
mahua, turmeric and tamarind formed in Odisha
with an investment of Rs. 12,000.
Workshops and meetings conducted with
agricultural workers, landless workers and bonded
labour on sustainable and organic agriculture

16

NETWORKING AND ADVOCACY

Events organised:
National Consultation on Agrarian Reform and Land Rights, Delhi | 16th December 2013
Four day Panchayati Raj Institution training and capacity building workshop, Delhi | 12-15 August 2013
FRA 2006 and GPS training workshops in AP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharastra, MP, Odisha and Tamil
Nadu (held through the year)
Sathi Milan (Annual Fellows meet), Delhi (as detailed above)
Jashn-e-Zindabad celebration to commemorate 30 years of SRUTI, Delhi
Advocacy:
Lobbying: Parliamentarians (focus on land rights and
agrarian reform) and Ministries such Ministry of Tribal
Affairs, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of
Environment and Forests, National Commission for
Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Scheduled
Castes, etc.
Networking with peoples organizations and movements
such as SANGHARSH, NFFPFW, NAPM, INSAF,
Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, Samajwadi Jan Parishad,
CSD, Delhi Solidarity Group, etc. in various states of India
Campaign to protect right to expression and association
in FCRA as part of Jan Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti

Network meeting with members of Delhi Solidarity

Group (DSG) on land issues
National Consultation on Agrarian Reform and Land
Rights, 16th- 17thDecember, 2013, New Delhi

National Consultation on Agrarian Reform and Land Rights

A National Consultation on Agrarian Reform and Land Rights was organized by SRUTI together with National Alliance
of Peoples Movements (NAPM), Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), Delhi Solidarity Group (DSG), and All India Union
of Forest Working People (AIUFWP). The 2-day consultation was held at the Constitution Club of India and the Indian
Social Institute on the 16th and 17th of December, 2013, respectively.
The meeting was attended by more than 130 people working at the grassroots and activists based in Delhi, including
SRUTI Fellows. There were extensive deliberations about various ongoing struggles over land and the access and right
to natural resources. Divided into four sessions with open discussions, the meeting discussed the historical Indian and
global context of land rights and social movements around land and agriculture.
As an outcome of the 2-day consultation the need for groups involved in issues of natural resources to work closely was
established. The need to address the issue of landlessness, ensure food sovereignty, develop leadership amongst women,
promote smaller strategic working groups/camps and develop pro-poor and pro-farmer knowledge in legal, social and
political arenas was stressed. It was further decided that concrete action plans will be planned at regional levels, taking
cognizance of the aforementioned focus areas.

17

RESOURCE MOBILISATION AND YOUTH OUTREACH

Resource mobilisation through Scrap Collection is one of the major fundraising activities of SRUTI. Old newspapers,
magazines, books, junk, useless machines/furniture/old wires or any other items that can be recycled or reused are
collected on a monthly, fortnightly or weekly basis. The money generated from this scrap goes directly to support
SRUTI Fellows in carrying out their grassroots work.
A total of Rs.12,81,080/- was raised through this effort in 2013-14. SRUTI interns also helped organise the Summer
Cheer event in July where clothes, handloom products from Rajasthan and homemade toffees were exhibited. (A
complete list of institutional and household srcap donors is included in Annexure 2)

(L-R) Handloom products from Rajasthan based group Adarsh Hathkargha Cooperative
Society, SRUTI Interns organising the Summer Cheer Fundraising event

A new Maruti Eeco purchased to replace one of the two

Scrap Collection vehicles that was facing multiple repair
problems

(L-R) Screening of films by Pankaj Rishi Kumar and ParomitaVohra as part of Now Showing at
ChorMinar initiative in the SRUTI office. Started in January 2014, the program includes
monthly screenings of independent films and discussions with the filmmakers.

18

DISASTER MANAGEMENT & RELIEF WORK

UTTARAKHAND DISASTER RELIEF WORK
In response to the devastating floods faced by Uttarakhand in June last
year, Maatisangathan provided immediate relief in the form of rations
(flour, rice, sugar, pulses) and raincoats to people in the flood affected
GoriGhati area in Pithoragarh district. Continuous rains had caused
extensive damage in the upper reaches of GoriGhati, where entire
villages had been destroyed, fields washed away and livelihood wiped
out. In the first phase of relief efforts, 133 affected families (741 people)
received 20kgs rice, 10kgs flour, 5kgs pulses and 5kgs sugar each. 474
solar lights were distributed as well.
The sangathan organized a mass procession at the Sub-Divisional
Relief work by Maati sangathan members in
Magistrates office to demand quick rehabilitation by the administration.
Uttarakhand
As part of the second phase of relief, training on construction of lowcost temporary shelters using locallyavailable naturalmaterials such as bamboo and mud was organised. By March 31 st,
Maati had facilitated construction of 30 shelters.

SRUTI WELFARE AND SOLIDARITY FUND (SWSF)

The SWSF was constituted with the idea of providing financial assistance to individuals and communities for medical
emergencies, higher education, house construction, welfare and relief during natural and other calamities. The assistance
is extended to SRUTI Fellows; staff members; associates in SRUTIs solidarity network, and communities supported
through SRUTIs Fellowship programme. A total of 16 individuals and grassroots groups benefitted from the Fund during
the year.
Sr.
No

Name

Reason for SWSF support

Amount

Swathi Vadlamudi

Medical Support for Nagaraju Koppula, New Indian Express

journalist, suffering from lung cancer

10,000

Ramakant Banjare

Educational support for daughters

A.K. Pany

Educational support for son Biplab Panys MBA

50,000

C.A. Priyadarshi

Medical support for Priyadarshis son treatment

30,000

Sanjeev Kumar

Emergency medical & other relief support for the flood affected
area of Parbatta, Bihar

