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ANNUAL REPORT
2008-2009
PFI FOUNDATION
An International NGO Based in Assam
46, Sijubari Masjid Path, Hatigaon, Guwahati 781038 India
Tel: 0361-2235655 Fax: 0361-2611952 Cell: 09435072356
Email: pfifound@gmail.com Website: www.pfifound.org
Table of Contents
Message from the President Board ………………………… 2
Message from the Executive Director………………………… 3
Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……………. …..……….. 4
Governance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..……... . . . . …………… 5
Strategic Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ………………………... 6
Core Activities
1. Flood Relief Program……... . . . . . ………………………… 8
‐ Foundations Flood Interventions………..………………. 11
2. Culture and Development …………………………………. 12
3. Food Support Program …………………………………….. 16
4. Asia Forum on Development ……………………………… 18
5. Child Development …………………………………………. 20
6. School Enrolment Program ………………………………… 21
7. Self Help Groups and Micro‐Credit ………………………. 22
8. Community Development …………………………………. 23
9. Information Technology and Development ……………... 24
10. Foundation Day Celebrations …………………………….. 25
11. Media Reports ………………………………………………. 26
12. Highlights of 2008. ……...………. . ………………………. 28
13. Prospective Developments. ………...……………………... 29
14. Conclusions from 2008‐2009 30
15. Financial Statements
PFI FOUNDATION
FCRA REGISTRATION NO. 02078100111 Dated 18/03/2008
Society Regd No 4292 of 1992-93 under S R Act of 1860
Income Tax: Regn. No: 27/12(a)a/Tech/06-07 Under Section 12A(a) of I.T.Act 1961
Tax Rebate Regd. Under Sec 80G for Tax Exemption of Donation to the Foundation
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From the President…
“The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing
would suffice to solve most of the world's problems” – M. K. Gandhi
Dear Friends,
It has been an honor to be entrusted with the role of the President of the PFI Foundation
Executive Board during this consecutive second year.
It gives me great pleasure to present you the annual report of the Foundation for India’s
for the year 2008‐2009. From the modest beginning in 1992, PFI Foundation has worked
tirelessly towards using its resources on developmental projects in India and abroad.
PFI Foundation has also done incredibly well to spread awareness about human rights,
specially rights of the women, children, disabled, minorities and marginalized
communities.
Last fiscal year, we introduced newer ways to create partnership – most notable among
them being organizing flood relief and food support programme. PFI Foundation is
fortunate enough to have a set of dedicated volunteers whom we can count on. We
managed to execute the Lakhimpur (Assam) Flood relief operations in 2008 with the
support of our new chapter there. This required significant amount of effort and
planning including procurement, packaging, transporting food items around in the
difficult weather and terrains. Our volunteers managed to do it with a smile in the face
and motivation in their hearts.
PFI Foundation is about team effort. My sincere thanks to the members of my Executive
Board and above all, I would like to thank our volunteers for making everything
possible. You are the backbone of PFI Foundation.
I hope that we, at PFI Foundation receive you support and cooperation as we always
do.
Sulekha C. Bhattacherjee, PhD
PRESIDENT
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From the Executive Director…
“Choose the life that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable”
- Sir Francis Bacon
Year 2008‐2009 has been a year of growth and development for the PFI
Foundation and I have enjoyed leading the organization in working
collectively to accomplish our goals and objectives. It has truly been an
honor to support it in reaching its full potential and making its greatest
contribution to the inclusion of people from remotest communities an
integral part of our development programs and projects.
This year the Foundation is planning to extend the working area and also create
institutional facilities in phased manner. Therefore, it is necessary to build the
Foundation into an implementation, monitoring and evaluation unit. The Foundation
seeks to establish a collaborative network and partnership with Government, other
national and international organizations, public trusts and corporations, for which a
constant evaluation mechanism along with a sustained scaling up effort is essential. I
am confident that the PFI Foundation will continue to grow and that it will play an
important role in contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals.
I would also like to thank our major donor IRW (UK) for approving our flood relief and
food support grant request for Assam state. The sanctioned amount, though small
compared to the need of the calamity that we faced in 2008, is a significant step forward
in a new direction towards our partnership. I specially thank their country coordinator
Mr Danish Aziz for his support and lead role in managing the Lakhimpur flood
operations. I specially thank the IRW Head Quarter officials Brothers Bedreldin Shutta,
Shebel Firuz, Jehangir Malik and others who hosted me during my visit to their office in
2008.
At the end, I would like to thank our President Dr Sulekha Bhattacherjee and all the
members of the Executive Board for their dedication and contributions to the
Foundation.
Dr Baharul Islam
Executive Director
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Foreword…
“Dedicate some of your life to others. Your dedication will not be a sacrifice.
It will be an exhilarating experience because it is an intense effort applied
toward a meaningful end” - Dr. Thomas Dooley
Since its initiation in 1992, the PFI Foundation has continued to grow and develop its
governance structure, and is currently stronger and more diverse than ever. It is a
registered society as a voluntary organization whose objective is to address grassroots
poverty reduction and empowerment issues that are impeding the progress of
marginalized communities in India. The problems of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment,
health, social inequalities and corruption reinforce one another. The Foundation
believes that the solutions to these problems are interconnected, just like the problems
themselves are. It hopes to solve these problems by undertaking developmental projects
in promoting education, literacy, health care, rural credit, vocational training, legal
awareness advocacy, womenʹs empowerment and child welfare.
