Samarpita Mukherjee-Sharma speaks to Dr Narayan B Iyer, CEO and National Co-ordinator of Indian Development Foundation [IDF – formerly Indian Leprosy Foundation] about the campaigns they have taken up in the last 27 years. “IDF is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which has neither sought nor received any government financial grants. IDF is not supported by any major foreign donor agency either. The Foundation believes in self-reliance and raises its own funds through public appeals,” informs Iyer.
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| Tilak Bal Gurukul, Mangalore |
Our origin
“In response to the national call by our former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi to NGOs and public-spirited people to take up leprosy elimination work, Dr. A. R. K. Pillai, the Founder President, gathered a few Samaritans and founded Indian Leprosy Foundation. The Foundation was registered as a Charitable Trust under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and Bombay Public Trusts Act of 1950,” informs Iyer. The important purpose for which Foundation was formed is summarized below:
* To be a national NGO with focus on leprosy/ TB elimination work
* To be a self-supporting NGO without seeking Governmental Grant.
* To be supported by willing and voluntary donations from the public.
* To share its major resources with leprosy/ TB/ education Projects by giving annual grants to network with NGOs/ Projects.
* To strengthen awareness about leprosy/ TB through its own staff and volunteer teams, use mass communication channels and erase social stigma.
* To work hand in hand with Union and state health authorities and Municipal Corporations
* IDF has over 100 Associate leprosy/ TB Projects spread over the country and they do all aspects of treatment and rehabilitation free of cost and without any discrimination whatsoever.
Clean beaches
Come September, and this year again, Mumbai beaches on the morning after emersion of any idol will be a sight to behold. What used to be a regular place to visit for the locals, would turn into a litter ground full of mutilated idols and other garbage. We bring the idols home and worship for 10 days and then when the time to end our festivities come, this is what we do. Of late, we have become more conscious about our environment and have ourselves taken the task of cleaning our beaches, instead of waiting for BMC to finish the task.
“Like every year, Indian Development Foundation (IDF) will take the lead to cleanup Juhu Beach the morning after the Ganpati immersion, this year also. Last year, the IDF team in collaboration with staff members of Dominos Pizza Ltd., Youth volunteers of Gyaan Connect, NSS Volunteers from Mumbai University, students from Vivek College of Commerce, Goregaon (W), students Podar International School, Santacruz (W) and volunteers from various schools/colleges in Mumbai joined hands with Municipal Corporation and various agencies and school students in cleaning Juhu Beach during the morning hours of Sept 4, 2009. This year we plan to do the same on September 22,” reminisced Iyer.
“We could see more volunteers turning up every year to participate in the cleanup drive and feel happy in doing their social responsibility,” expressed Priya Dutt, MP. “I am happy to see young students shouldering the responsibility of keeping our Juhu Beach clean,” she said.
“The total effort by the students and volunteers is appreciative and we could see Juhu beach with sparkling yellow sand once the debris strewn is removed,” Iyer said.
Anti-tuberculosis drive
IDF is partner of the STOP TB Partnership housed by the World Health Organisation and is actively trying to spread awareness about TB and precautions against it. Their website provides all possible information to anyone who would like to know more about TB, how to get treated, how to stop it from spreading, etc at http://www.idf.org.in/800%20x%20600/idf%20hp/awareness/TUBERCULOSIS.htm
“In response to the national call by our former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi to NGOs and public-spirited people to take up leprosy elimination work, Dr. A. R. K. Pillai, the Founder President, gathered a few Samaritans and founded Indian Leprosy Foundation. The Foundation was registered as a Charitable Trust under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and Bombay Public Trusts Act of 1950,” informs Iyer. The important purpose for which Foundation was formed is summarized below:
* To be a national NGO with focus on leprosy/ TB elimination work
* To be a self-supporting NGO without seeking Governmental Grant.
* To be supported by willing and voluntary donations from the public.
* To share its major resources with leprosy/ TB/ education Projects by giving annual grants to network with NGOs/ Projects.
* To strengthen awareness about leprosy/ TB through its own staff and volunteer teams, use mass communication channels and erase social stigma.
* To work hand in hand with Union and state health authorities and Municipal Corporations
* IDF has over 100 Associate leprosy/ TB Projects spread over the country and they do all aspects of treatment and rehabilitation free of cost and without any discrimination whatsoever.
