FOUNDATION FOR HUMANISATION
Twelfth annual report: April 2003 to March 2004

"...to humanise is to move beyond objectification to affirm the intentionality of every human being and the primacy of the future over the present situation.  It is the image and representation of a future that is both better and possible that allows the modification of the present and makes every revolution and all change possible. This is why the pressure of oppressive conditions is not in itself sufficient to set change in motion, rather it is necessary to realise that such change is possible and that it depends on human actions. This struggle is not between mechanical forces, it is not a natural reflex. It is, rather, a struggle between human intentions. And that is precisely what permits us to speak of oppressors and the oppressed, of the just and the unjust, of heroes and cowards. This is the only thing that allows the meaningful practice of social solidarity and commitment to the liberation of those who suffer discrimination, whether they are a majority or a minority."

The Foundation for Humanisation – an overview

Volunteers of the Humanist Movement set up the Foundation for Humanisation, a registered public trust, on 7 August 1992, under the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950.

Donations to the Foundation are exempted under Section 80G of the income Tax Act.

Mission and vision

The Foundation draws inspiration from the ideals of the Humanist Movement and is guided by its maxim and objective – “to humanise the earth”. It was set up with the following objectives:

• To promote a current of thought and action with the human being as the central value and concern.

• To orient positive changes in the human being in personal and social fields.

• To influence people from various disciplines to bring about positive changes around them and to carry out actions on the basis of physical, economic, racial and religious non-violence, built on the ideas of non-discrimination, freedom and justice, with a view to overcoming physical pain and mental suffering.

The past 12 years

The Foundation aims to realise, on the ground, the ideals of the Humanist Movement formalised in its statement of mission and vision. Over the last eleven years it has initiated the following projects and activities:

• Its oldest and long-standing activity has been the publication of the monthly social development magazine, Humanscape, which has been in circulation since 1993. During the period under review, in November 2003, the magazine celebrated its tenth anniversary. A special three-part series was published from November 2003 to January 2004 to mark the occasion. The series brought together articles from experts in various fields, who took a decadal look at their areas of engagement. 

• The Foundation has published books, booklets and a newsletter on New Humanism since 1993.

• The other major area of engagement for the Foundation has been the establishment of autonomous organisations – Manavta Kendras – in villages of seven states of India. Manavta Kendras are autonomous village organisations that actively employ the ideals of the Humanist Movement through human support projects for the fulfilment of the basic needs of people. The Foundation has been working with Manavta Kendras since 1999. At the end of the period under review there were 401 Manavta Kendras comprising 14,412 volunteers in 14 districts of seven states in India.

• The Foundation proposes to link two segments of people – one with resources and the other, which is in need of the resources. It would like to fulfil the function of an intermediary between them. It would identify both the groups and facilitate the establishment of a link between them, either directly or through the Foundation. While this has been the underlying principle of all activities of the Foundation, it is epitomised in its portal www.HumanscapeIndia.net which is a virtual platform for sharing and learning for all those who are concerned about the human situation and would like to act towards making a positive difference.

• Over a period, the Foundation has built a committed team of hundreds of writers, journalists, social activists, specialists in different fields and grassroots volunteers spread over hundreds of cities, towns and villages across the country. This has been its major strength. Its organisational team has produced effective and creative work over the years with a high degree of voluntary commitment. The strength of the Foundation lies in being able to work with minimal resources, at the lowest possible cost, with minimum infrastructure. This has been the key to the sustainability of its various activities.

To promote networking among activists, voluntary organisations and social development practitioners, the Foundation has compiled and distributed a directory of 525 voluntary organisations in electronic format in 1996. The Foundation has networked with 12,000 grassroots organisations and 15,000 individuals in the course of its various initiatives across India and in other countries. Besides, it has compiled several databases of libraries, educational institutions, journalists and electronic lists of voluntary organisations.

• The Foundation has conceptualised ‘human support projects’ with a view to furthering its commitment to building self-reliant village communities. The concept and modus operandi of human support projects has been communicated to Manavta Kendras and they have been assisted in preparing proposals for such projects.  

• The Foundation encourages all forms of communication and dissemination of messages that find little or no room in the mainstream media. Towards this end it has coordinated numerous media fellowships & awards, nation-wide campaigns, workshops, and national meets during the period 1993 to 1998.

• In 1998, the Foundation launched a national campaign of building a volunteers’ cadre under the umbrella of ‘A Different India’, with the maxim, India can be different, if we are not indifferent.

• During the period under review, in January 2004, Foundation for Humanisation participated in the World Social Forum in Mumbai. It put up a stall of its publications – Humanscape magazine and those related to New Humanism and how-to manuals for village work. Over five days, the stall attracted a large number of visitors, some of who have later associated with the activities of the Foundation. A presentation was made at a workshop on ‘media and globalisation’ during the Forum.