While executing its projects, the Foundation focuses on capacity building of the
communities, and partner organizations in doing grassroots work. It also takes the
necessary steps to work with the grassroots organization in making the project
beneficial to the local community in the long term. We look at what is behind the
success or failure of various programs, so that we can learn from those experiences and
apply that knowledge to the future initiatives. To achieve this objective, we review all
projects thoroughly and look at the evaluation process of each project as a way to learn
how such an effort can make a stronger impact.
From the humble beginnings in a small town called Silchar in Northeast India, today
the Foundation has grown to more than 10 chapters in India and abroad. Its projects are
spread over almost all the Indian state of Assam, with the primary source of funding
being donations. Many volunteers work full time over extended periods of time ranging
from six months to over a year.
MISSION
The Foundation aims to provide the communities with a means to gain successful
employment in all possible sectors reversing the urban migration and to train rural
youths on the new ‘appropriate’ technologies and ‘skills’ suitable for rural areas and
that are being used in other parts of the country by the rural industries.
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Governance…
In 2007, the foundation re‐organized its
Executive Board for efficient and effective
Executive Board:
execution of its operations. These
activities have positioned the Secretariat President: Dr Sulekha C. Bhattacherjee, MA, PhD.
Joint Director of Education, Govt of Assam,
to deliver on our commitment to the long
Vice-President: Dr Parveen Akhtar, MA PhD
term mission and vision. The members of Dept of Education, Cotton College, Guwahati
the Foundation elect an Executive Board Members:
1. Sri Abdul Quddus, APS
at the General Meeting.
2. Dr K K Saharaia, M.Sc., PhD
3. Sri K Ahmed, MA
Members for the Foundation are the 4. Sri Arijit Dasgupta, MA, PgDiploma
5. Dr Dorothy Kharmalki, MBBS, MS
backbone of the organization. Its multi‐
6. Dr M M Alam, MBBS, MS
constituent membership consists of 7. Dr Midusmita Das, MBBS, MD
individual, government ministries & 8. Sri Debojit Sen, B.Sc. (Agr), MBA
departments, international governmental 9. Dr Meera Sharma, MA, PhD
10. Dr Juri Mahanta, MA, PhD
organizations and development 11. Dr Fazlur Rahman, MA, PhD
organizations, international NGOs, and
universities and research institutions. The Executive Director:
Dr Baharul Islam,
Foundation is currently also seeking to MA, LLB, B.Ed., PhD, Post Doctorate (AIT), LLM (UK)
incorporate members from the private RPD
sector.
The Foundation seeks the active participation of governments, donors, development
banks, United Nation (UN) agencies, non‐governmental organizations (NGOs),
disabled people’s organizations (DPOs), foundations, multinational corporations, civil
society organizations (CSOs), universities and research institutes, and other consortia
and enterprises in developing countries to work together to identify, assess, and
evaluate various strategies and institutional approaches to mainstreaming disability
and people with disabilities in economic and social development. Our Major Activities:
1. Empowerment & Awareness Training Programme for Rural Women (With
Central Social Welfare Board)
2. Modernization and Vocational Training Programme for marginalized sector
(with The British High Commission)
3. South Asian Regional Development Gateway – a regional Initiative for
SAARC countries.
4. Modernization of Religious Education Schools for socio‐cultural conflict
resolution in South Asia.
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Strategic Plan …
“He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that
plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy
life. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered
merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign.” - Victor Hugo
The strategic reference points for the PFI Foundation’ missions are local interventions
through a global development visions such as the Millennium Development Goals
(MDG) and nearly all‐developmental priorities of the Foundation are aligned to these
goals. This major goal is realized through the programmes and a process that has five
core strategies:
1. Awareness Raising
2. Connecting Good Governance and Development
3. Coordination in Policy, Projects and Development
4. Capacity Building and knowledge Sharing
5. Development Information Services
Institutional and methodological features aligned with these core strategies are as
follows:
Awareness Generation:
Through the activities of the NGO network, and in formulating, implementing and
publicizing the strategy and action plan, awareness will be raised amongst key
development stakeholders within the region as to the benefits and challenges of
development information sharing. It will be done through:
• Frequent Seminars, Workshops, and online discussions.
• Publication in the newspapers.
• Regular shows/programmes in the electronic media.
• Publication of relevant materials and distribution.
These activities will focus on the constraints and opportunities of development
initiatives in the region, the requisite technological, human, cultural infrastructures, and
policy frameworks, understanding the roles of various stakeholders, and the current
development landscape within the region with special reference to poverty reduction.
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Target groups and methodology
PFI Foundation’ work is concentrated in predominantly poor districts of Northeastern
state of Assam in India with special reference to Barak Valley districts (Cachar,
Karimganj and Hailakandi). We aspire to work with 100% Assam’s population over the
next decade, through direct outreach and in collaboration with other non‐government
organizations.
PFI Foundation plays the dual role of an implementer and facilitator to achieve its
mission. It involves mobilization of communities in identified clusters, initiation of
development processes, supervision and management. There follows a gradual role
transformation enabling communities to manage processes and eventual withdrawal
upon handing over full controls to communities.
PFI Foundation dreams to build a world of inclusive communities, where all people
with marginalized opportunities enjoy the same rights and have access to the same
development opportunities enjoyed by other citizens. It supports national, regional, and
international action to accelerate the integration of poverty reduction and right‐based
development issues into mainstream social and economic development programs.
Towards realization of this dream, the Foundation focuses on four primary activities:
Capacity Building
Strengthen the capacity of all stakeholders to promote, guide, and facilitate the
inclusion of disability issues and the participation of people with disabilities in the
development policies and programs at the international, regional, national, &
community levels.