Clean beaches
Come September, and this year again, Mumbai beaches on the morning after emersion of any idol will be a sight to behold. What used to be a regular place to visit for the locals, would turn into a litter ground full of mutilated idols and other garbage. We bring the idols home and worship for 10 days and then when the time to end our festivities come, this is what we do. Of late, we have become more conscious about our environment and have ourselves taken the task of cleaning our beaches, instead of waiting for BMC to finish the task.
“Like every year, Indian Development Foundation (IDF) will take the lead to cleanup Juhu Beach the morning after the Ganpati immersion, this year also. Last year, the IDF team in collaboration with staff members of Dominos Pizza Ltd., Youth volunteers of Gyaan Connect, NSS Volunteers from Mumbai University, students from Vivek College of Commerce, Goregaon (W), students Podar International School, Santacruz (W) and volunteers from various schools/colleges in Mumbai joined hands with Municipal Corporation and various agencies and school students in cleaning Juhu Beach during the morning hours of Sept 4, 2009. This year we plan to do the same on September 22,” reminisced Iyer.
“We could see more volunteers turning up every year to participate in the cleanup drive and feel happy in doing their social responsibility,” expressed Priya Dutt, MP. “I am happy to see young students shouldering the responsibility of keeping our Juhu Beach clean,” she said.
“The total effort by the students and volunteers is appreciative and we could see Juhu beach with sparkling yellow sand once the debris strewn is removed,” Iyer said.
Anti-tuberculosis drive
IDF is partner of the STOP TB Partnership housed by the World Health Organisation and is actively trying to spread awareness about TB and precautions against it. Their website provides all possible information to anyone who would like to know more about TB, how to get treated, how to stop it from spreading, etc at http://www.idf.org.in/800%20x%20600/idf%20hp/awareness/TUBERCULOSIS.htm
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| World TB Day at Hyderabad |
“TB is a killer disease and India has about one third of patients the world over. It is estimated that there are about 14 million TB cases in India with an annual infection rate of 5 lakh patients and about 1000 patients dying every day. The annual loss to the nation due to TB is estimated at Indian Rs.12,000 crores,” informs Iyer.
IDF has been earmarking a substantial portion of its receipts through public donations and sharing this with leprosy/ TB/ education Projects spread out in India. Their accounts are regularly audited by Regional and Central team of Auditors.
IDF has its Head Office in Mumbai, Southern Regional Office at Chennai, Karnataka Area Office at Bangalore, Rajasthan Office at Jaipur and Associates well-spread out. Our Field teams are located at Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa Rajasthan.
Education
Education to the handicapped, the poor and the marginalized children in rural areas, tribal villages and urban slums is a priority concern for IDF. Education gives empowerment in employment areas, commercial activities, health care and in fact Total Quality of Life.
“In health, IDF actively spreads public awareness on various health issues like leprosy (residual cases), tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS, cancer and blindness. In the field of education, we work towards sponsoring the poor and the handicapped students particularly in rural area, establishing empowerment schools/bal gurukuls, establishing bridge schools for rag-pickers/street children, sponsoring children of leprosy affected people/ specially challenged children, etc. We are also actively involved in setting up tribal village schools, adoption of villages, creating awareness on road safety, water conservation, waste prevention, removal of superstitious beliefs and educate on self destructing habits like smoking, alcoholism,” finishes Iyer.
IDF has been earmarking a substantial portion of its receipts through public donations and sharing this with leprosy/ TB/ education Projects spread out in India. Their accounts are regularly audited by Regional and Central team of Auditors.
IDF has its Head Office in Mumbai, Southern Regional Office at Chennai, Karnataka Area Office at Bangalore, Rajasthan Office at Jaipur and Associates well-spread out. Our Field teams are located at Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa Rajasthan.
Education
Education to the handicapped, the poor and the marginalized children in rural areas, tribal villages and urban slums is a priority concern for IDF. Education gives empowerment in employment areas, commercial activities, health care and in fact Total Quality of Life.
“In health, IDF actively spreads public awareness on various health issues like leprosy (residual cases), tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS, cancer and blindness. In the field of education, we work towards sponsoring the poor and the handicapped students particularly in rural area, establishing empowerment schools/bal gurukuls, establishing bridge schools for rag-pickers/street children, sponsoring children of leprosy affected people/ specially challenged children, etc. We are also actively involved in setting up tribal village schools, adoption of villages, creating awareness on road safety, water conservation, waste prevention, removal of superstitious beliefs and educate on self destructing habits like smoking, alcoholism,” finishes Iyer.
Source: http://youthleader.in/2010/08/idf-helping-humanity/
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