annual & audit reportthottiyam, thathaiengarpet and thuraiyur blocks. during the one year...

GramalayaTiruchirappalli

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Gramalaya was established in 1987 with a group of committed youths in the

field of rural development. Gramalaya got its legal entity by registering under

the Indian Trust Act of 1882 with a registration number of 72/87 on 11.6.1987.

Gramalaya is also registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act of

1976 and got the registration number of 076040126. Gramalaya started its

activities in the remote rural areas of Thottiyam Block with its drinking water

awareness campaign and watershed development project. The first one decade

(1987 – 1997) was fully concentrated on awareness raising and community

mobilization activities including provision of drinking water and sanitation

facilities.

In the next one decade (1997 – 2007), Gramalaya emerged as one of the leading

organizations in the field of water and sanitat ion, health and economic

empowerment of the target communities through women self-help groups’

formation and training.

VISION

Gramalaya envisions a society wherein all people will have equal rights and

access to protected water, sanitation, health and improved income status without

gender discrimination.

MISSION

Gramalaya will function as an NGO for promoting water, sanitation, hygiene

and overall improvement of the rural, urban, coastal and tribal population in

India thus working for the empowerment of the target communities especially

the women, children and the marginalized sector.

Gramalaya – Tiruchirappalli Annual Report for the year 2008 – 2009


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Projects Implemented in the Year 2008 – 2009

Community Initiatives through Water, Sanitation and

Hygiene Programme

Under this project, a total of 90 Panchayats consisting 429 villages in three blocks of

Tiruchirappalli District are covered with intensive hygiene, water and sanitation

project activities. The project is implemented

with the grant support from WaterAid, UK at a

total outlay of Rs. 34,42,665/- The activities

include construction of low-cost household

latrines, provision of safe drinking water by

encouraging the communities to get household

water connections and imparting hygiene

education among the target communities in

Thottiyam, Thathaiengarpet and Thuraiyur

Blocks. During the one year project period, a

total of 7,783 household latrines were

constructed, 920 household water tap

connections were installed through community efforts, 90 RWH structures installed

at household-level, 1,220 kitchen garden and soak pits formed and a number of

training for capacity building of CBOs, women self-help groups, panchayat-level

federation leaders were provided. A project advisory committee was formed

to review the project works and offer guidance for better and smooth

implementation of programme. There were 156 villages in 52 panchayats declared

as open defecation free zones. As a result of the works done under

this project, 47 Panchayat

presidents got the Nirmal Gram

Puraskhar Award from the

President of India at a function

held at Pune. The award included

Rs. 2 lakhs cash award with

certificate of appre-ciation for

each panchayat. Under this

WaterAid, UK project, there were


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38,204 household toilets were constructed with the loan support Mobilized from

commercial banks, MFIs, own contribution from the beneficiary households and

internal savings of women self-help groups. For construction of above toilets, a total

loan amount of Rs.12 crores mobilized by Gramalaya as leverage funding. This is

one of the significant achievements by Gramalaya in the operational areas with

funding support from WaterAid, UK with the collaboration of Arghyam, Bangalore

and WaterPartners International project. The impact of the project and lessons

learnt were shared among international communities and international conferences.

Further, in three villages, water quality monitoring and mitigation measures were

initiated successfully with the panchayats help. Another important milestone in the

project is the solid waste management work in Thottiyam Town Panchayat wherein

vermi-compost structures, storage units and purchase of tri-cycles were supported

by Gramalaya. The model created in this town panchayat was visited by different

panchayat officials, international organizations and local community based

organizations. The end line survey conducted in the project areas revealed that

the coverage of sanitation in the three blocks increased to 75% which resulted in

decreasing open defecation practices by the communities.

Healthy Slums, Healthy City Project

The Healthy slums, Healthy City project is a prestigious project of Gramalaya which

was supported by WaterAid, UK. This project was implemented in 186 approved

slums and 75 unapproved slums of Tiruchirappalli City Corporation. So far 179

slums have been declared as ODF zones with the support of women self-help groups,

AWASH, WAVE federation and Tiruchi City Corporation. The project was supported

with a grant amount of Rs. 26,

05,575/- by WaterAid, UK. The

funded activities included 58 rain

water harvesting structures at

the households, formation of 180

AWASH committees, strengthe-

ning and formation of 107

women self-help groups and

formation of ward-level fede-

ration. During the project period,


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52 community toilets were renovated with the help of Tiruchi City Corporation.

