There will be milk for the school children to drink, a van to tour the neighboring city and a computer to expose them to technology. In the remote forests of Kerala’s Vynad district, parents of the Karuchiya and Paniya tribes are happy for simple luxuries such as these for their children. A van, a cow, a cow- shed and a computer. A strange combination thus. It is all for a residential school a project being implemented by Dr Nambiar , a retired Kerala University professor and a dedicated social worker. He is being aided with funds and resources from an organization in Boston- AID or the Association for India’s development. A funding that had to go through three consecutive cycles of submission to the I2 Foundation, before it finally got approved, thanks to the effort of a group of dedicated,volunteers of AID, a non profit group that has its genesis in Maryland in 1991 but now has a full fledged chapter in Boston and across the US.

Banglaore-based Leo Saldhana is a man on a mission. He is passionate about environmental causes and is fighting executive indifference to upholding environmental laws of the land in a case at Bangalore. Michael and Swati Malzgaonkar are involved in watershed development and microenterprise initiatives in the remote tribal region of Juna Mozda in Bharuch district of Gujarat. These ‘Saathis’ as they are called are being supported with long- term fellowships from AID, so that they can carry out their pioneering work unhindered.

These are but a few of the efforts that saw the Boston chapter taking shape in 1997. AID supports a wide variety of social development projects, towards an improved life for the poor and underprivileged, in India.

Founded in 1991 at Maryland, it has 36 Chapters in the US, 3 Chapters in India, one each in Australia and Germany and around 400 Volunteers. It supports around 100 projects in about 18 States in India.

AID draws its vision from the belief that the problems of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, dependency, disease, social inequalities, corruption and the dwindling of natural resources like land, forests and water reinforce one another. One problem leads to the other and feeds on another. Therefore the solutions to these problems must be interconnected, just like the problems themselves.

The Boston volunteers meet once a week at the MIT campus, preparing for fresh projects, search for funding, organize events to raise money and welcome new volunteers. The main focus of the Boston group has been to:

Support Projects. – This is a major thrust area where AID strongly believes in adopting a holistic approach towards development. Whether it is looking for alternate energy sources, boosting growth and learning in rural areas, joining a Satyagraha in the Narmada Valley, setting up a children’s library in Srikakulam, or installing low cost toilets and sanitation in 24 Paraganas or empowering the women in Manthini, village,AID has shown an amazing commitment to the success of these projects.

Support Activism – Aid believes that in a Democracy everyone’s voice counts especially when you speak out.Pressing the executive to be transparent in their planning and accountable in their actions is a democratic right that a lot of AID volunteers take seriously. At any given time, it is not uncommon for at least some volunteers to be involved in writing letters to news papers and petitioning and calling their representatives in India. Most recently, following the Akshardham massacre in Gandhinagar, AID along with other Boston area groups came out promptly condemning the cowardly attack while urging all people to maintain harmony and urging the government to be watchful in protecting the lives and properties of all people, irrespective of their religious persuasion.

Support Initiatives- Led by Balaji Sampath, an AID volunteer who returned to India after finishing his Ph.D to devote his time entirely to grassroots work, AID is part of an exciting program initiative called the Hundred Block Plan. The HBP plans to initiate programs in health, literacy, savings and credit, women’s microenterprise, libraries and vocational centers in selected blocks across the country. Ultimately, it is hoped that the local community itself will sustain these without any significant external inputs. This plan draws its inspiration from the successful pilot program Arogya Iyakkam in Tamilnadu which has been recently acclaimed to be one of the top ten innovative programs in the world by UNICEF. HBP program has been flagged off recently in selected blocks of Bihar and Tamilnadu.

AID has organized a children’s festival of crafts, arts and science for several years. AID also reaches out to the local community by organizing lectures and discussions on grassroots development, decentralized democracy, pluralism and social innovation. Recent speakers featured include the Magasaysay winner Rajendra Singh who is leading a community-based initiative of greening the Aravali foothills in Rajasthan, Religious reformer and chairman of U.N. committee against bonded labor, Swami Agnivesh, Environmental activist Elango Rangaswami,, former IAS officer Harsh Mander and journalists P.Sainath and Kalpana Sharma. Encouraged by their collective learning experience on issues relevant to development, AID volunteers have offered several short seminar courses on sustainable development as part of MIT’s Independent Activity Program.

The Boston chapter has had a series of successful fundraisers. Arranged marriage, a dance drama by the accomplished artist Aparna Sindhoor was the first big event organized. This was in 1998. Several followed including a Jugal Bandhi by Pts. Viswa Mohan Bhatt and L.Subramanyam. The current event Global rhythms features an ensemble of about 60 musicians who have blended Indian and non-Indian instrumental music to great acclaim.

Volunteering in AID

Ravi Kuchimanchi, one of the founders of AID and one of the number of volunteers who have returned to India to do full-time social work says, ”I feel our strength lies in our volunteers and we need to develop ourselves completely since this resource is needed by many causes and groups. A person who has been drawn to AID or to these causes and has survived through the organization for a year has already built up considerable useful experience that little more timeliness and "finishing the job" and non-postponement kind of approach on his/her part -, whether it is in things like "I will recycle and not create so much trash everyday" or "I will build a deeper involvement with this project" or "I will write against that injustice" or in some cases "I will return to India"- will get an exponentially greater number of things done.

