Society for Participatory Action and Reflection (SPAR), a pro-people NGO (Non-Government Organisation, non-profitmaking and non-political in nature), is committed to the empowerment of the poor and marginalised. Formed by a group of dedicated social workers in 1991, it is a pioneer organisation to practise and propagate the message of alternative sustainable development in Eastern India. It recognises and reckons skill, knowledge and experience of the people and keeps faith in the people’s participatory process in their development activities. SPAR practises this process based on human values like love, trust and cooperation, equal right, self respect and justice irrespective of caste, creed and gender. SPAR aims at sustainable, holistic and eco-friendly development. SPAR presently facilitates people's organizations and accompanies them in their development endeavours in 686 villages in Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. It extends support to 29 grass roots level network partner organizations working in 484 villages and 1 municipality area. Already 2407 Self Help Groups have been organized to make the rural poor, specially, the women, self reliant through income generation and revival of home industries. SPAR has also undertaken capacity building programmes among workers of 400 organisations in India, Bangladesh and Nepal so far. SPAR has been addressing the issues relating to lives and livelihood of people.