With the loan assistance to SHGs by Guardian MFI, 638 household latrines and 225

water tap connections were provided.

As a part of capacity building process and to ensure sustainability of the project

sanitary inspectors training for

50 members were provided. An

annual get- together for the

AWASH committee was organi-

zed wherein 512 AWASH volun-

teers participated from the 186

slums. The City Corporation of

Tiruchirappalli, elected repre-

sentat ives , women self-help

groups are closely associating

with this project in achieving the goal of Healthy Slums – Healthy City Project.

WaterCredit for Urban Slum Dwellers in Tiruchi City Corporation

WaterCredit for Urban Slum dwellers in Tiruchi City Corporation is one the

innovative project successfully implemented with the grant support of

WaterPartners International, USA and Michael

Susan and Dell Foundation. The project was

supported to the tune of Rs.52, 52,152/- for

three years phasing period. Under this

project, WaterCredit was provided to the

women self-help groups for construction of

household toilets and water connections from

the piped water supply system of

Tiruchirappalli City Corporation. Under the

revolving loan fund scheme of this project,

490 benefic iaries were provided with

WaterCred it loans to the tune of

Rs.45,00.000/- WaterPartners International


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arranged for Institutional Development support from BASIX, Hyderabad like

preparation of operation manual, business plan preparation and MIS. A total

of 319 loans for household toilet construction and 171 loans for individual water

connections were provided from the revolving loan fund availed under this

project. The loans are provided through women self-help groups after pre

assessment and rating of women self-help groups. So far 118SHGs were

provided WaterCredit which ensure 100% recovery rate. The project is

implemented on a pilot basis and implemented in India for the first time where

water and sanitation loans are provided for the above purpose through the

women self-help groups. The project is being implemented with committed staffs

in the field and with strong MIS for close tracking of the loans provided under

WaterCredit. The commitment of field staff, capacity building support from

BASIX by WaterPartners International resulted in 100% repayment of the loans

from the borrowers who got loans for water and sanitation facilities.

Women Self-Help Groups and Micro-Credit Project

Women se lf -help Groups are formed by Gramalaya in Thott iyam,

Thathaiengarpet and Thuraiyur Blocks of Tiruchirappall i district with the

funding support of Tamil Nadu

Women Development

Corporation Ltd., Chennai as

a part of Mahal ir Thittam

project launched by the

Government of Tamil Nadu.

Gramalaya is an approved NGO

of the Project Implementation

Unit, T iru-chirap pall i where

training and group formation support is provided for strengthening and capacity

building of SHGs in the above project areas. So far 1951 women self-help groups

were formed in the rural project areas and 649 formed in the urban slums of

Tiruchirappalli City Corporation. The training to women self-help groups include,

Membership training, animators and representative training and EDP training

for income generation activities.


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National Institute of Water and Sanitation (NIWAS)

Gramalaya is running a training center at Kolakudipatti village of Thottiam Block

in Tiruchirapalli Dist. The village communities such as SHG members, federation

leaders , v i l lage presidents ,

school teachers, school children

etc., are being imparted with

various training programs on

watsan, ski l l development,

entrepreneurship and other

trainings required for the

implementat ion of project

activities. Similarly, the toilet

technology center promoted in

the training center attracted most of the community in the surrounding villages,

NGOs from Tamilnadu and other states, international agencies working on water

and sanitation and they often used to visit the toilet technology center to know

the technology on low cost toilets for households, schools, community and

children for both urban and rural

community. Many agencies and NGOs

are demanding trainings and other

inputs in the f ield of water and

sanitation for replicating the models

created under low cost technology in

their respect ive f ie ld. Every year

around 200 – 300 visitors from other

A r e aA r e aA r e aA r e aA r e a

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N oN oN oN oN o. o f G roups. o f G roups. o f G roups. o f G roups. o f G roups

w i t h C red i tw i t h C red i tw i t h C red i tw i t h C red i tw i t h C red i t

L i n k a g e d u r i n gL i n k a g e d u r i n gL i n k a g e d u r i n gL i n k a g e d u r i n gL i n k a g e d u r i n g

2 0 0 8 - 0 92 0 0 8 - 0 92 0 0 8 - 0 92 0 0 8 - 0 92 0 0 8 - 0 9

TTTTTo t a l L o a no t a l L o a no t a l L o a no t a l L o a no t a l L o a n

Amoun t t h roughAmoun t t h roughAmoun t t h roughAmoun t t h roughAmoun t t h rough

