In 1972, we began our modest efforts to reach out to the poor and marginalized communities. Today after three decade, we have the privilege of working with nearly 5 million poor and marginalized people-namely the dalit and tribal people, other sections of the rural and urban poor, women, children, and minorities and with more than 300 civil society organizations. Within them, those in vulnerable situations such as people living with chronic hunger, migrant and bonded workers, children out of education, urban homeless people, trafficked persons, persons with diability, refugees and displaced people and survivors of natural and human made disasters. Also with poeple who are socially stigmatised, such as sex workers, persons living with HIV and
AIDS and manual scavengers. Our resolve has been to facilitate their empowerment so that they are able to assert for their rights, entitlements and dignity.
We have made sustained efforts to come closer to the poor and marginalised women and men, girls and boys through establishing 14 Regional Offices (RO) and 10 field offices to reach the people in 22 States of India.
Steps in our Journey
The period 1972-92 has graduated from focus on child needs to integrated rural development through a transition of multi-sectoral approach. During this period, the shift has been from investing primarily on education of children as a means for ahcieving a better world to locating poverty in family and community. In this approach, poverty was understood only in economic terms, and our initiatives were in clearly defined geographical areas. Our Approach to Rural Development (ARD) evolved at the international workshop (1989) largely influenced this understanding.
The growth of the organization and the rapidly changing external environment during the early 1990’s necessitated the formulation of our first five-year strategic planning (CSP-I: 1993-97). This has provided the mandate to work in the empowerment mode, making best use of the resources that we had access to. It clearly defined priority areas of work in the country (pockets of poverty and groups of poor people) as well as articulated the need for policy influencing through collaborative alliances, along with micro-level action.
After a critical review of CSP-I, we drew up the next strategy paper (CSP-II : 1998-2002), which acknowledged the need to work on the rights mode with policy inlfuencing and advocacy strongly supplementing micro-level action. The understanding was that eradication of poverty was only possible through empowering the poor and facilitating processes that assist them to achieve their rights and entitlements. This was later revisited after the global process of Taking Stock – F of 25 years of work followed by formulation of Fighting Poverty Together (Action Aid’s global strategy paper), which provided a comprehensive framework for poverty eradication through te rights mode of development.
Meanwhile, we went through a process of collective internal reflection in May 1999 at Kodaikanal and again at Hyderabad in March 2000. There was an affirmation of main streaming the rights based approach into our work and the need for strengthening gender equity. Subsequently, the Updated CSP-II entitled Taking Sides’ was adopted.
Vision, Mission & Values of Action Aid India
Vision:
A world without poverty in which every person can exercise her/his right to a life of dignity.
Mission:
To work with poor and marginalised people to eradicate poverty by overcoming the injustice and inequity that cause it.
Values:
Mutual Respect, recognising the innate dignity and worth of all people and value of divesity.
Equity and Justice, requiring us to work to ensure that everyone – irrespective of sex, age, race, colour, class and religion – has equal opportunity for expressing and utilising their potential.
Honesty and Transparency, requiring us to be accountable for the effectiveness of AAI’s actions and open in AAI’s judgments and communications with others.
Solidarity with poor and marginalised people, so that AAI’s only bias will be a commitment to the interests of the poor and powerless.
Courage of conviction, requiring us to be creative and radical, without fear of failure, in pursuit of the highest possible impact on the causes of poverty.
Humility, recognising that we are a part of a bigger alliance against poverty and requiring AAI’s presentation and behaviours to be modest.
Groups we work with:
In AAI’s we recognise the differing needs and capacities of social groups that are more vulnerable to poverty, which has strategic implications for our policy influencing actions and program interventions. Within the social group, we recognize women, children and persons with disability as cross cutting issues due to multiple ways that they have been denied their rights and justice. We acknowledge that our own understanding on these themes needs up-gradation. We are committed to incremental actions towards comprehensive approach for realizing their rights.
