The last few decades has seen the emergence of “environment”, “gender”, “sustainability”,“participation”, “empowerment”, “poverty”, “effective governance” and “importance of institutional arrangement” as new issues on the development agendas at policy, planning and in action in India.
ADI as partners in development facilitates an alternative paradigm of development that values appreciating people’s basic potential to lead the process of socio-economic change. We value livelihood promotion and water and environmental resource management as an instrument to build leadership and entrepreneurial skills of individuals, women, communities, systems and institutions.
ADI is committed to accelerate the process of change to improve the quality of life of people. Sustainability and self- actuation with eco-preservation calls for a self-discipline. ADI seeks to provide the total system approach with technology, as a tool to sustain the value system enshrined in the constitution. Being a facilitator, it resolves to catalyze change and expand the capabilities of people and institutions.
In all our initiatives, we initially carry out the resource planning through various participatory planning tools to assess the actual ground situation, status of resources, problems and potentials of the area and accordingly future possible development planning is done with relation to its vulnerability. ADI initiates dialogue with Panchayats, women and other local stakeholders in order to involve the community from the very beginning. During implementation, formation of SHGs and user groups takes place. The capacity building and awareness creation is a continuous process.
Our projects comprises four components: (1) to implement and promote relevant processes in order to ensure sustainable development; (2) capacity building – to enhance the awareness and capacity of various levels – farmers, women’s, local resource persons, user Groups, panchayat through various in-house and one-job trainings and promotion; (3) demonstration and replication; (4) project management and monitoring and evaluation.
The initiative is conceived on principles of “Active Participation” and “Collective Action”. Work approach of ours’ integrates the basic philosophy of community empowerment, holistic development and strong community participation. Approaches are aimed at identifying common grounds for action and maximising utilisation of human resources
In all of our Community Action Programs formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and user groups are taking place as a first and foremost priority. Affirmative complementing actions to support capacity building, skill development, training on larger developmental issues and specific issue-based support is continuing that is strengthening the created infrastructure and upgrading incomes and increasing real access to natural and productive resources.
User groups and SHGs are formed and their capacities are built around diverse livelihood issues and empower them towards larger developmental perspective, henceforth creating sustainable livelihood environment in the area. ADI facilitate these SHGs to establish collaborative linkages with banks in order to leverage credit for initiating various livelihood activities. ADI along with providing livelihood opportunities to these women are working to bring women into larger socio-political system and key voice in decision making. We are also focusing on the key issues of education and health. We believe that women are the equal stakeholder in the development process.
ADI also feels that an understanding of local power relations and other community dynamics is essential, which not only influences participation but also the withdrawal, collapse, obstruction, co-option and control of user groups and SHG activities.
Total savings of 684 SHGs covering around 7000 members is more than INR 57 million, while bank linkages of more than INR 36 million
