FTC - India is
carrying the torch, flashed by our parent Centre for Communication and
Development (CCD), way back in 1978.It was the year of devastation.
Large part of India including West Bengal were submerged by one of
the worst floods in the century. Thousands died. Millions turned
homeless beggars. The entire rural-economy collapsed. When
everything was in disorder, a group of youth felt the urge to stand
by the unfortunates and CCD was born.
The journey began
with relief work. The focus was laid on building rural
infrastructure, both physical and social. Sooner or later was felt
the dire need to raise mass awareness. CCD had spread its wings
farther. It was engaged in building a society, well aware of their
rights and courageous enough to raise a voice of protest against the
deprivation. There was no looking back since then. For the last 15
years the organisation has grown from strength to strength. Today,
CCD has a vast and strong base in the rural areas of 24-Parganas
(North), 24-Parganas (South), Nadia, Murshidabad, Midnapore, Bankura
and Purulia districts of West Bengal, where the activists are
putting in all their efforts to reach out to the last person in the
society. CCD restores the rightful demand of the downtrodden from
the nation.
Today, Free The
Children - India is a part and parcel of CCD. It has taken full
charge of issues related to children and child rights. FTC - India
has its own associates spread over entire West Bengal and beyond.
The organisation maintains a separate identity and mechanism under
the broad umbrella of CCD.
We refer FTC - India
as a project of CCD and this is the biggest one.
To tell you more about CCD and its
varied and unique range of developmental activities we will host
another site soon. Since then, glance through the most interesting
ones. |
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- Organising mass movement against the ills and continuing
development work are difficult, indeed. Yet, we could maintain the
balance. We run 62 primary schools with 9,245 students in remote
villages of two districts. At least 25 schools are located in the
backward rural areas dominated by tribal population supplementing
the absence of government sponsored schools. Another 100 schools
will be set up in 2000-200
- The poorer section is more concerned to meet both ends than
pursuing education of their children. We, therefore, concentrate
on economic uplift. Initially each family is awarded an aid of
Rs.2000 as seed capital to augment a trade and send children to
school. While men work, women are introduced to self-reliant
groups (SRGs). Each group of 20-50, save and avail credit against
their own deposits to make further investments in business.
- SRGs hold a prime position in our developmental work targeted
at education, health & hygiene and economic uplift. Each
member enjoys CCD's health care services provided through eight
daily clinics and a number of mobile units. The facilities are
provided through local affiliates and CCD Women Welfare Centre. So
far, over 415 such upwardly mobile groups are promoted. The number
is set to be double in this fiscal.
- We are currently planning expansion of insurance coverage on
both people and livestock through SRGs.
- They said chemical fertiliser brought home a Green Revolution.
We were sure, it was the hallmark of doomsday. And, so we promoted
the use of traditional organic fertilisers. Apart from restoring
the ecological balance and bio-diversity, it proved to be a
cost-effective option for the farmers. The cost of farming,
especially on fertiliser came down. Mother Nature remained happy.
A bountiful of crop for the generations to come, was ensured. CCD-
Farmers' Club looks after the project. Promoted in 1982, these
techniques gained popularity. At least 10 per cent of agricultural
land at Amdanga block in North 24-Parganas is now under
bio-farming.
- Information holds the key to success. CCD's District
Information and Documentation Centre for the Marginalised, acts as
an idea bank.
- The Handicap Welfare Centre facilitated with its own
fabrication shop, comes to the aid of wide range of physically
handicaps across West Bengal.
CCD is not a signboard organisation. Really
you wouldn't find its billboards. We work, silently, through local
clubs and other bodies. There are over 4,500 such
affiliates. |
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