Projects

Humanscape - a monthly magazine and portal

Humanscape, a monthly magazine was started as a vehicle to promote a current of opinion formed by those who have one common concern – the individual – and to focus on ways of bringing about positive changes in the individual and in society. Humanscape has been in publication since November 1993. Through its monthly issues, Humanscape openly disseminates ideas and facts, encouraging debate and discussion on them. Often, these issues are ones that have been sidelined by mainstream media but, nonetheless, are of great concern to society. Besides issues and ideas, the magazine features alternatives, the path-breaking work done by people who are pro-active and pioneers in their fields, the work done by groups that are making a difference.
Humanscape has come a long way, growing and learning. When it began, it comprised a small team of people with no experience of writing or publishing and with little funds. Over the years, it has built a strong editorial team of journalists, writers, academics, thinkers, non-governmental organisations and activists. It has covered a range of themes in its monthly issues – women’s issues, information technology, displacement, child abuse, inclusive education, right to food, the Gujarat genocide, earthquake rehabilitation, peace, poverty and suicide, AIDS, public health, environment, unemployment, the tyranny of time.

The year under review

From November 2003 to January 2004, Humanscape brought out its tenth anniversary series – three issues comprising decadal reviews from experts in fields ranging from education to religiosity and the Right to food.
In March 2004, a new monthly column was introduced in Humanscape. ‘Democratic Roots’ by Dr Jayaprakash Narayan will be carried monthly through this election year, in an attempt to provide pointers to each of us for participating as a proactive electorate in the democratic process. The other regular column ‘Refractive Index’ by Dilip D’Souza airs and debates ideas and searches new relevance in concepts we think we know well, but may not have thought about for a while.
The magazine’s work received fillip through its participation in the World Social Forum in Mumbai in January 2004. It put up a stall of past and current issues, from 16 to 20 January 2004. A CD was compiled of the last 60 issues and put up for sale.
Humanscape was represented by its editor, Rukmini Datta, at a seminar on ‘media and globalisation’ organised by the Alliance for a Responsible, Plural and United World and its partners, at the Forum. The panellists included journalists and media persons – Praful Bidwai, Gouridasan Nair, Sadanand Menon, Martha Wallner among others. After the ground had been laid for the need to counter globalisation of mainstream media, the Humanscape experience illustrated how this could be realised. It focussed on the difficulties of sustaining alternative media initiatives and how Humanscape has dealt with it and survived for ten years.
Going beyond sales and promotion for the magazine, the World Social Forum proved to be a platform for networking, interface and experience sharing with a large number of like-mined people from India and overseas – activists, writers, publishers, journalists, social workers and other concerned citizens. It was an opportunity to meet with a number of Humanscape’s long-standing contributors, too.

April 2003: Peace:  (guest edited by Govind Shahani) At a time when war seemed imminent in Iraq, this issue captured people’s plea for peace from the world over. Peace movements witnessed at the time have been described as the most powerful in history, unparalleled even during the Vietnam War. The issue documented anti-war voices and examined war from a human perspective

 May 2003: Vanishing crafts: This issue brought together the concerns of the handicrafts sector and of traditional artisans in a rapidly modernising and urbanised milieu. It looked at the status of crafts ranging from Goa to Orissa and profiled the work of visionaries who helped the handicrafts sector grow

  June 2003: Made in India: Pocket-sized alternative energy source, terracotta refrigerator, rural sanitary marts. These were some of the grassroots innovations profiled in this special issue, ‘Made in India’. The issue also profiled the work of a group of senior citizens near Madurai in fighting for and earning a life of dignity

July 2003: Taking on Goliath: This issue of Humanscape compiled the efforts of ordinary citizens achieveing extra-ordinary feats. A small group of individuals, from the world of academia, research, human rights and law, the women’s movement, cinema and theatre have come together to combat communal propaganda, oppression, and violence. Concerned journalists have put up gruel centres in drought stricken villages. A group in Karnataka is addressing concerns of bonded labour and Dalit youth. And many more groups and individuals were profiled in this issue.

August 2003: Learning beyond teaching: experiments with pedagogy: (guest edited by Shilpa Phadke) The issue discussed creative and radical pedagogic exercises driving home the importance of the act of teaching as much as its contents. Articles spoke of engaging students in combating communalism, discussions on contemporary sexuality and feminism. They spoke of working with different student categories – photography for children in a slum of Mumbai, Muslim girls in a journalism class, a course on Indian cinema in New York and slow learners were some of the areas covered

September 2003: Health sector reforms: a quest for integrity: (guest edited by Dr Amar Jesani) This issue tried to diagnose the problems with the health system and the ethics of the health profession. It was divided into (a) reforms for upholding integrity; (b) violence and violation of integrity; and (c) making the system accountable. It profiled the work of individuals and groups working to address these areas of concern.

October 2003: The lead article of this issue was a free-flowing conversation between Govind Shahani and Rustom Bharucha, author of Rajasthan: an oral history. Bharucha’s book is based on his discussions with Komal Kothari about folk cultures of Rajasthan. The issue included a review of Sanjay Kak’s film Words on Water, an article about the plight of the people in Nalagonda due to the uranium mining activities there and the proposal to maintain community biodiversity registers among others.

Spread across November, December 2003 and January 2004, this series of issues marked the tenth anniversary of Humanscape. The issues were dedicated to taking stock of how a variety of areas of human concern have developed in the last decade – 1993 to 2003 – and to get an understanding of where they are headed in the future.