Volunteers of the Boston chapter and what they say about AID

Krishnan Viswanathan: See the condition in India -That is motivation enough. I have been fortunate with my life and hence I volunteer with AID to make a little difference. Volunteering with AID is very enlightening because I can learn more about rural India. The work AID does tries to ensure sustainable human development, hence I feel assured that AID is not creating dependents but rather a more self confident and self-assured society. And for this I am very grateful that I have the opportunity to volunteer with AID.
I have been with AID for the last 5 years. I started volunteering in graduate school and am currently working as a travel demand modeler in a Cambridge-based transportation consulting company. I work with others in coordinating projects , i.e., checking to ensure that projects are on track and under budget and trying to make a determination if the project meets proposed goals. For me the most attractive part about AID is the holistic approach to development which focuses not only on the needs but also the human rights about the underprivileged. A more aware society is a more just society and AID is working towards that goal, one step at a time. So all you readers come and volunteer some time and make a difference to India and yourself.

Suresh Kalkunte: Rampant inequity in India has motivated me to do something about it. I have been with AID for almost a year now. I initially involved myself in reviewing the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement project. Otherwise, I contribute to odds and ends.

Smita Ghosh:
To do something useful for my country and find myself a participant, even if minor, in India's development. I believe in 'most' of AID's philosophy. AIDers are a fun, interesting and diverse bunch of people with who we can have some intellectually stimulating/thought provoking conversation.
I started as a volunteer in the summer of 1999 and became relatively active around 2000. As a volunteer, I helped in several events (e.g. organize Children's Mela, small music concerts, managed AID table for various events). I went to the AID Conference 2001 at UMD College Park and presented AID-Boston's Activities. I helped make a poster for the conference as well.
As a Co-President in 2001, I helped in fund raising at a Bengali get together spreading AID's name and objective. I also hosted a few mailing sessions at my house and women's night outs which were fun and I got to know some of the AIDers personally. I also organized a few film viewings (When women unite and a few others) at MIT.
I have also been involved in HBP and wish to see myself being more Active with the data analyses activities. I was very motivated to write an article in one of the DISHAAs (AID’s bi-monthly news letter and donor update) on why volunteer for AID.
Project coordination was the main reason for which I volunteered at AID. However, I was unsuccessful in getting any of my projects funded. Both the projects that I selected were very interesting learning experiences for me and helped me see how AIDers prioritize and chose what kinds of projects due to limited funding.

Rahel Mathews:

1. First, my motivation to work with AID is to be involved with health, human rights, and community development projects in India. I'm inspired by all the positive energy and change that is happening in India at the grassroots level and I like raising awareness about these. It's important, I feel, to raise awareness that communities in India are not just accepting their situations. Second, I also know where my time and energy is going because we are all involved in decision making and visiting projects.

2. Right now, I'm working on the logistics of the Global Rhythms concert. My main project otherwise is being on the committee for the Hundred Block Plan. Other role in AID is Community Outreach--reaching out to new organizations and young people.

3. Though my parents are Indian, I was raised in the US and I rarely got to visit India. By working with AID I learn about the diversity of cultures in India as well as the current human rights and social justice issues. PLUS, I am part of a vibrant organization, which promotes grassroots community development.

Dipangkar Dutta:
I had stumbled upon AID-Boston while searching for a means to occasionally step outside the routines of a self absorbed life and environment. I was definitely attracted by the very simple philosophy of AID that every little change in the right direction is meaningful and essential. However, what got me hooked is the tremendous learning experience it has been, Volunteering for AID has been a great opportunity to make your strong opinions count for something. It has exposed me to a number of issues related to development from a diverse perspective. Moreover, it also provides a genuine and wholesome channel to remain engaged with one's roots while trying to bring about positive change.
- coordinating a couple of projects and Secretary of the Chapter

Siva Digavalli:
The social and economic disparity in India is painful. Apart from the general poverty there are a variety of oppressive social constructs that seem to keep people down and out. A poor girl child is doubly deprived - for being poor and for being a girl. Add other circumstances like being a dalit in a region threatened by displacement etc and the dimensions of deprivation stack up. While economic development or opportunity helps, it is clearly not enough to correct these inequities. A multi-pronged approach that not only provides opportunities but also empowers people to challenge the democratic structures to be more responsive to their needs and to question their own personal prejudices against their fellow citizens is required.

This framework of AID provides a great attraction for many volunteers. Within this wide canvas, there is scope for people who would only like to focus on single issues like education, healthcare, advocacy or pluralism initiatives, for instance and many volunteers do so.
In addition, there is a realization of the need for personal development. This takes the form of trying to be individually responsible in the way we conduct ourselves as well as a group. For example, when AID has its annual conference, attempts are made to minimize use of disposable ware and when this is not possible use biodegradable supplies. When handouts are made, small type and double sided copying is encouraged. Volunteers are encouraged to confront corrupt practices in their everyday lives e.g. giving or taking dowry or bribing a train TC for an overnight berth.Many volunteers draw their inspiration in public and private action from Mahatma Gandhi.

I have been involved with AID for over 4 years. I generally volunteer for any thing that is to be done: for example do stuffing and mailing envelopes, calling donors for annual updates and solicitation, tabling in community events, fliering at public places and restaurants, data entry, project reviews and presentations etc.

Lokvani would like to thank Siva Digavalli and other volunteers of AID for their input on this article. If you would like to get involved with AID, visit www.aidboston.org or contact Anand Sivaraman (ansiv@mit.edu)

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