B a n k L i n k a g eB a n k L i n k a g eB a n k L i n k a g eB a n k L i n k a g eB a n k L i n k a g e

Rural

Urban

1951

649

923

214

Rs.12,53,93,460

Rs.1,12,52,000


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NGOs from different states, Government officials from other states and the

centre, elected representatives, visitors from international agencies are also

visiting our project areas of urban and rural and get exposed to our work. It

includes UNICEF team comprising Nepal, Bangladesh, Sudan and China, state

levelproject officers and coordinators from Plan International, Bill and Melinda

Gates foundation, City Bank, USA, World Bank, other NGOs like Exnora and Sulabh

International. Students from different colleges used to undergo project studies

in the field of community organizations and their involvement in water and

sanitation sector. The demand for training on WATSAN sector could not be

fulfilled due to inadequate training centres with infrastructure and dormitory

facilities.

Hence Gramalaya established National Level Resource Centre for Water and

Sanitation. The resource centre will have facilities like library on water and

sanitation for the visitors, online technical support on watsan sector, internet

connectivity with links to national and international agencies working on water

and sanitation, in-house training facilities with accommodation and boarding.

WATSAN Initiatives through WAVE federation in

Thathaiengarpet and Thuraiyur Block

With the funding support from WaterPartners International, 27 panchayats in

Thatheingarpet Block and 35

panchayats in Thuraiyur Block

of Tiruchirapalli District were

covered for water and

sanitation promotion activities

with the help of women

federations. Under this project,

various activities like WATSAN

survey, awareness camps, PLF

leaders training, Toilet campaign, Hand washing campaign, Project Advisory

committee formation, NIWAS building construction, RWH training, Exposure

visits, PRIs training and solid waste management training were arranged. The


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active involvement of the

women groups’ federation

helped the local commu-

nities to construct 12,431

toilets constructed and 839

house-hold water connec-

tions provided.

Gramalaya has construc-

tedtoi lets in T.Pet and

Thuraiyur Blocks through

SHG internal savings, bank

loans, Guardian loan and Government subsidy. During this project, Gramalaya

mobilized Rs. 3.26 crores from various sources for toilet construction. Toilet

campaign and Hand washing campaigns are conducted in the above 2 blocks

for awareness creation and PRIs, PLFs have extended their support for the

campaigns.

Accessible Water Facilities to Downtrodden People

in Tiruchirappalli District

WaterPartners International in association with PepsiCo Foundation supported

Gramalaya for providing 10,400

household water connections

and 9,350 ind ividual toi le t

facilities in the selected villages

of 6 Blocks in Tiruchirappall i

District. A total grant amount

of Rs.2.31 crores earmarked

for water and sanitat ion

coverage in 100 vil lages for

three years project period. The first and second year of the project will ensure

replicable models in 26 intensive villages where 100% water and sanitation

facilities will be achieved. Under this program, the AWASH committees will be

provided with subsidy for installation of water points from the existing piped


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water supply system available in the target villages. Loans for toilet construction

would be arranged from commercial banks, MFIs and SHGs internal savings.

In another 75 villages, there would be 100% loan component for water and

sanitation activities ensured so that the community based organizations will

work for water and sanitation coverage in the village without any subsidy

component. Further, as a part of leverage funding and ripple effects, the

remaining hamlets of 300 in the nearby areas will be motivated to work for

water and sanitation coverage in their respective villages. The major activities

include PRA, basel ine survey, water qual ity monitoring, training to PRIs,

plumbers and AWASH members. As a part of capacity building process, training

to OHT operators, orientation for bankers, campaign on WaterCredit and

AWASH federation training would be organized. So far, -1246 household water

connections and 200 household toilets were constructed in household toilets

were constructed in the 14 villages. Training to 76 PRI representatives, 26

plumbers, 12 PRAs conducted in the target villages.

Rain Water Harvesting

Gramalya recently entered into RWH – Rain water harvesting for drinking

purpose. The one year

experience in the coastal areas

of Nagapattinam and the rural,

urban areas of Tiruchirappalli

District proved that rain water

could be made as drinkable

water. Unlike the conventional

rain water harvesting for

recharging purpose, the projct

after a series of field testing

and technical support from

experts in this field successfully implemented this project in the tsunami affected

areas of Nagapattinam District, Thottiyam, Thathaiengarpet and Thuraiyur Block

of rural areas and in the Tiruchirappalli City Corporation.