November 2003: This issue carried the first part of s series of articles by Dilip D’Souza who took a ‘human’ look at reforms in the last decade. The other areas examined were: the voluntary sector by Vijay Mahajan, charity by Noshir H Dadrawala, the environment by Bittu Sahgal, information-communication-media by Darryl D’Monte and cinema by Maithili Rao. Meena Menon spoke with Medha Patkar about the growth and achievements of the movement to save the Narmada in the last decade

December 2003: Dilip D’Souza, in his second part of the series on reforms, took a closer look at the violence we witnessed in the last decade and attempted a look ahead in the next ten years. Jean Dreze and Colin Gonsalves wrote about food insecurity and starvation in the last decade. The other areas covered were: people’s movements by S Vivek, women and biodiversity by Dr Vandana Shiva, primary education by Dr Madhav Chavan and democracy by Dr Jayaprakash Narayan. .  

January 2004: Gerson da Cunha looked at what lay beneath our growing cities in the last decade, while Dilip D’Souza in the concluding article of his three-part series questioned what defines the vision of our cities. Govind Shahani wrote about the higher education sector in the last ten years, Fernando Garcia wrote about religiosity and Makarand Paranjape about non-violence in this period. Meena Menon travelled to Latur to see how the women victims of the killer-quake, ten years ago, have emerged stronger and determined to better their lot.

February 2004: Archiving the city: (guest edited by Rahul Srivastava) This issue looks at a variety of ways in which the city of Mumbai has been archived – through video documentation and photographs to artefacts in Chor bazaar. It looks at the act of archiving, the politics surrounding it and the use to which archives can be put to create more efficient processes of redress in a city like Mumbai.

The issue carried special reports from the World Social Forum and the Mumbai Resistance

March 2004: Between two worlds: (guest edited by Rajiv Khandelwal and Sudhir Katiyar) The issue captures testimonies of a growing group of people living on the margins – seasonal rural to urban migrants. Stories from Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala analysed the why and wherefore of migration, depicted the plight of migrants and highlighted efforts to better their lot.

www.HumanscapeIndia.net: a development portal

Humanscape uploaded its revamped development portal www.HumanscapeIndia.net in 2002 as an interactive forum for all those who are concerned about the human situation and would like to contribute towards a positive change. Apart from the electronic version of Humanscape magazine, it carries a compilation of development news, updated weekly, and information about other voluntary efforts.
The argument for setting up a portal carries forward from the Foundation’s endeavour to help bridge the gap between the resource-sufficient and those who need these resources. Although it is only a small proportion of people who have both, access to the Internet and an interest in helping improve the situation of the resource deficient, the Foundation believes that www.HumanscapeIndia.net could become an avenue for dialogue between the two groups (albeit indirectly) as well as within the resource-sufficient group itself. The objective is to build a sense of reciprocity, a give-and-take, between the resource-sufficient and the resource-deficient. Those who actively use the Internet as a medium will learn/become aware of the situation, the alternatives and the options for being able to contribute to those who need it.

www.HumanscapeIndia.net has an avenue for subscribers to:

• Communicate and share with like-minded individuals their experience/effort towards making a positive difference to the world.

• Network with people who are committed to making a positive difference, in whatever way possible.

• Share knowledge, information and technology, internal literacy, books, other publications and personal experiences.

• Learn by sharing, by reciprocating, by helping others.

• Offer and seek voluntary services.

• Write about possible ways of making a concerted/joint effort to make a positive impact.

• Call for and offer support/contribution to such effort.

Content of the portal

Humanscape news: A weekly compilation of news and features in four categories – quality of life, education, health, and spirituality. The news and features are sourced from other websites, newsletters, journals, magazines, and email circulations. Subscribers are encouraged to contribute towards this section with write-ups on their experiences of making a positive change in the situation around them.
Humanscape magazine: Issues of Humanscape magazine since January 1999 have been uploaded on to the portal and are accessible to all visitors
Voluntary organisations: In an effort to facilitate the networking of those who believe in the need for a positive change in the human situation and are working towards it, www.HumanscapeIndia.net carries Humanscape’s directory of Indian voluntary organisations, as well as links to other online voluntary organisations’ directories. A link has also been created to enable voluntary organisations to add their names to Humanscape’s directory.
Weblinks: Individuals, groups and organisations can establish a link to their web pages from the portal by uploading their information on the ‘weblinks’ page
Message board: There is space for volunteers and organisations to seek and offer services through the portal for development action.

Review and revamping

The format and contents of the portal were reviewed at the end of the reporting period based on regular feedback received from subscribers and modifications planned. The revamped portal will be uploaded in May 2004.  

Hits and visits

During the year under review the average monthly hits on www.HumanscapeIndia.net was over 110,000 with a high of 187,417 in January 2004. The weekly newsletter on the portal is mailed out to nearly 16,000 subscribers, and receives a lot of feedback and suggestions.  A ‘google’ search shows that www.HumanscapeIndia.net is linked to 1860 pages on the worldwide web. 