Social Groups:
• Dalit People • Tribal People • Other backward Classes (OBC)
• Minorities • Urban Poor • Informal Sector Labour
Apart from these six social groups, we would work with certain social groups that are emerging in numbers and requiring special attention. Some of them are:
• Persons living with HTV and AIDS • Sexual Minorities
• Sex Workers • People affected by disasters
Eligibility criteria to be a partner:
We will seek partnerships with those who are willing to listen to the voice of poor and marginalized women, men, girls and boys and to support their struggles for justice and a better life. We seek organisations which are willing to challenge and resist those who systematically deny and violate their rights.
AAI will seek out credible, committed institutions and individuals. The range of partners would include NGOs, CBOs, movements, individuals, activists, networks etc. AAI’s special focus would be on building people’s institutions. In AAI’s partnerships, leadership of the marginalized (dalits, women, minorities, disabled and tribals) will be encouraged.
AAI recognises for entering into such partnerships, it would be important for AAI itself to develop a reputation for genuine solidarity with oppressed people, integrity, transparency and humility. Even as we are partnering such groups and individuals who are seeking to assist in the restoration the rights of the poor and marginalised women, men, girls and boys, we would critically engage with the ones who deny and violate such rights. This critical engagement could be with the state and its agencies, corporate sector and other civil society institutions. This decision to engage in cooperation or resistance will be in-formed by AAI’s analysis of denial of rights, power relations, and strategic needs.
Statutory Requirements:
Partner should be a Registered Society and also be registered under FCRA For More Details Please Contact : Action Aid India, Regional Offices or the website or Mr. Babu Mathew, Country Director
Action Aid India
C-88, South Extension-11, New Delhi – 110 049
Telefax: 51640571 – 76,
website : www.actionaidindia.org
Email : [email protected]
Regional Offices:
Action Aid International
Post Net Suite # 248, Private Bag X31,
Saxonwold 2132, Johannesburg, South Africa
Tel : +27 (0) 11 880 0008, Fax: +27 (0) 11 880 808
Action Aid India Country Office
Prof. Babu Mathew (Country Director)
C – 88 N.D.S.E. – II, New Delhi – 1 100049
Tel: (11) 251640571-76. Fax: (11) 251641891
Babu’s Mob.: 9810606988
Bangalore Regional Office
Ms. Christy Abraham (Regional Manager)
139, Richmond Road, P.B. No. 5406
Bangalore -560 025,
Tel : (080) 25586682,25595942 (RM direct No.)
Christy’s Mob.: 9845538873
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Bhopal Regional Office
Ms. Malini Subramaniam (Regional Manager)
E – 3/4-B, I st floor, Arcia Colony, Bhopal – 462016
Telefax: (0755) 5290208 /2425324,2466920
Malini’s Mob: 9826392456
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Mumbai Regional Office
Ms. Kamini Kapadia (Regional Manager)
6th Floor C.V.O.D Jain High School
84, Samuel Street, Pallagalli, Dongri
Near Masjid, Mumbai – 400 009
Tel : (022) 23435072 / 23436070
Fax : (022) 234360765Kamini’s Mob. : 9820016252
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Guwahati Regional Office
Mr. Prasanna Kumar Pincha (Reg. Manager)
Flat 2B, Mandavi Apartment, Ambari
(In front of Ravindra Bhavan) G.N.B. Road,
Guwahati -781 001, Tel: (0361) 2638871 / 72,
Mob.: 94351-48697
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Jaipur Regional Office
Ms. Vijaylakshmi (officiating Reg. Manager)
B – 20 Khandela House, Shiv Marg, Bani Park, Jaipur
302016, Tel: (0141) 2207502 / 2207683
Fax:(0141)2207683
Vijaylakshmi Mob: 9414074893