10,000

Sajal Sarkar

Support to cover medical expenses of Baroda artist Chinmoy

10,000

4000

19

Pramanick
7

Nadim Ali Ansari

Medical support

20,000

L.R. Sarin

Medical support for sons treatment

30,000

Arvind Anjum

Support to cover medical expenses

10,000

10

Purwa Bharadwaj

Relief support for families displaced by communal riots in

Muzaffarnagar, Shamli & Baghpat districts

10,000

11

Jang Sai Poya

Support for fathers treatment (stomach & liver infection)

12,000

12

T.S. Chauhan

Support for karyakarta Ram Lals family

10,000

13

Devendra

Educational support for Jitendra in NIT

10,000

14

Mohini Devi

Medical support to cover expenses incurred during treatment

15

Prashant Paikray

Rehabilitation for cyclone affected areas in Jagatsinghpur, Odisha

8,136
10,000

PEOPLE
SRUTI Executive Board
An Annual General Body Meeting was held on 25
November 2011 where the Executive Board for the
period 2011-14 was constituted.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Enakshi Ganguly Thukral, President

Prabhu Mohapatra, Vice President
Amita Joseph, Treasurer
Abha Singhal Joshi, Member
Kanika Satyanand, Member
Ravi Rebbapragada, Member
Shubhalaxmi Pande Iyer, Member
Amita Baviskar, Member
Shibani Chaudhury, Ex-officio member

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

Vijay Sardana
Apoorvanand
Anju Talukdar
L.R. Sarin
Enakshi Ganguly Thukral
Prabhu Mohapatra
Amita Joseph
Abha Singhal Joshi
Kanika Satyanand
Ravi Rebbapragada
Shubhalaxmi Pande Iyer
Amita Baviskar
Shibani Chaudhury

SRUTI Team
SRUTI General Body Members
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Ela Bhatt (Founder Member)

Bunker Roy (Founder Member)
Poonam Muttreja (Founder Member)
Samir Chaudhuri (Founder Member)
Uma Chakravarti

1.
2.
3.
4.

Shibani Chaudhury, Executive Director

L.R. Sarin, Financial Advisor
Baldew Thakur, Finance Officer
Jojy Mathew, Assistant Officer Finance and
Admin
20

5. Rakesh Sharma, Assistant Manager Resource

Mobilisation
6. Sanjay Verma, Assistant Manager Resource
Mobilisation
7. Mahipal Singh, Admin Assistant
8. Satyam Srivastava, Senior Programme Executive
9. Shweta Tripathi, Senior Programme Executive
10. Manisha Lath, Programme Executive **

11. Sukruta Alluri, Programme Executive

Communications and Advocacy
12. Nadim Ali Ansari, Assistant Programme
Executive*
13. Saurabh Sinha, Assistant Programme Executive*
* From July 2013
** Till July 2013

Salary Structure of the SRUTI Team (2013-14)

Slabs of gross
monthly salary
(Rs) plus
benefits paid to
staff
Year
<5,000
5,001-10,000
10,001-25,000
25,001-50,000
50,001100,000
>100,000
Total

No. of male staff

No. of female
staff

2012-13
0
0
5
2

2013-14
0
0
4
5

2012-13
0
0
0
4

2013-14
0
0
0
3

0
7

0
9

0
5

Total staff
2012-13

2013-14

12

13

Team Capacity Building

Sukruta Alluri is pursuing her M.A. in Sociology from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
Rakesh Sharma & Sanjay Kumar Verma participated in a one day training workshop on fundraising organised by Gyan
iVolunteer.

FUNDRAISING OVERVIEW
Total Income

SRUTI Income for the financial year 2013-2014

S.no.

Details

Amount (Rs.)

Interest (Investment and

other funds)
Donations
Scrap Donation

34,51,279

2
3

5
6

Grants from Donors (inc.

previous year's)
SWSF including revolving
contribution
Other Income

85,35,696

Total Income

2,10,25,687

8,20,413
27,383

69,26,310
12,81,080

21

Resource Mobilisation

18,43,587

Emergency relief and

welfare
Administrative
Expenditure
Other expenditure
Depreciation and loss
of fixed assets

13,00,122

Total expenditure

1,87,99,669

Total Expenditure

SRUTI Expenditure for the financial year

2013-14

Details
Fellowship
Programme

Amount (Rs.)
1,16,34,189

35,81,881
4,39,890

22

CONTRIBUTORS

We thank our institutional, individual and scrap donors for their continued support and trust in SRUTI.
SRUTI was also chosen as recipient organisation on Satyamev Jayate, the TV show hosted by Aamir Khan on
Star Network. The episode was aired on 23rd March, 2014.

Institutional Donors

23

Contributions from Caring Friends Associates

Individual

Institutional

Ashit Chandrakant
Kothari

Dars Business Finance Pvt. Ltd.

Prashant Kumar Jain

Suryavanshi Commotrade Pvt. Ltd.

Rishikesh Joshi

Lucky Investment Managers Pvt. Ltd.

Ashish Kacholia

Agarwal Foundation

Sudhakar Ram

Shubhamangal Credit Capital Pvt. Ltd.

Apoorva L Shah
Anirban Lahiri
Kirti Sheth

Individual Donors

S.
no.

Name

S.
no.

Name

Adish Bamba

Shikha Rai

RKP Shankar
Dass

10

Kanika Satyanand

RK Dheer

11

Kiran Karnik

Sanjay Nagar

12

Pushpa Sundar

Munish Garg

13

HL Kapoor

BM Dalal

14

Rakesh Sharma

Shekhar Bajaj

15

Shibani Chaudhury

Daman Kapoor

16

Shashi Garg

24

25