The team

Humanscape is built on the faith and inputs of its over 400 contributors, over 2,000 subscribers, nearly 10,000 readers and others who associate with it through the portal. They have faith in the ability of Humanscape to be a vehicle of social change and to promote a current of thought with the human being as the central concern. Its contributors comprise senior journalists, writers, illustrators, designers, academicians, students, researchers and a large number of other concerned individuals. Those who associate with the magazine do so for the joy of being part of the movement that the magazine signifies. Their contribution is purely voluntary or at rates much lower than what mainstream media offers. Five of the 12 issues brought out during the period under review were guest edited by renowned persons from various walks of life, all on their own suggestion. The Foundation views this as a step forward in increasing the number of people who form the base of the movement for social change.
The portal is compiled at the Foundation by the Humanscape team, with help from a volunteer web designer. The content, however, is supplied by a wide range of subscribers, organisations and individuals. Members of the Humanscape team have been trained to handle the day-to-day technical and content needs of the portal.

Financials 

During the year, the Foundation incurred expenses of Rs 487,480 towards development of the portal, publication, distribution and administrative expenses of Humanscape. This was covered by an income of Rs 255,589 received from subscription charge, advertisements, sale of loose copies and other miscellaneous sources. This left a deficit of Rs  231,891 which was covered by well-wishers of the Foundation by way of donations.

Synthesis

During the period under review, Humanscape furthered its commitment to combining development discourse with charting out the way forward for creating a better world. Its issues covered a wide range of concerns – pedagogy for better teaching and learning, creating healthier conditions for rural to urban migrants, archiving a city to create more efficient systems, recognising grassroots innovators, and campaigning against the war in Iraq among others. Humanscape’s strength lies in its editorial team and its support. Many people have been forthcoming to join the team and contribute to keep the magazine going.   
Humanscape’s participation in the World Social Forum 2004 gave a boost to spreading its word to a large, global audience. Many contacts developed during the Forum have been taken forward to more significant levels.

Manavta Kendra  

Give a man a fish and you feed him for now. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.’

This is the philosophy of Manavta Kendra, a process initiated by the Foundation. The initial proposal of Manavta Kendras was conceived after the cyclone devastated Orissa in November 1999. Interactions with victims indicated that they did not want charity; they needed concern. Instead of doling out support, members of the Humanist Movement worked towards rebuilding the lives of people.
The Foundation began to support the formation of Manavta Kendras, autonomous village level organisations with a local cadre, through voluntary work by members, since November 1999.
Manavta Kendras are autonomous and non-violent village level organisations formed by local people who are determined to improve their living situation. They work towards taking charge of their lives and bringing about a change in their existing condition. People help themselves to fulfil basic necessities at the village level.
Local people generate resources from amongst themselves for the organisation and functioning of their Manavta Kendra. Volunteers contribute Rs 10 every month per family towards the Manavta Kendra village fund. This is a manifestation of an act of reciprocity – an expression of genuine interest and commitment towards the Kendra. It becomes a medium of support towards common objectives, goals and expenses, as well. Every family, without any discrimination, nominates one of its members as volunteer. Each volunteer does shramdaan – he/she devotes an hour in a day, or a day in a week to village welfare work. Thus, from the organisational structure to its funding, Manavta Kendras are self-reliant, independent and, in a true sense, ‘people’s organisations’.

Objectives

• To help people help themselves.

• To propagate and practice a humane way of working to bring holistic change in society.

• To build an autonomous village organisation with a cadre (defined structure) through voluntary work by people.

• To work simultaneously for the growth of the individual and the development of society.

Way of working 

Manavta Kendra at village level works for social as well as personal changes (individual development) through a simultaneous process. One of the ways of doing this is through weekly meetings, which is the essence of the Manavta Kendra process. The focus of weekly meetings is two-dimensional, personal and social.  
Personal work: This includes exercises of self-reflection that help to understand the self and others and help people to come together and work for mutual betterment.
Personal work is meant to improve one’s life and social action of others. It is important for every volunteer to improve himself/herself as better human beings to be happier and more free, and do more good for others. Such practices help in a number of processes: (a) to have more faith in oneself, in others and in the future; (b) to increase one’s positive aspects and overcome negative ones; (c) to learn how to increase happiness and freedom; (d) to understand oneself better (“Who am I? How is my behaviour?”); (e) to learn how to treat others, to improve one’s communication and relationships; (f) to discover and increase the meaning of one’s life; (g) to increase one’s peace, one’s inner strength and one’s joy of living. In brief, the individual becomes wiser, kinder and stronger so as to be able to improve his/her social work.
Besides weekly meetings, intensive training on personal work for internal growth is organised regularly for volunteers of Manavta Kendras with a focus on the need for change in values, and for building new attitudes.
Social work: Discussions and work plans are on local issues and necessary measures are taken by volunteers to resolve them. Activities in fields of education, health and livelihood are carried out regularly. Manavta Kendras respond to issues related to alcoholism, women’s concerns, usury, human and political rights and of violence in different forms.