Knowledge Sharing
Increase the awareness of methods and efforts to promote and achieve inclusive
development. Act as an information hub and a facilitator of knowledge sharing.
Knowledge Creation and Research
Facilitate research and knowledge creation that is useful to the equalization of
opportunities and full participation of people in low income countries.
Networking
Promote collaboration of diverse partners such as governments, non‐governmental
organizations and others in order to achieve the inclusion of poverty related issues in
international and national economic and social , according to a no‐exclusion policy.
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Core Activities…
“Always render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter
what your task may be.” - Og Mandino
1. FLOOD RELIEF PROGRAM
During June 2008, there were reported
twenty‐three dead in India floods caused
by heavy rain in north‐eastern India.
Hundreds of homes were destroyed in the
states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam
leaving thousands of people displaced.
Reports said the main Brahmaputra river
and its tributaries were flowing above the
danger level in many places. Officials said
that at least 50,000 people in one district in
Assam were taken by boat over the
weekend from flooded areas to higher ground. The Assam state government said that
the army was on standby in case soldiers were needed to help rescue trapped villagers
elsewhere in the state. Assam was ravaged by floods at least three times last year.
With two more deaths and another 185,000 being uprooted from their homes, 27 people
have been killed by flash floods and landslides in the northeast and 385,000 displaced
during the flood. Two people drowned late Monday in Assamʹs Lakhimpur district
after their wooden boat capsized while trying to escape surging floodwaters, the stateʹs
Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Dr. Bhumidhar Barman said. ʺThe death toll has now
mounted to eight (in Assam) and about 385,000 people displaced from their homes are
now sheltered in makeshift relief camps in Lakhimpur and Sonitpur districts.ʺ A
government statement said 346 villages were hit by the floods that began over the
weekend. The swirling floodwaters of the Brahmaputra river cut a treacherous swathe
across the district, breaching more than a dozen vital embankments, besides sweeping
away road bridges and stretches of highways. A Central Water Commission bulletin
said the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries were flowing above the danger level in at
least 10 places with the waters likely to rise further.
The 2,906 km long Brahmaputra is one of Asiaʹs largest rivers that traverses its first
stretch of 1,625 km in Chinaʹs Tibet region, the next 918 km in India and the remaining
363 km through neighboring Bangladesh before meeting the Padma and flowing into
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the Bay of Bengal. Every year, the
floods leave a trail of destruction,
washing away villages, submerging
paddy fields and drowning livestock,
besides causing loss of human life and
property in Assam. In 2004, more than
200 people were killed in floods in
Assam.
Early and heavy monsoon rains in
India have caused floods in different
parts of the country, including the
north‐eastern state of Assam. As on 27 June 2008, according to National Disaster
Management report, in three districts viz. Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Sonitpur a total
3,08,995 people are affected. According to district authorities, 11 embankment breaches
have been reported and approximately 800 villages have been partially and fully
affected. A total 25,000 persons have been evacuated so far from the flood areas. The
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has reported that 22 people have been killed.
Approximately 9,000 people have taken shelter on raised roadways. The national
highway 52 has been breached and communication is posing as a big problem. Relief
work is being carried out by using country boats and rafts made from banana leaves.
Total cattle lost: 3895 Nos.
Crop area affected: 34045 hectors
Houses Damaged: 51258 nos.
Crop damaged values: Rs .79 Million
House damage: Rs. 51.25 Million
TOTAL DAMAGE: Rs. 52.04 Million
Reports say the main Brahmaputra river and its tributaries were flowing above the
danger level in many places. As of 27‐06‐2008, the water level was still flowing above
the danger level with a ‘rising trend’. The region has been hit by particularly heavy
monsoon rains in recent days. The rainfall ‐ while vital for many farmers ‐ can also be
deadly in Assam which is more prone to landslides, flash floods and building collapses.
Preventing outbreaks of diseases like typhoid, dysentery, infectious hepatitis, and other
diseases associated with flood waters should now be the major objective of all relief
work. Water supply, electricity installations are damaged in atleasat 50% of the affected
villages (350). More than 500 business establishments, especially small businesses, road‐
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side shops are affected. A total 34045 hectors of agricultural/crop area affected.
Estimated value of the damage to crop is Rs .79 Million. Major roads are damaged. The
National highway 52 connecting the districts to the rest of the country was breached
and communication is posing as a big problem. Most of the village roads are washed
away. The major health related damages are from flood waters contaminated by
sewage, and remains of animals. There was a severe shortage of safe water and food,
unrestricted / untested use of water from wells without sampling. Food supply has
been a great problem due to breach of communication, lack of transparent supply chain
resulting in illegal hoarding and also leakage on government flood relief assistance. A
large number of people were staging a mass demonstration in front of the District
Administration HQ on 19 June 2008 against lack of food and flood relief distribution.
Land‐loss, deteriorating poverty situation,
urban migration due to flood, absence of
alternative livelihood and a decent habitat
with basic amenities is chronic problem in
Assam (India). The flood (regular and
flash) in Assam brings in a specific problem
of land loss and economic disaster for the
people living in the banks on the rivers. A
large number of them (estimated 4000‐5000
families this time) have lost their small pieces
of lands due to flood erosion in the river
banks. Now they are accommodated in the
relief camps, but once the water subsides and
the small amounts of disaster relief is
exhausted (approx Rs 3000/family) where
these people will go and build their houses?
