Objectives
- To promote unity and co-operation among landless poor, small and marginal farmers and women.
-To develop access to Government programs.
-To empower people, particularly oppressed or exploited poor and women.
-To promote rural health and sanitation
-To facilitate the people to demand and to obtain their rights. To improve the economic status.
-To analyze socioeconomic and political situation/reality of the people.
-To develop/re-establish natural resources.
-To promote collective action among Voluntary Organizations.
-To disseminate the on development information to other like-minded.
*Our Core Values
Social Justices
Gender Equality
Secularism
Rationalism
Peace & Tolerance
Unity in Diversity
Harmony with Nature
Nature of the Organization:
It is a non-profit and secular voluntary organization, based in Anantapur dist. It was registered in the year 1980 under Societies Registration Act, 1860. Society Registration No: 105 dated: 23.06.1980
FCRA No: 010120037 dated: 23rd April 1985
IT Exemption: Registered under section 12A of the Income Tax Act No: CIT (AP-III/36/85-86 Dated: 24.06.1985
TAN No: HYDM03080A
PAN No: AAATM8350K
History
Mass Education was founded by a group of 7 passionate rationalists led by Mr. N.S.Bedi in the year 1980. The idea of starting Mass Education was to work among the rural poor for making them conscious of the socioeconomic realities and assist them to resolve their problems on their own. The founders of Mass Education believe that social awareness and organization of the poor is a prerequisite for developing and liberating them from exploitation and dependency. To materialize the above idealism, Mass Education started working just in 5 villages in the beginning with a team of 5 members where as now it is working in about 200 villages with a 92 member team. During 1980s it focused mainly on the social discrimination issues related to Dalits (Scheduled Castes), in 1990s it also started working on the issues related to gender discrimination and environmental degradation and in 2000 it included the Marginalized Muslims as one of the target groups. The organization has also started working on HIV /AIDS from 2005 onwards. Though there is shift in its focus and approach, basing on the changing ground realities, the main target groups have always been the extremely marginalized sections of the society such as dalits, rural labor, women, poor peasantry, child labor, HIV prone populations like s*x workers etc. Apart from its main working villages, Mass Education has been active at the district level and initiated number of collective developmental activities in the area of environment, women, and Muslim Minorities in collaboration with other voluntary organizations. It has played active role in the formation of an environment networks such as Ananta Paryavarana Parirakshana Samiti (APPS) in the year 1992, Mission for Marginalized Muslims (MMM) in the year 1999, Mahila Ikya Vedika (2002) and Voluntary Action Network Anantapur (VANA) in the year 1996. Mass Education has also actively participated in the process of promoting environmental Networks in Kadapa, Chittoor and Kurnool districts. It has also played an important role in the promotion of state level networks such as, APWN (Andhra Pradesh Women’s Network), DAMM (Development Action for Marginalised Muslims) and FANSA (Fresh Water Action Network in South Asia). Activities
Natural Resource Management
Gender Development
Water & Sanitation
HIV / AIDS Programme
Marginalised Muslims
Madarassas
Training and Coultations
Research and Studies
Publications
Involvement at District
Our Donors
Initially Mass Education was encouraged and supported by Young India Project, a well known voluntary organisation of Anantapur district. Later on Mass Education was further supported by two secular funding agencies like:
(i) Action for World Solidarity (ASW), West Germany, and
(ii) Humanistic Institute for co-operation with Developing Countries (HIVOS), Netherlands. Later on we were / have been supported by the following:
International Developmental Agencies
OXFAM,
WATER AID,
Centre for World Solidarity,
UNICEF,
UNDP,
India HIV/AIDS Alliance: Andhra Pradesh
Consulate of Japan
EED
Action Aid
National Level developmental agencies like:
Society for the Promotion of Waste Lands Development,
CAPART,
CRIDA
State Government Departments like:
Irrigation,
Rural Development,
DWMA
Our Strengths
30 years experience in rural community organization and implementation of developmental activities. Enthusiasm to develop low-cost, creative and replaceable development models. Natural Regeneration, Campaign on Forest fires etc., are some of the examples. It has good networking skills. It has maintained cordial working relations with number of voluntary organizations not only at district and Rayalaseema region but also at the state level. A long track record of working in collaboration with other voluntary organizations on significant developmental issues such as environmental degradation, Rights of Dalits (untouchable community, which is categorized as Scheduled Caste), Gender Discrimination and Livelihood related issues of the Resource less Poor. Skills and commitment to liaison between different district level government departments, VOs in the interest of successful implementation of government poverty alleviation schemes like National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Micro Finance etc. Experience in preparing training modules and conducting the training courses. Mass Education has training center of its own in its project area. Conceptual clarity on developmental issues. Apart from its project field office, Mass Education has an administration office at the head quarters of the district.