Trajectory of Manavta Kendras

The Manavta Kendras formation process is a little over four years old. It has unfolded itself during this period, achieving the growth and development potential of what it proposed at the beginning of 2000. Over this period it has realised enhanced synthesis and a growing model. It has fulfilled the qualities for producing demonstration effect, multiplication, reciprocity, a non-paternalistic approach and teamwork. It has defined its organisational structure from the national to the village level by formalising levels of participation with minimum criteria, and scope for respective levels of participation – co-ordinators at the gram panchayat, block, district and state levels. It has also defined specific functions to be carried out by volunteers, administrative and support members at the village, gram panchayat, block and district levels. Broad guidelines have been suggested for the formation of various committees and their functioning with participation of committee members at the village level.
The national co-ordination team fulfilled the function of providing training to co-ordinators of the gram panchayat levels and above, prepared and published necessary ‘how-to’ manuals in different languages according to need. It raised the required material and technical resources for co-ordination purposes and held five quarterly national level meetings for sharing experiences, better networking and providing direction to the process.

Growth of Manavta Kendras  

During the year under review, the Manavta Kendra (MK) process is underway  in 401 villages of 14 districts in seven states.

** From the month of October 2003, 215 Manavta Kendra of Vellore district with over 10,000 volunteers have begun to function independently.  

Health and Education

• Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts, Orissa: Manavta Kendra health committees have formed 31 first aid centres with local health workers; each centre maintains the basic medicines worth Rs 700 to 1,500. Eleven health check-up camps, 37 health awareness camps, seven malaria awareness camps and nine sunstroke protection camps were organised during the year. Manavta Kendra education committees run 35 pre-school centres with 1,123 students, which are managed by 49 volunteer teachers. Volunteers run twenty-six adult education literacy centres with about 600 participants.

• Dumka district, Jharkhand: Health committees of ten Manavta Kendras organised vaccination camps for pregnant women and young children.

• Jamtara district, Jharkhand: Six villages created space for their Manavta Kendras to start pre-school centres. The children attending the pre-school were also given nutritious food through the grain bank of Manavta Kendra.

• Madhubani district, Bihar: The education committee of Karahi Manavta Kendra distributed slate, pencil and books to motivate children of poor families to attend school. It also organised an awareness programme for parents to enrol their children to pre-primary schools. Nagawas Manavta Kendra organised literacy drive with special emphasis on awareness about women rights and duties.

• Vellore district, Tamil Nadu: Efforts by the education committees of Manavta Kendras in Pernambut, Gudiyatham and KV Kuppam blocks has lead to an increasing number of children going to school. The Jabrapattai and Kilvadegunkuttai Manavta Kendras set-up pre-school and library for the villagers.

• Latur district, Maharashtra: The education committee of Halgara Manavta Kendra has set up extra-coaching classes for the academically weak children. The children’s parents and villagers have appreciated this initiative of studying and moral education training. The women’s group of Hanmantwadi Manavta Kendra has started a pre-school with one volunteer-teacher. They have also set up a savings self-help group with 30 women.

Infrastructure

• Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts, Orissa: Manavta Kendras of Khirakolisahi and Gokundi villages have been successful in getting a sanction of Rs 30,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively from local government departments for roads, ponds and tube wells. Twelve Manavta Kendras have completed road repair work with support from gram panchayat funds. Through shramdaan, Manavta Kendras have carried out cleaning the drains, wells, ponds, tube wells, and roads.

• Srikakulum district, Andhra Pradesh: Six Manavta Kendras repaired check-dams through shramdaan by volunteers. Ten Manavta Kendras took-up road repair and construction of spring wells. They planted eucalyptus, teakwood, guava and cashew saplings.

• Latur district, Maharashtra: Halgara Manavta Kendra undertook repairing a road with shramdaan of volunteers. Borgaon Manavta Kendra members jointly approached the gram panchayat to obtain a public water connection; they regularly clean their village roads through shramdaan.

• Madhubani district, Bihar: The maintenance committee of Andhari Manavta Kendra with their volunteers, organises monthly cleaning of roads and open gutters. They built walking paths on the sides of the main road leading to the market. Nawtola, Akour and Puwaritola Manavta Kendras carried out road construction and repairs. They have planned to construct toilets for improving hygiene and cleanliness in the village. Kusvatol Manavta Kendra members raised Rs 1,500 from villagers to construct village road. This motivated five nearby villages to join hands with them to repair common road connecting these villages with main road. All five villages contributed Rs 1,500 each for this purpose. Kusmol Manavta Kendra took-up the repair of the village public school and subsequently have taken the responsibility of maintenance with the support of gram panchayats.

• Vizianagram district, Andhra Pradesh: Through shramdaan of members Buddemkharja Manavta Kendra and Dimitigudar Manavta Kendra repaired the village road and school respectively.

• Dumka district, Jharkhand: Sixteen Manavta Kendras have taken-up the cleaning of village roads, gutters and wells on a regular basis through shramdaan of its members. Most of the village roads are in poor condition causing inconvenience in travelling to other villages or to the main roads.

Grassroots politics

• Deoghar, Dumka, and Girdih districts, Jharkhand: Attempts are being made to get the government to revive panchayat elections, which have not been conducted for a long time, and to create panchayati raj with women’s participation.

• Jamtara district, Jharkhand: Women’s groups are being trained and prepared to participate in gram panchayat elections. Women have enthusiastically participated in such training.

• Madhubani district, Bihar: Women of Nagwas Manavta Kendra participate actively in the gram sabha.