There is no land for them to be allotted from
govt. land as there is not enough govt land
for allotment. Secondly, they can not even
buy lands in the normal price as the land price is high. This has catapulted into a larger
poverty cycle with the loss of job, health problems and in the absence of agricultural
land/work due to flood.
This has further deteriorated the condition of the people. Displaced from their homes
and hearths, the victims of Assamʹs devastating annual floods end up begging on the
streets for a living. According to a recent survey, out of the 2,000 pavement dwellers in
Guwahati city a majority were flood victims. They include women, children and
unemployed youth. ʺFloods are not new to Assam. They are a perennial problem. But
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the sheer apathy on the part of the
government and the lack of
preparedness sees many lives and
homes destroyed year after year,ʺ says
a respondent. ʺThough the
government arranges temporary relief
camps for the victims every year, this
is not enough. There is no permanent
solution to compensate their losses,ʺ
he added. Last year, as many as 50,000
people were displaced across the state
because of floods. ʺEven last yearʹs
victims are still languishing in relief
camps. Most of these camps are in pathetic conditions and have no facilities for human
existence,ʺ according to one of the interviewee. The survey clearly indicates that flood
victims who have lost their homes and source of income that is mostly agricultural
eventually land up in urban centers to seek an alternative source of income. (Source: The
Indian Red Cross Society’s (IRCS) Information bulletin No. 2, 23 June 2008)
PFI FOUNDATION’S INTERVENTION
Under the overall supervision and guidance of Dr Baharul Islam, Executive Director of
the Foundation, a new Lakhimpur Branch of PFI Foundation has been started. Mr
Haidor Hussain Bora is the Director of the Lakhimpur Branch. As an immediate
response to the June 2008 floods in the district the Foundation has organized dry food
rations for the flood affected people with financial assistance from Islamic Relief
Worldwide and in collaboration with another NGO OFFER, Calicut.
The Flood Relief Materials arranged the Foundation as dry
food packets were distributed among 2000 families benefiting
a total number of 12000 persons in the district. The total Food
materials weighing 30 Ton (2000 Bags of 15 Kgs each) were
distributed among the identified flood affected people in the
Lakhimpur District. While Sri Haidor Hussain Bora, Director
of Lakhimpur Branch of the Foundation supervised the actual
relief operation, Sri Danish Aziz from IRW and Dr Baharul
Islam, Executive Director of the PFI Foundation coordinated
the international assistance for the program.
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2. CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT
PFI Foundation participated and collaborated with
SEAMEO‐SPAFA which is the Regional Centre for
Archaeology and Fine Arts. The Centre is under
the aegis of the Southeast Asian Ministers of
Education Organization (SEAMEO) and is hosted
by the Government of Thailand. SEAMEO‐SPAFA
works in co‐operation with the SEAMEO
Secretariat and SEAMEO‐SPAFA member
countries. Support is also received from donor
countries (Japan, Canada, and Italy) as well as from international organizations such as
UNESCO, ICCROM, and IDP Australia. Its main Objectives are: Cultivate awareness
and appreciation of cultural heritage through collaboration in information
dissemination and other relevant programmes of activities; Promote and help enrich
archaeological and cultural activities in the region; Further professional competence in
the fields of archaeology and fine arts through regional programmes and activities and
through sharing of resources and experiences; and Advance mutual knowledge and
understanding among the countries of Southeast Asia through regional programmes in
archaeology and fine arts.
It organized the 3rd International
Conference on Culture &
Development in Bangkok on 26‐28
Nov, 2008. PFI Foundation was a
regular participant at the
conference. It provided a platform
for multi‐organizational and multi‐
sectoral, engaging academics, non‐
governmental employees, activists,
volunteers, policy‐makers,
governmental and inter‐
governmental professionals,
interested corporate bodies, peace advocates, journalists, UN agency staff as well as
grassroots organizations and representatives. It will provide all interested stakeholders
an invaluable networking opportunity.
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PFI Foundation contributed significantly to the ongoing culture and development
discourse by providing a platform for the presentation of individual experiences, new
findings, and viewpoints. By
encouraging public
participation from across all
sectors of society, the
Foundation presentation of
shared experiences and
common understandings could
prove to be the inspirational
and motivating factors that can
channel positive changes and
encourage more pro‐active
engagement by all. The
Foundation promoted the
concept of pro‐activism and self‐reliance through the presentation of case studies from
individuals, groups, or organizations; and from within the public or private domain. It
explored the many options/modalities available within arts and sports that can help
enable real changes in people, altering their perspectives and outlook; challenging their
attitudes and assumptions.
i. Peace‐Buildingʹ Initiatives:
Assuming Responsibility, Taking Action, & Implementing Change This theme looks at
the array of initiatives that are undertaken by individuals and interest groups in their
efforts to address problems. People no longer solely rely on interventions by
governments or international bodies but as individuals or community groups quite
often take the initiative themselves. The main advantage of local interventions is the
local knowledge of the situation and the ability to plan and implement on‐site. The
initial motivation may well be to address a specific problem but there are many
examples whereby localized interventions can actually be viewed as peace‐building
initiatives because their successes have had long‐term effects providing lasting
solutions. In addressing the identified ‘problemʹ, potential conflicts are often averted.
Conflict resolution is in the interest of everybody and this theme explores ways that as
individualsʹ or community groups we can assume responsibility and take action for
positive change.
