Pnp Annual Report 2007-2008

ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008

Partners in Prosperity Society

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ORGANISATION AT A GLANCE Name of the Organisation Partners in Prosperity Society Registered Office C6/6048 Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070 Important Numbers +91.135.6451719, +9997997740 Email [email protected] Status Non-profit society. Certified under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, Delhi. Registration No. #S 337985 of 1998 dated 20 Oct. 1998. Certificate of 12(A) Applied for Certificate of 80G (5) (VI) Applied for FCRA Applied for PAN No. AABTP2591E TAN No. DELP13178E Auditor M/s B.N. Mishra & Co., 102 F.F., Friends Tower, Commercial Complex, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi 110063. Tel: +91.11.42321347

MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY Name

Occupation

Designation

Mr. Manab CHAKRABORTY

Economist

Chairperson

Mr. Polamarasetty Murali SRINIVAS

Actuary

Secretary

Ms. Rita SARIN

Sociologist

Treasurer

Ms. Gayatri BUDDHA

Marketing Expert

Member

Ms. Renu WADEHRA

Sociologist

Member

Mr. Sobhan SINHA

Statistician

Member

Mr. Venkata Ram Babu GURALLA

Retd. Airforce Officer

Member

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BACKGROUND Partners in Prosperity Society is a volunteer organization which is registered under Society Registration Act. XXI of 1860 Govt. of NCT No. #S 337985.It was established on 20th Oct’ 1998 by Renu Wadehra and Manab Chakraborty who were working in the fields of basic health, education, environmental protection and human rights. The organization was and remains entirely self-funded. The organization aims to empowerment of the economically weaker & socially marginalized section of the society through capacity building of the people. A major objective of the society is to promote economic development and welfare for all, especially the marginalised and weaker sections of the society including women, children, Scheduled castes and tribes, disabled, and physically or learning challenged. COMMITMENT TO THE ELDERLY IN INDIA Old Age Day Care Centres: As per the Strategic Plan 2007-09, the Society has had several rounds of discussions with old age care institutions, and SAI International. A blueprint for a old age home in Dehradun is under preparation with the help of Mr. Gyan Sagar, Civil Engineer. Ophthalmic Care: Old age is associated with a number of health problems, one of them being decrease in vision. This results in the aged being dependent on his family for help as he faces the disability to carry out the normal activities of daily living. Since many older persons in India suffer from cataract related blindness which is treatable if cataract surgery is performed on time. We have invited Shankara Netralaya, Madurai to open a branch in North India. We have also trained 20 community workers in repair, sale and fitting of spectacles and visual aids. Vision Spring (formerly Skojo Foundation) has agreed to provide visual aids, and supply of spectacles at a discounted price. Community Development Programmes: The aged persons have special health care and nutritional requirements. It is even more so in rural areas where the aged suffer from poor living conditions, insufficient and imbalanced diet coupled with hard work and low income. We will initiate developments which will not only improve the lives of the elderly in particular but the whole community in general.

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We have participated in a number of deliberations organised by South Asia Pro Poor Livestock Policy Programme, National Dairy Development Board of India. We have developed a scheme for providing small ruminants to the elderly in generating a regular income from the sale of milk, meat and also in improving their dietary status. Negotiations are on with the Government of Uttarakhand to implement the scheme in various locations.

Figure 1 Young women discussing livelihood options

MICROFINANCE SERVICES During the current year, the loan portfolio of the Society was transferred to M/s Shah Sandhu Finance Co. Private Limited. It was felt the Society should concentrate its microfinance services in areas and with communities who are financially excluded. The Society will concentrate in future its efforts for promotion of vocational training of youth, and forming and strengthening of various producer organisations such as self-help groups, water users’ associations, forest protection committees, credit and commodity cooperatives, and panchayats. We have approached Rashtriya Mahila Kosh and BASIX for financial support.

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Figure 2 A workshop on microfinance in progress

LIVELIHOOD INITIATIVES International Women’s Day: With the help of Govt. of India, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, we observed International Women’s day on 08th March at Vasant Kunj, New Delhi and Sahaspur, Dehradun District. A large number of woman from different village participated in the Programme.

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Figure 3 Women's power in action

Financial Literacy Awareness for Women: In collaboration with Mimo Finance, a Programme of two days was organized on 15-16 December 2007 for the financial literacy awareness of women and also the knowledge of law relating to banking.

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Figure 4 Women in a Financial Literacy Class

Vocational Training: A workshop was organised on November 5th 2007 at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee to explore the feasibility of microfinance support for selfemployment. Mr. Manab Chakraborty, Chairman and Mr. Wenzel Paulig addressed the audience. The workshop endorsed the idea of building the skills of women workers engaged in unorganised sector like organic faming, household industries, petty trades services and construction activity. The areas in which skill training is being contemplated include dress making, Embroidery & Needle Craft, Fruit & Vegetable Preservation, Hair and Skin Care, food preparation, incense making, bulb making, packaging, physiotherapy, care for the elderly, and so on. We are in working with Directorate of Technical Education, Delhi and two women’s polytechnic in Dehradun for identifying trainers, developing curriculum and imparting basic skill training to women.

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Figure 5 A site for training in organic farming

FUNDRAISING We have applied for registered charity status under Section 12A (a) and 80(G). Without obtaining tax exemption status, we are not in a position to raise resources from the public. MANPOWER RECRUITMENT As funds could not be mobilised to support recruitment of additional manpower, we did not proceed with the appointment of a full time Executive Director. AUDITED FINANCIAL REPORTS Audited statement of accounts for the period ending 31st March 2008 has been circulated to the members. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The directors wish to place on record the valuable services of M/s B.N. Mishra & Co., Chartered Accountants in preparing auditing our books.

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