5,krishnarajapuram colony,Manamadurai, 630606,M: 99 423 45 781 Email: serdindia@gmail.com
Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu
04574-268734
Contact: L.Pandi ( Chief Functionary )
Mobile Number: Not Available
E-mail: serdindia@gmail.com
Website: www.serdindia.org.in
Activities:
Others
Activities: Women and children empowerment
Aim/Objective/Mission: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Origin of SERD Social Education for Rural Development (SERD) is a nongovernmental organization founded in 1991 by Mr. L. Pandi. Mr. Pandi, a graduate in physics focuses on developing quality of life for impoverished communities, such as scheduled caste and tribe communities commonly marginalized from mainstream society. His own personal experience as a Dalit (untouchable) led to his dedication to serve his community. SERD is a leading voluntary organization in Tamil Nadu working on development of the rural poor using strategies of awareness generation, community mobilization through self-help groups, economic empowerment, education, health, skills development, and vocational training. SERD is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act and Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Goal 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 communities to achieve welfare and well being of all persons irrespective of social, cultural, economic, religious and political background, and more specifically, downtrodden scheduled caste and tribe communities through the self-help approach. Objectives: To eliminate extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition To combat imbalances in human treatment, violence and discrimination and build a human rights based culture To remove illiteracy To foster solidarity, peace, and non-violence in domestic, social, and political spheres Location/ Area of Operation SERD works in three districts in the state of Tamil Nadu: Shivagangai, Ramnad, and Virudhunagar district. Target Population SERD gives priority to working with neglected groups and follows a rights based approach. Scheduled castes, tribes, and other backward communities form the majority of SERD's beneficiaries. SERD identifies and works exclusively with isolated groups including snake charmers, bird hunters, ex-beggars, sewage workers, and migrants at the lowest rungs of the socioeconomic ladder. Major Activities 1. Promotion of Self Help Groups (SHGs). SERD has promoted SHGs for women, men and youth. To date, more than 3500 groups have been formed. Bank linkages and outside financial support have been facilitated for these groups. Low interest loans from banks as well as government schemes are facilitated to save individuals from creating debt through private money lenders. SERD provides trainings on micro credit, income generation programs, leadership, gender and empowerment to self-help group members. 2. Vocational Training and Income Generation Programs. SERD gives skills training and financial support to income generation programs to improve economic status of target communities. Skills such as coir making, goat rearing, broom making, soft toys, and simple chemical products are cultivated. Through these trainings group enterprises have been developed. Every year 800-1000 people are trained in locally viable small businesses. 3. Education: School enrollment drive for drop-out children: SERD conducts enrollment campaigns in May-June and at the beginning of every academic year to motivate parents to enroll all children in a formal school. 4. Supplementary education centers run by SERD help school children from impoverished communities to improve their academic performance with after-school help. This service is available to children of snake charmers, beggars, and nomads whose parents are illiterate and who are considered first generation learners. 5. Health and Sanitation: Need based activities are conducted with community participation to improve health and sanitation. Medical camps and awareness programs are an integral part of SERD's work. A village health nurse visits communities regularly and attends to their health needs. Demonstrations of nutritious food preparation, kitchen gardens, first aid, and home treatment for illnesses are provided. 6. Advocacy: SERD runs advocacy campaigns and information dissemination on child rights, women?s rights, Dalit rights, and Panchayat Raj (participation in local governance). 7. Networking: SERD works in cooperation with other NGOs, government agencies, and private institutions 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 NGOs.