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ii. Peace Education, Arts, & Sports: Inspiring Change
This theme provides a platform to review innovations in peace education that are
designed to engage and enlighten people, encourage them to become active
participants, and find enjoyment in that participation. These ‘newʹ approaches are not
restricted to formal education but primarily focus on non‐formal outreach
programming that is rooted in the peace promotion agenda. The Arts & Sports areas
transcend divisions, whether political, religious or otherwise, and have the ability to
unite people. Arts and sports –related community development initiatives are an
effective tool for social change because they are universal as well as inspirational.
iii. Galvanizing Support & Promotion: Advocating Change
This theme highlights the critical
role that the media can play in
promoting positive changes as it
is one of the primary vehicles to
advocate that change. The media
can also inform, raise awareness,
and solicit support. Solidarity
and support can also be obtained
from the corporate sector in
many cases, helping not only
with funds but by applying their
know‐how and skills to the
mounting of effective campaigns. The messages signaled by the media and the
corporate sector are of paramount importance. This is because they show quite clearly
that none of us are working in isolation and that the efforts undertaken towards
peaceful development warrant support and publicity.
This forum provided PFI Foundation with a timely and much needed platform for us to
consider what has been done, is being done, and could be done in the future, to attain
tangible outcomes in our quest for the development of peaceful societies. It will help
consolidate and strengthen existing efforts and raise awareness amongst the general
public of the critical roles played by individuals, local communities, governmental, non‐
governmental, corporate, and media bodies in promoting change and building bridges
for peace. Facing the fact that we are all dependent on each other, this forum will help
reinforce the idea that we have much more uniting us than dividing us. The idea of
‘unity in diversity’ is nothing new but sadly, in reality, today’s world does not reflect
this concept. This conference aims to put the idea of unity in diversity back on the
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agenda. Just as importantly, this conference will also emphasize that all of us have a
role to play in facilitating positive change.
Mainstreaming culture into the various fields of development is firmly on the
international development agenda. In 2001 UNESCO Member States adopted the
Universal Declaration of Cultural Diversity, and at the Johannesburg World Summit on
Sustainable Development, held in 2002, the principles of that Declaration were
integrated into the Millennium Development Goals. As previously stated this is also the
declared UNESCO International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non‐Violence of the
World. Thus the issue is not only a regional concern but is a concern of global
significance. Furthermore, the conference will see an expansion of a growing network of
partners that are able to share valuable learning experiences which can be adapted to
other contexts and thus result in tangible outcomes.
Story telling as an art for Conflict Resolution
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3. FOOD SUPPORT PROGRAM
Since 2000 PFI Foundation has been
organizing annual ‘feed the hunger’
project and distributing the food
materials to the poor. In 2008‐09, the
programme was sponsored by IRW
(UK) and it was implemented in the
following places:
Cachar ( Assam, India)
Location # 1 : BANSKANDI Village
Location # 2 : East Govindapur
Village
Location # 3 : Kanakpur Village
Karimganj ( Assam, India)
Location # 4 : Bhangabazar Village
Kanakpur Village Planning &
Development Committee was the
field volunteer support team for the
project. Beneficiaries were selected
as per the policy of IRW based on a
scoring system, which ranks families
according to need. Total number of
food packets Distributed (area wise)
were as follows:
Banskani: 700
East Govindapur: 700
Kanakpur: 700
Bhangabazar: 400
Total: 2500
Average weight of one food packet was 2.5 Kg and the total number of beneficiaries
(@ 1 meat pack = 5 beneficiaries) was: 12,500. Early and heavy monsoon rains in India
have caused floods in different parts of the country, including the north‐eastern state of
Assam. As on 27 June 2008, according to National Disaster Management report, a total
3,08,995 people are affected. According to district authorities, 11 embankment breaches
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have been reported and approximately
800 villages have been partially and
fully affected. A total 25,000 persons
have been evacuated so far from the
flood areas. The National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF) has reported
that 22 people have been killed.
Approximately 9,000 people have taken
shelter on raised roadways. The
national highway 52 has been breached
and communication is posing as a big
problem. Relief work is being carried
out by using country boats and rafts made from banana leaves. Total estimated damage
was Rs. 52.04 Million
The present food support programme is targeted to address the nutritional food
support to the poor and flood‐affected people in the areas where farmers lost their
normal rice crops this year and had to love on supplementary food during the season.
In this way the food support programme was planned to fit into the supplementary
food supply aspects.
Every year, the floods leave a trail of
destruction, washing away villages,
submerging paddy fields and drowning
livestock, besides causing loss of human
life and property in Assam. Malnutrition
was evident among the poor families,
pregnant women and specially children.
It was suggested by the beneficiaries to
have a long term plan to have a ‘food
stock’ or seed bank to address the food
shortage following the flood season in the
flood prone areas.
Poor people really lack access to nutritional food like meat and they really appreciate
such supply. In fact in all the locations the supply was far less than the total eligible
number of beneficiaries and people expressed their desire to get more such supply in
future. The distribution of Token was a good experience to control the target crowd in
the distribution centers but it was difficult to avoid parts of a village just due to the
limited number of packets available for the distribution.
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4. ASIA FORUM ON DEVELOPMENT
Asia Forum on Development Collaboration Framework aims to achieve a meaningful
and sustainable exchange of ideas and practical collaboration between the Country
Forum on Development and Development gateway. This framework will be used guide
the activities and interactions of the network in the future by outlining and
documenting a clear set of agreed, processes, roles and responsibilities to facilitate
collaboration activities. The following version was refined in discussion with country
teams – that included PFI Foundation as country lead partner of South Asia
Development Gateway ‐ teams during the forum.