Social and cultural

• Aurangabad district, Maharashtra: Two demonstrations were organised by women on women’s hardships due to water scarcity in which 350 women participated at Gangapur block and 100 at Vaijapur block. During these demonstrations, the resolution of people’s demands was presented to the tehsildar. Farmers groups of three Manavta Kendras, namely Muddeshwadgaon, Varkhed and Wahegaon planned a collective demonstration to demand implementation of ‘food for work’ programme as a drought relief measure. The tehsildar assured immediate action to resolve the issue, which will benefit 300 farmers and their family members.
  In October 2003, about 2000 farmers of Gangapur and Vaijapur blocks travelled to Mumbai for a mass ‘starvation until death’ demonstration to demand government action to resolve water issue. Volunteers of Manavta Kendras, in Gangapur block held rasta roko demonstrations demanding immediate government action to resolve the issue of water shortage. The demonstrations put government officials under pressure to release the reservoir water.

• Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts, Orissa: Peace committees of different Manavta Kendras have solved 12 cases in their villages.

• Latur district, Maharashtra: Manavta Kendras generated a harmonious environment in their villages. Manavta Kendra volunteers show a clear willingness to work together with mutual consent. Fifteen youth of the Ambedkar Nagar Manavta Kendra took up a cycle rally from Nilanga to Tuljapur to promote social integrity. The youth committee of Nelwad Manavta Kendra planted 100 tree samplings. Manavta Kendra committee members visited the block development officer (BDO) and tehsildar to appeal for water facility.

• Dumka district, Jharkhand: Peace committees of Manavta Kendras resolved eight conflicts locally without any involvement of police or judiciary. 

• Madhubani district, Bihar: Peace Committees of four Manavta Kendras resolved local conflicts through mutual consent. The block level orientation meetings with gram panchayat coordinators is held once a month and they meet the village committee members once in a fortnight.

Personal work

• The personal work practice of relaxation is done during weekly meetings in all Manavta Kendras. Members have expressed a feeling of complete relaxation and increased concentration due to its regular practice.

• Deoghar, Dumka, Giridih, and Jamtara districts of Jharkhand: Members of Manavta Kendras take interest in personal work and carry it out in Manavta Kendra meetings regularly. This has helped members to take joint decisions on issues of concern; to gained self-confidence and inner strength. People have revealed that personal work has helped to experience peace of mind and has enhanced mutual cooperation.

• Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts, Orissa: Members of Manavta Kendras take interest in the practices of personal work. Some have solved their personal and family problems working by the themes of personal work.

• Vellore district, Tamil Nadu: Six one-day workshops were organised with 50 gram panchayat co-ordinators in which the practices of “relaxation”, “experience of peace”, and “work with the Internal Guide” were practised.

National level meets 

• The third national level meet was held in April 2003 at Mumbai to introduce guidelines for minimum criteria and the scope for building a structure (cadre) for different levels of participation of the Manavta Kendra – volunteer, village co-ordinator, gram panchayat co-ordinator, block co-ordinator and district co-ordinator. The formation of councils at Manavta Kendra, gram panchayat, block and district levels and the functioning of the administrative and support members were defined. Ten model human support projects, their objectives, characteristics, minimum criteria and implementation was introduced. Forty gram panchayat co-ordinators and block co-ordinators from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu participated in the meeting.

• The fourth national level meet was held from 3 to 6 July 2003 at Mumbai. Forty gram panchayat co-ordinators and block co-ordinators who have formed a minimum of ten Manavta Kendras attended from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu. Two-days were dedicated to personal work, including the study of psychophysical practices from the book Self-Liberation. The other two-days included study and evaluation of the Manavta Kendra process during the past year, strengthening its functioning at villages, panchayat, block and district levels, and sharing of experiences.

• The fifth national level meet was held from 30 November to 3 December 2003 at Mumbai. Thirty-seven gram panchayat and block co-ordinators from Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra attended the meet. During the four-day meet, two days comprised review of Manavta Kendra work till December 2003 and planning for Manavta Kendras till March 2004 in different regions, concluding with presentation by respective representatives. The rest of the days involved intensive clarification of personal work and training to understand the basis of the Doctrine of the Humanist Movement and its application.

In all 30 visits to 13 districts in nine states were made by the five members of the national coordination team.

Presentation on the Manavta Kendra process at an international conference on 'Taking charge' at Scotland

A five-day conference on rural development was organised by University of Aberdeen, Scotland from 22 to 27 June 2003 at Inverness, Scotland, UK. 350 participants from 30 countries attended this conference. Sonali Jain, a member of the national co-ordination team, made a presentation of the Manavta Kendra process at the conference. The expenses for attending the conference were raised by her through sponsorships and from personal funds.
The Manavta Kendra approach was appreciated by the participants. As part of the publicity of the conference, five members from Scotland, India, Australia, Africa, and Romania were interviewed on local BBC Radio including Sonali Jain. She spoke about how Manavta Kendra has made people come together to initiate pre-school centres or health centres for the fulfilment of such basic needs in their villages, for which people have been waiting for decades. Manavta Kendra brings people together for their own development.

