AID is a 20-year-old US-based fund raiser that works with grassroots organizations in India and initiates efforts in education, livelihoods, natural resources including land, water and energy, agriculture, health, women's empowerment and social justice. Through concerts by Indian artistes and through 'walks' and other events, it raises $1 million annually and has 100 projects in 18 states.

'Dil hai Hindustani' is a phrase that best sums up Association for India's Development's vast network of workers and volunteers for whom all roads lead to India. The much-needed funds are raised abroad but channeled to a staggering sweep of projects within the country. From helping organic farmers in the Sunderbans, to teaching underprivileged kids in Tamil Nadu, from encouraging citizens to file RTIs to funding NGOs that fight corruption, from waste management in Bangalore to offering flood relief in Murshidabad, it is involved in diverse activities.

AID is also at the forefront campaigning to free Binayak Sen, protesting against Dow Chemicals and calling for a debate on BT Brinjal. Among many others, Arvind Kejriwal's NGO Parivartan was supported by AID in 2008 to pursue the RTI campaign. The jury voted for AID because they "do very good work" as Jairam Ramesh said and because "they encourage young people to get involved," according to Nandan Nilekani.

"Working with AID was an eye-opener," says activist Souparna Lahiri. A resistance campaign expert involved in multiple small movements, Lahiri says AID volunteers are deeply involved and "willing to understand where they are putting their time and money and learn from it" . "For instance, during the forests rights movement, they were in constant touch with me, on the whys and why-nots of the issue, the problems and challenges," says Lahiri, an AID associate since 2006. "As a result, I developed clarity on the impact of my work as well, whether things could be done in a different way and so on," he adds.

Going by the reach that the low-profile fundraiser has managed since its inception in 1991 in the US, AID is an idea warmly embraced by its donors and recipients. With 36 chapters in the US, and about 10 supporting ones within India (set up by volunteers who have returned), AID is wholly a chapter-led organization. This essentially means that each chapter, whether in a city in the US or the one in Australia, raises funds for projects the chapter chooses, routing the donations through a number of core AID funds.

It interestingly has a Jeevansathi fund which is meant to serve committed persons who chuck plush jobs and cushy lives to throw themselves into the task of nationbuilding back in India. AID's group of 'saathis' and 'jeevansathis' is the network's foot soldiers fully engaged in social work who lend their expertise to grassroots projects.

In the close reading of unfolding contemporary struggles, whether for land, water or livelihood, or in powerful statements against atrocities, AID has emerged as a strong civil society voice, expressed in a plethora of small movements and campaigns in various parts of the country.

It has had its share of stardust too. AID legend has it that director Ashutosh Gowariker visited Bilgaon, a tribal village in the Narmada valley where AID supported a power generation project, while scripting for Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Swades. He spent time with AID's Aravinda Pillalamarri and its founder Ravi Kuchimanchi, who were closely involved with the Bilgaon project.

The network is quick to set up specific disaster funds such as Cyclone Aila Relief Fund or Bihar Floods Relief Work or most recently sending relief after the Murshidabad floods in West Bengal. The approach to nation building, "based on compassion and integrity", say the organizers, has a multiplier effect. AID has spread its donor network across 48 cities in the US, Canada, Australia and India and supports projects in 18 states.

|