A forum for the Asia‐Pacific development network was held in Dec 2008 in Hanoi,
Vietnam. This was our chance to network with our regional colleagues, share
experiences, discuss common issues and objectives and participate in collaborative
workshops to build capacity amongst the country teams. This forum followed on from
similar events held in Africa and Latin America last year.
PFI Foundation contributed ideas with regards to the main objectives, most appropriate
format, timing, location and topics of interest for the workshops etc. It developed
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“Collaboration Framework
Components” which is a mechanism
for identifying and vetting
collaboration opportunities.
Individual will have to identify
opportunities and establish contact
with preferred partners. A
recommendation was made to take
on an intern to assist in this
identification and qualification
process. Notably, this should only be
done with close direction from the PFI Foundation stressed the need to build regional
program manager and regional partnerships this year : with Sri Lankan Delegate at
the Asia Forum in Hanoi; Dec 2008
coordinator to ensure relevance of
opportunities. Mechanism for identifying the skills and capacities of each CG team,
addressing areas o weakness and mapping skills to opportunities shall be developed.
Each team to develop a capacity statement outlining their core competencies (to be
shared via the Google spreadsheet). South Asia DG will play a role to identify key
business and technical capacity requirements to deliver identified activities. It will
provide capacity support to be provided according to these requirements to ensure
successful implementation.
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5. CHILD DEVELOPMENT
PFI Foundation worked on its regular projects to empower highly impoverished
marginalized communities. Under this project multiple activities were carried out to
ensure bright future for children of disadvantaged groups. All children from these
selected communities are first generation learners. Today’s school system demands a lot
from parents. But the illiterate
parents are unable to support their
wards in their studies. In order to
improve children’s educational
standard and to prevent dropout,
Foundation started seven
supplementary education centers.
Education, health and recreation of
children are monitored through
these centers. Tuition classes are
conducted five days in a week and
Saturdays are kept for recreation.
Once in a month, a nurse does health
Indian PM’s recent Sachar Committee Report Highlighted the
monitoring and gives classes on high rate of dropouts among the marginalized communities
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6. SCHOOL ENROLMENT SUPPORT
Dropouts were identified in and around Barak Valley Districts of Assam and given
support to their parents readmit them in school. Foundation helped them to get the
community certificate which is mandatory to school admission. Books, stationeries and
uniform clothes were given for 300 poor children. Foundation conducts school
enrolment campaign every year.
Children in the rural schools hardly get any chance to expose their talents. So, we
organized competitions for 300 middle school students from 15 schools in Karimganj
district. SHG members from villages assisted Foundation to organize the competitions.
Children participated in drawing, essay writing, painting, poetry, recitation, sports and
games. Prizes and certificates were given with local contribution.
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7. SELP HELP GROUPS & MICRO‐CREDIT
Self‐ Help Groups (SHGs): Thrift culture is nothing new to women in the rural
households. They are blessed by this habit by nature. All women save something for
tomorrow. Nurturing that habit in an organized way needs proper guidance and
support. Through the self‐help group approach, Foundation has been helping women
and men to come together to experience their collective power for social mobilization.
All development activities are implemented through self‐help groups of local
communities. Foundation has already formed more than 200 SHGs through a Leading
NGO of Village: Kaliganj, Dist Karimganj (Assam) and made good contact with NGOs,
Government agencies and financial
institutions. Total membership in
SHGs has gone up to 2614 in March
2009. Each group has its own identity
with a name, elected representatives,
bye‐law and decision making power.
Self reliance is encouraged through
their own savings and external
linkage.
Savings and Credit Status of SHGs :
The 200+ self‐help groups have
savings bank accounts. Saved money The target beneficiaries of PFI Foundation’s
programs are invariably the most impoverished and
is rotated among its members as small marginalized communities living in the outer circles
interest loans. In addition to this, of the mainstream development
22
8. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Development work in the villages has no meaning without the health care component.
Public health care facilities are very poor. Foundation was providing need based
support for the villagers in the previous years. This year we have intensified health care
activities in our project area with the appointment of a full‐time nurse. Foundation
acquired basic equipments for health check‐up. The village health nurse visits the field
regularly and takes care of their health needs. She gives simple medicines and balms for
minor illnesses. Details of medicines are also entered in the card. Each time when the
nurse goes for visit, she updates family health card issued by Foundation. Health
trainings were conducted
for SHGs, adolescent girls
and children in
supplementary education
centers on hygiene, first aid,
nutrition food and home
remedy for minor illnesses.
Foundation organized five
health camps with support
of primary health center.
Several people from the
villages took advantage of
the camps. Medicines were Dr B Islam, Executive Director of PFI Foundation at the special
meeting with the UN Under Secretary General Dr Noeleen
given for skin diseases, Hayzer (in the middle) at New Delhi; March 2008
cough, fever, seasonal
diseases, anemia etc. Major cases were referred to hospitals for long‐term treatment.
Foundation took the help of local doctors and hospitals to conduct camps. Eye problems
are quite common among our target community people. It could be because of low
nutrition or inadequate health care facilities at the early stages of illness.
Due to lack of correct information, various misconceptions are spreading about
reproductive health among adolescent girls. Cultural taboos prevent them taking advice
of a health professional. Often they rely on peer group to clear their doubts without
knowing that they are equally ignorant. Similarly, young mothers have very limited
knowledge on maternity, child rearing, contraceptives and child health. To address this
health counseling is regularly offered by our nurse and a consultant nurse from the
local PHC.