Manavta Kendra stall at the World Social Forum in January 2004

The World Social Forum (WSF) was an open platform for free exchange of ideas, experiences, for formulation of proposals to built a society centred on the human being. It brought together at least 100,000 people, who believe ‘another world is possible’.
A stall displaying Manavta Kendra’s publications and exhibiting the Manavta Kendra film was set up at the WSF from 16 to 20 Jan 2004. Over 1,500 visitors of the Forum visited the stall and 125 persons filled response forms asking for more details on the working of Manavta Kendras. They had an opportunity to view the Manavta Kendra film on its functioning; they were given a brief introductory talk, the brochure You are the Changemaker and a response sheet.
Follow-up was carried out through letters, emails and phone calls with 125 people from India, Nepal, Mauritius and Sri Lanka who had filled the response form. Positive feedbacks have since been received from Giridih district of Jharkhand, Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu and Janakpurdham of Nepal. We propose to visit them during April to June 2004 for introductory meetings and workshops.

Financials

During the year, the Foundation incurred an expense of Rs 832,361 towards co-ordination of Manavta Kendra activities and towards production and publication of training material. This amount was utilised out of the balance amount of a grant of Rs 216,303 received from Give Foundation in 2002-2003 and Rs 616,058 was utilised from the grant received from HIVOS during the year. HIVOS has given a total grant of Rs 1,582,300 which leaves a balance of Rs 966,242 to be utilised by March 2005.

Impact and synthesis

The Manavta Kendra process is proposed in the rural environment vis-à-vis the present prevalent dehumanised social environment, as a psycho-social phenomena. The process has been developed in the present times with a plan, which introduces new images based on the motor of conviction. It introduces transforming elements in personal and social fields, proposed as ‘you are the changemaker’.
The process has continuously faced resistances due to deep-set cultural backgrounds. In this situation, a new attitude is proposed and introduced through personal work practices, as individual and group work, aimed at one’s personal and social life. This new attitude is further strengthened through tangible actions by the formation of kendras and encouraging volunteers to take charge of their situation to address basic issues. It is strengthened, too, by the implementation of human support projects with the characteristics that define a new form and way of organisation & management, appropriate use of local technology available at a low cost and one that can be maintained at the village.
Such a process has the potential to bring changes in the space of representation of a larger population, beginning with one person in one place and ultimately reaching the whole environment/society.

Manavta Kendras that have displayed organisational maturity and have taken the initiative of village welfare, have been encouraged to take up human support projects under the manav sahkar abhiyan. Human support projects address the health, education and livelihood needs of people at the most basic levels. In the initial stages, they are not very complex in their planning and implementation, running a pre-school centre for instance. Projects of this nature, it is envisaged, will help the members learn organisation and management skills. The projects are designed such that the dependence of the Manavta Kendra on the support of external agencies is at the lowest level possible and will, in due course, reduce even further. The projects can be replicated and scaled up within the village by members of the Manavta Kendra as per requirement.
Human support projects utilise a four-pronged approach to individual and community development:
Personal growth: The Personal Work module, complemented by interactive workshops, is geared to improve understanding of oneself and others and to develop a broader perspective on interpersonal relationships. It is meant to improve one’s life and one’s selfless action towards others. It helps the person reduce mental suffering and violence, thus gaining internal unity and coherence in one’s life.
Organisation and management: The Basic Organisation module, illustrated through training workshops and field interaction, lays down the guidelines for building people’s autonomous organisations. The Manavta Kendra epitomises a model of organisation based on self-managed action and minimal dependence on external support. It is the theory that will direct the action of people towards taking charge of their situation.
Economy: The human support projects proposed for Manavta Kendras under the present proposal all have a common thread of self-reliant economic growth, running through them. They are aimed at reducing the economic dependence of people on external credit agencies (moneylenders, banks, etc.) or charity/subsidy schemes and promote the habit of saving and generating resources to fund development work in the village.
Technological advancement: The proposed human support projects of Manavta Kendras utilise technology that is locally available, sustainable, and cost-effective. It can be used and maintained by members (with requisite training for skills). The operation and maintenance of the technology is such that it does not induce external dependence in the long term.

The year under review

The concept and proposed framework of human support projects were shared with Manavta Kendras at national level meets in April and July 2003. A number of questions were raised by the district, block and gram panchayat co-ordinators about the implementation of human support projects. The focus of the discussions was on how members of Manavta Kendras would take on the responsibility for planning and implementation of village development projects in a long-term perspective. The ultimate goal is for members to be free of long-term resource support from external agencies. 
Some Manavta Kendras have submitted their proposals for the implementation of human support projects in their villages. The Foundation for Humanisation has put the proposals through strict scrutiny since the projects will lay the foundation for long-term self-reliance. The proposals have been sent back with comments and suggestions for corrections and discussed with Manavta Kendra members. The common shortfall is the lack of long-term thinking, perhaps arising out of experience of working in ‘project’ modes with financial support for a limited period of time, rather than focussing on the process, as described above. 
The process has initiated Manavta Kendras into planning projects from a long-term and self-reliant standpoint. The Foundation will continue to interact closely with the Manavta Kendras, which are showing promise and initiative in taking up the projects. It is envisaged that during the forthcoming period of review, some of them will implement human support projects.