Email: [email protected]
Lucknow Regional Office
Mr. Hanumant Rawat (Regional Manager)
1/21 Vivek Khand, Gornti Nagar
Lucknow-226010, Tel: (0522)2939431/631/731
Fax: (0522) 2939431/631731
Hanumant’s Mobile: 9415005339
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Bhubaneshwar
Ms. Supriya Akerkar (Regional Manager)
331 /A Shabid Nagar, Bhubaneshwar – 751007
Orissa, Telefax: (0674) 2544503/2544224
Supriya’s Mob.: 9437045008
Chhattisgarh
Mr. Biraj Patnaik (Regional Manager)
First Floor HIG-28, Sector -1, Shankar Nagar
Raipur – 429077, Chhattisgarh
Tel : 0771-5011596,5022140,2445031
(RM Direct No.) Biraj’s Mob. 9826308235
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Chennai Regional Office
Mr. Saroj Dash (Regional Manager)
23 West Park Road, Near Post Office Shenoy Nagar
Chennai – 600 030
Tel: (044) 26191620/1621, Fax: (044)26191620/162
Saroj’s Mob: 94440-01620
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Kolkata Regional Office
Ms. Anchita Ghatak (Regional Manager)
Flat No. 3 A, Shankar Vihar
33, Lake Temple Road, Kolkata – 700 029
Tel : (033) 24657017-18/7022, Fax: 24657022
Anchita’s Mob: 9830326101
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Gujarat Regional Office
Mr. Amar Jyoti Nayak (Regional Manager) IOA,
Chandra Colony, B/h IDBI Bank
(Opp. E-infochips). Cargo Motors Lane, C.G. Road,
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat – 380 006
Tel: (079) 26463792 / 26447691, Fax: (079) 26447691
Amar’s Mob: 9825318676
Email: [email protected]
Andhra Pradesh Regional Office
Mr. Umi Daniel (Regional Manager)
E – 9, Vikrampuri Colony, Kharkhana,
Behind Food World, Secunderabad – 500 026
Andhra Pradesh Field Office
Shanmukha, D.No. 4-52-4 C (LIG -114)
Lawsons Bay Colony, Visakhapatnam – 530 017
Tel : 0891 – 5510633, Raghu’s Mob : 98492 98904
Shivpuri Field Office
Action Aid India Field Office
86, Raghvendra Nagar, Near Gum Nanak Public School,
Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh,
Telefax: 07492-508868
Adipur Field Office
Mohneet Villa, Plot No. 291, Ward 3/A,
Adipur Dist – Kutch, Gujarat – 370 205
Tel: 02836-264944/263809
Fax: 02836-262703
Godhra Field Office
Plot No.1, haideri Society
Nr. Sessions Court, Civil Lines, Godhra
Gujarat-389 001
Tel: 02672-249619, Fax: 02672-249678
Bahadur’s Mob: 9426559815
Malkangiri Field Office
Durga Gudi, Sahi, Nr. Jagannath Temple
Malkangiri – 764045, Orissa, Tel: 06861 – 230455
Dholpur Field Office
382, Gayatri Sadan, Housing Board Colony, Bati Road,
Dholpur, Tel : 05642 – 224712
Andhra Pradesh
Tel: (040) 55445410, Telefax: (040) 27844991
Umi’s Mob: 9440407779
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Patna Regional Office
Mr. Pushpondra Singh (Regional Manager)
A/3, Vivekanand Park (Lane A)
South East Patliputra Colony, Patna – 800 013
Bihar, Tel : (0612) 2272928,
Telefax: (0612)2262027 / 2272928
Pushpenders Mob: 9431015838
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Field Offices
Vizag Field Office
MIG -12, House No. 4-66-1/5, Lawson’s bay Colony,
Vishakhapatnam 530017, Tel: 0891-2793162, 2729755
Farmer Field Office
AJ 12, Mahavir Nagar, Banner – 344001
Tel: 02982-226513
Srinagar Field Office
H/12, Cooperative Colony, Srinagar-190014
Jammu and Kashmir, Tel : 0194-2437286/2481641
Bolangir Field Office
Adarshpada, Nr. Rajendra College
Bolangir-767002, Orissa, Tel : 06652-250082
Erasama Field Office
Sneha Abhiyan, Erasama, Jagatsinghpur Dist Orissa,
Tel: 06722-2246289
Dehradun Field Office
253/172 (Old No. 68/1) Chander Nagai,
Dehrachm248001, Tel: (0135)2520113
Debabrata’s, Mob: 9412992252
Koraput Field Office
Jharana Nivas, Pujaripur, Koraput – 764020
Tel: 06852-252451
Jagat Singhpur Field Office
Plot No. 4051/4759, At Post – Kherusa,
Jagatsinghpur 754103, Orissa
Tel: 06724-221257.Fax:06724-221279