23
9. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT
Senior staff of PFI Foundation participated through the year in several meetings and
consultations organized by government, donor agencies and non government
organizations. This year we focused on the emergence of Information Technology,
increase in Internet connectivity, speed and penetration and employment opportunities
in jobs of outsourcing of legal work as next economic boom. Known in India as Legal
Process Outsourcing (ʺLPOʺ) it offers lucrative earnings for young and old legal
professional – to each according to his/her brainpower. With the large pool of academic
talent and basic fluency in English, thousands of young Indian lawyers are sharing
much of the work that US lawyers are currently doing. Indiaʹs legal system is based on
English Common Law, Indian legal training is conducted solely in English, Appellate
and Supreme Court proceedings take place exclusively in English, and legal opinions
are written exclusively in English. Virtually all Indian lawyers are conversant with the
UK legal system.
The time difference between India and the United States allows for work to be done
overnight, and many people in Indiaʹs enormous workforce are college‐educated and
English‐speaking. There is a day time when there is a night in US, hence, Attorney,
while leaving the office, instruct his counterpart in India to do research on specific legal
issues and he can have the complete research done on his table in the early morning.
There are 200 million English‐speaking, college‐educated Indians and there are not 200
million jobs. Such a disparity in supply and demand allows his company to hire
credentialed, capable labor, cheaply.
With more than 500 law schools and about 200,000 law students graduating each year, it
had no shortage of attorneys. Lawyers in India had access to the same research tools
24
and case summaries as any associate in the U.S. The new professional graduates from
reputed law schools are highly motivated, intelligent, and extremely process‐oriented,
They were also eager to tackle the kinds of tasks that most new associates at law firms
look down upon‐ such as poring over and coding thousands of documents in advance
of a trial. At the same time On the other hand, US attorney fees, even of junior attorney,
is growing and becoming unaffordable. Small law firm and solo practitioner in US,
who can not afford to have large number of staff, can concentrate on their practice while
their work being handled in India at a fraction of cost and without having too much
investment in infrastructure and staff. It also helped many to grow in US.
Against this backdrop, the Foundation geared itself to train students on LPO industry
in India that began in 1995. It explored the ways for reshaping the careers of fresh law
graduates. At the same time it looks in retrospect the kinds of legal education system
we have in place and the quality of output we get from the present scenario in the state
of Assam.
Most people in disadvantaged communities and rural areas have low levels of income,
health, education, and general well‐being owing to poor access to universal services and
markets. This is basically caused by poor infrastructure provision such as energy,
transport and communication network and deficient system for financial operations.
The ultimate objective of development in these communities is the improvement of the
quality of life of the people by removing the impediments to their socioeconomic
development. In this regard, ICT can be an effective and innovative infrastructure to
enable such communities to reach markets and public services.
10. FOUNDATION DAY CELEBRATIONS
January 22 marks the Foundation Day of PFI Foundation.
Every year community representatives and staff come
together at Head Office to celebrate the event. This year,
the event was restricted to the staff of PFI Foundation
and local volunteers associated in our work. There were
over 100 participants in the event. On 21 January 2009,
staff teams discussed the Strategic Plan of PFI
Foundation. The event was an opportunity to gain a
common understanding of the vision, mission and
strategies of PFI Foundation. The event was also an
opportunity to showcase the talents of staff in cultural events and sports.
25
MEDIA REPORTS
AMAR ASOM: DAILY NEWSPAPER : FRIDAY : 25 JULY 2008 PAGE: 9
PFI FOUNDATION
DISTRIBTES FLOOD
RELIEF IN
LAKHIMPUR
Lakhimpur Staff
Reporter: 24 July : PFI
Foundation has started
distributing flood relief
materials from today in
different flood‐affected
areas of Lakhimpur
district. Funded by
Islamic Relief
Worldwide (UK) and
coordinated by the PFI
Foundation at the local
level, the relief
operation covered a
wide range of villages including Ujani Khamti, Hatilung, Jorhatia, Bogolijaan, Boalguri,
Raonapur, Tamulbari, Rangchali areas. The previously surveyed and identified
beneficiaries were given food packets of 15 Kgs each containing 10 Kg Rice, 1 litre
Mustard Oil, 2 Kgs of Lentils, 1 Kg Sugar and 1 Kg Salt. According to the local Director
of the Foundation Mr Haidor Hussain Bora, a total of 2000 families will be given such
packets. The relief operations were started today from Jorhat Hatilung Harimandir in
the presence of the Islamic Relief representative Mr Danish Aziz. The people of the area
expressed their gratitude towards the NGOs for this timely help to the flood affected
people.
26
THE DAINIK JANAMBHUMI ; TEZPUR, FRIDAY, 25 JULY 2008 : PAGE: 8
TWO THOUSAND FAMILIES GIVEN FLOOD RELIEF BY VOLUNTARY
ORGANISATION IN LAKHIMPUR
Lakhimpur : Staff Reporter: 24 July :
When people are crying a bowl of rice in
the flood affected district of Lakhimpur
a special flood relief operation has been
launched by a voluntary organization
PFI Foundation in the district with
assistance from Islamic Relief
Worldwide (UK). In the first phase 26
Villages are being covered and sufficient
food materials were distributed by the
organisation. According to the local
representative of the Foundation Mr
Haidor Hussain Bora, the relief materials
will be distributed in the five blocks of
the districts – Telahi, Lakhimpur,
Kamalabaria, Nauboicha, and.