Receipt and Payment account for the year-ended 31 March 2004

Income and expenditure account for the year-ended 31 March 2004

Notes:

1. Maximum remuneration paid to staff member/consultant is Rs 148,000 for the year and lowest is Rs 21,600.
2. Total staff members and consultants at the Foundation for Humanisation are six.
3. Distribution of staff members

4. No staff members, consultants and trustees were paid/reimbursed any foreign travel expenses.
5. No salary or any other payment is paid to the head of the organisation.

Balance sheet as on 31 March 2004

Notes: 1. Excess of income over expenditure comprises a sum of Rs 225,254 towards Human Support Project expenses and Rs 966,242 towards Manavta Kendra co-ordination and publication expenses Rs 62,255 towards administrative expenses and publication of Humanscape magazine.
2. Accounts are maintained on cash basis

Furthering of its objectives

The Foundation proposes to further its objectives of its mission and vision by building grassroots autonomous organisations in rural areas. It proposes the creation of valid reference points in the fields of voluntary work and building autonomous grassroots organisations (sanghathans), by demonstrating and sharing knowledge of based on actual experiments made as alternatives in the fields of education, health, livelihoods, quality of life, media and personal transformation.
The Foundation also proposes to further its objectives of its mission and vision by establishing permanent and need-based research and experiment oriented Centres for Cultural and Spiritual Development. It proposes the creation of valid reference points in the fields of culture and spiritual works capable of  personal transformations, by demonstrating and sharing knowledge of based on actual experiments made in these fields.
The Foundation proposes to link people who have technical, material & economic resources, skills, knowledge and experience, with those who want to learn and change their immediate environment. It will bring out demonstrative publications, theoretical works and organise channels of interactive communication simple enough to be used by others for reproducing demonstrative works.

Focus areas/projects

Humanscape magazine will continue to be published on a monthly basis. Some of the areas, which will be covered during the forthcoming year are, media and disability, crafts and the market, solid waste management, intellectual property rights and the media, water management in urban areas, among others. Efforts will be stepped up on building significant associations that will contribute to enriching both, the content and the promotion of the magazine.

www.HumanscapeIndia.net

The growing trend in hits and visits to the portal will be kept up with specific efforts to maintain its relevance for subscribers and visitors. The design and format of the portal will be revamped to facilitate greater participation of subscribers and networking between them. The target number of 500,000 monthly hits will continue to be pursued. Efforts are underway to build a steady team of volunteers to associate with the portal to ensure its regular updation and maintenance.
It is clear that the future of mass communication is through the electronic media. Although the portal does not undermine the significance of Humanscape among the Foundation’s activities, it implies that new and more recent forms of communication have to be utilised to achieve the ultimate objective of affecting a positive current of opinion through information dissemination.

Manavta Kendras

The Foundation proposes to support the numerical and qualitative growth of Manavta Kendras at the national level. It proposes to consolidate its work of last four years. The Foundation envisages that the work done in these years  will be demonstrative and will help in producing a well-experimented theoretical backdrop, which can be replicated at large by people.
Manavta Kendras will also work towards bringing specific changes in the following areas:
Social and economic changes through the implementation of human support projects characterised by the fulfilment of the basic needs of health, education, livelihood and infrastructure.
Cultural and psychological changes by promoting active resistance against social evils such as alcoholism, religion and communal divide, economic divide, discrimination against women and usury (borrowings at high interest rates).
Political change by demanding to hold and participate actively in gram sabhas (four times a year) and in gram panchayat and by Manavta Kendra members participating as candidates in local elections.
Personal change through conducting personal work at all meetings and by holding specific meetings for training of the development of a new sensibility, for building homogeneity in the group, for increased individual and group capacity for reflection, for developing humanist thoughts and stands, for learning about humanist principles and ideas, and for better social action through valid action, by holding retreats for deeper reflection, mediation and study.

Human support projects

Assisting Manavta Kendras to develop viable human support projects will be an area of focus in the forthcoming period. It is hoped that some of them will put up proposals for long-term and self-reliant management village welfare projects in the fields of health, education and livelihood.

Projected expenses

Particulars	Amount (Rs.)
Towards editorial, publication, distribution and administrative expenses of Humanscape magazine for 12 issues	600,000
Towards development, maintenance and editorial expenses of the social development portal www.HumanscapeIndia.net	50,000
Towards formation and development of 1,000 Manavta Kendras at different villages at national level	1,000,000
Towards implementation of Human Support Projects	200,000
Towards Centres for Cultural and Spiritual Development	200,000
Towards administrative expenses	100,000
Total	2,100,000

Projected income

Particulars	Amount (Rs.)
By way of subscriptions, sales of Humanscape magazine & advertisements and sponsorships in Humanscape magazine and portal	300,000
By grant and donations for the formation and development of Manavta Kendras*	1,000,000
By donations and contribution from individual supporters and other trusts	600,000
By donations specifically for Human Support Projects**	200,000
Total	2,100,000

*The Foundation has already received grant to the extent of Rs 990,000 from HIVOS for the financial year 2004-2005.
**The Foundation has already raised donations to the extent of Rs 225,00 from various donors.

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