Bihupuria. The total amount of food
materials worth Rs 842,000 will be distributed in the form of 15 Kg packets among the
pre‐surveyed most needy 2000 families benefiting 12000 people. The voluntary
organization is giving food packets each of which contains 10 Kg Rice, 1 litre Mustard
Oil, 2 Kgs of Lentils, 1 Kg Sugar and 1 Kg Salt. Today the distribution was started in
Lakhimpur development block covering Ujani Khamti, Hatilung, Jorhatia, Bogolijaan,
Boalguri areas. The programme was launched at the Jorhat Hatilung Harimandir
premises today.
27
Highlights of 2008-2009…
“The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet.”
- William Gibson
1. Capacity Building
The Foundation finalized a five‐year Work Plan, based on the Strategic Plan 2008‐2011.
An Organization Development Committee of the Foundation was formed and began
exploring strategies for increasing the financial independence of the organisation.
2. Knowledge Creation and Research
Inclusive Disaster, Emergency, and Conflict Management. The Executive Detector selected a
team led by Sri A R Barbhuiya, Education Adviser to Govt of Arunachal Pradesh to
carry out the project plan for resource mobilization in the first and second quarter of
2009.
3. Knowledge Sharing and Networking
Communities of Practice
Core groups for Communities of Practice on Inclusive Disaster, Emergency, and
Conflict Management; Women, Children, Minorities in Inclusive Development; and
Inclusive Education were identified. In cooperation with the Dr Shikhar K Sarma of
Gauhati University, it also initiated the development of an online portal to support the
Communities.
International E‐Discussion
The Foundation portal, with the support of 20Karma Inc hosted a website that will now
support e‐discussion on Inclusive Disaster, Emergency, and Conflict Management, in
which people all countries will participate. With the support of a specialist Sri Ankur
Sharma on accessible web design, the Foundation developed and launched an
independent website.
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Prospective Developments…
1. SHG Basics and Management of Revolving Fund
This training will be supported by IFB Net of New Delhi. A number of interested
members will be trained on SHG group management, savings and credit system, and
revolving fund management. We will give special training for group representatives to
develop their leadership qualities. The programme will be conducted at Block level od
the target communities. Short term training courses will be conducted for women SHG
members with the support of local bank. Specially the women SHG members from
Karimganj will be trained in Jam and Pickle making. They will start the business soon
after that with the financial support of bank. Women working in the coir making units
of the poorer rural settlements in the area will get refresher training to upgrade their
skills. Women will benefit from that programme and improved their income.
Marketing links will be established at the local level for women entrepreneurs.
Products will be displayed in exhibitions also.
2. Awareness on Labour Rights
Awareness programmes shall be an integral part of our SHGs. Increasing their
knowledge about various social issues is very important to maximize people’s
participation. Our aim is to make the people understand the root causes of
underdevelopment and social unrest so that they would work hard to overcome it. With
this view, every year we organize seminars on human rights, women rights, child
rights, child trafficking, road safety etc. In 2007, we organized a Legal Awareness
Camp on women rights (including rights of women labour). This was facilitated by
National Commission fr Women, New Delhi. Forty women participated in the two days
seminar and learned their rights.
3. Institutional Linkage of SHGs and Sustainability
IBF Net, Orissa supported our key staff training programmes to ensure sustainability of
SHGs. In 2008‐09, number of SHGs formed by Foundation has exceeded 200. It is high
time for us to hand over complete management to the old groups. Though Foundation
was encouraging group leaders to take independent charge of their groups, it was not
an easy task. In order to make more clarity on savings and micro‐credit system, to
improve their knowledge on fiscal performance, different types of investment options
and to facilitate better relations with banks, these trainings were organized. 400 SHG
leaders got the benefit and took the learned to their groups.
29
Conclusions from 2008-2009….
The year 2008‐2009 gave us a different experience compared to the previous years. The
Foundation is continuing its efforts for the empowerment of disadvantaged and
forgotten communities. It was a good year as far our achievements are concerned. We
have utilized the available funds to the maximum to implement quality programmes in
the field. While the community is moving forward in the right direction, we could
identify different needs in the development front where Foundation’s inputs would be
most needed in future. With the support of our donors, stake holders and well wishers,
our mission to serve more and more people would become a reality. The major lessons
learnt from this year that will be carried forward are:
1. Build Foundations. Think hard about long term opportunities and what
could stand in your way. Ask: What needs to be done now so that road
blacks donʹt occur in the future? For us, it was legal documents, our new
studio and our Store. These work together to allow our video licensing
model to scale for years to come.
2. Care About Contracts. If you strip everything else away, the skeleton of the
business is supported by the promises you make to people. Contracts and
agreements should be well‐written, specific to your business and reflect the
exact promises youʹre making.
3. Start Now. If you have an idea, do whatever you can today and solve
problems when they need to be solved. Duct tape and popsicle sticks can go
along way when used to test a concept in public. As Guy Kawasaki would
say ʺDonʹt worry, be crappy.ʺ
4. Have a Positive Impact. Look for opportunities to have a positive impact,
whether itʹs through your business, or willingness to go the extra mile for
someone. The returns may not come immediately, but they will come many
times over in the long run.
5. Small is Still Beautiful. We continue to be confident that we donʹt want to
grow and manage a team. We are small, happy, flexible and having a blast.
Iʹve talked with too many disappointed people who thought growing a
organization with many volunteers and employees was going to make them
happier.
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Financial Statement for 2008-2009
The audited statement of accounts of PFI Foundation for the period 1st April 2008 to 31st
March 2009 is appended herewith. The financial systems in PFI show transparency.
There is regular internal audit scrutiny and the management is continuously reviewing
and implementing needed improvements. PFI Foundation has satisfactorily complied
with all statutory requirements related to financial management.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
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