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The rainwater is harvested from the roof of concrete houses, tiled houses and

thatched houses and brought down through PVC pipes to the ground-level tanks

after filtrat ion. The whole system is technically planned with more care

including the first flush system, filtration point,provision for overflow from the

water tank etc.,

Many interesting case studies are coming out from the women and children,

panchayat presidents after the usage of rainwater for drinking purpose. There

are villages like Sukkampatti, BharathiNagar, Managalam, Kannanur Palayam

where drinking water is mainly used by the residents using the rain water

through harvesting structures.

If rainwater is preserved through tight containers without direct sunlight, we

can use the water for drinking purpose for more than a year. As a result of the

considerable impact created among the users, Gramalaya is receiving more

demands from the general public. Gramalaya is making tie-up arrangement with

Guardian MFI for extending loan facilities for setting up of rain water harvesting

tanks for drinking purpose through its WaterCredit.

So far, Gramalaya installed more than 300 RWH structures in its operational

area with the funding assistance from WaterAid, Arghyam and WaterPartners

International support.

World Water Day

Water is life is the expression of people, with an emotional outburst, this was

felt by the visitors from WaterPartners International and PepsiCo foundation

of India, as they talked to many beneficiaries who had come to participate in

the world water day program, which was held on the 22nd march 2009, at

Kolakkud ipatt i vi l lage, near Thottyiam Block of T iruchirapall i District .

WaterPartners International supported Rs.2.5 lakhs for the WWD event.

More than 21,000 people from 500 villages and 211 slums came to participate

in this program. People take this event to be a personal one (as their own),

and they take care, so that they are involved in every possible way. They make

their own arrangements for their logistics and they also brought their lunch


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along with them. The new inclusion, this year was the participation of men in

a big way in this gathering.

As a precursor to the meeting on World Water day, the Chief guests released

hundred’s of colourful bal loons in the air. Country d irector of WPI ,

Mr.S.Damodaran, Mr.T.Soundiah, Collector of Trichy District, Mr.Keith Stamm,

Chief Operating Officer- Water Partners International – USA, Mrs.Claire Brown

Lyons-Manager Global Grant Portfolios-Pepsico Foundations, USA, and by

Mrs.Heather Arney, Programs Manager-Water partners International, USA

participated in the WWD event. Mrs.J.Geetha Executive Director welcomed the

visitors and bouquets were presented to the visitors. Mr.S.Damodaran, Country

Director of Water Partners Internat ional, he spoke about the need for

celebrating world water day. He spoke about non formation of ice in the

Himalayas, at heights above 30,000 feet, and he also related the reason for this

dreary thing, and its forth coming impacts. He educated the whole crowd about

the need for preservation of water and its sources. He also highlighted the

uniqueness of this program as how it is managed by the people, (AWASH), also

thanked WaterPartners International for their support for this World Water

Day celebrations.

v No. of Vehicles used

for transporting the

members have in-

creased and it reveals

the people’s involve-

ment in attending the

function eagerly.

v Float ing of colour

balloons, part ic i -

pation of PLF leaders,

cultural troupe ar-

rangements etc., are

the special features of the event.


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v PLF leaders wearing uniform saris and controlled the crowds was very

laudable.

v Panchayat presidents, Bankers, publ ic and non-SHG members’

participation shows the interest connected with public move-ment.

v Like cultural fest ival, members took part in World Water Day

Celebration with own arrangements for food and transportation.

v Congregation of about 21000 members in one place and discussing

the issues connected with water and sanitation could not be seen

anywhere.


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VISITORS DURING 2008-09VISITORS DURING 2008-09VISITORS DURING 2008-09VISITORS DURING 2008-09VISITORS DURING 2008-09

Sl.No. DATE NAME OF THE VISITOR / INSTITUTION

1 JUNE ’08 14 WaterAid, New Delhi

2 16 Gandhigram Trust, Dindigul, Tamilnadu

6 JULY ’08 21 WaterAid , Bangalore

7 AUG. ’08 08 Field Publicity Office

8 11 Intellecap, Bangalore

9 11 Ms. Revathy, Arghyam-Bangalore

13 OCT. ’08 07 Ms.Theres Mahon, WaterAid

14 15 IOB, Kolakudi

15 18 SVYM, Mysore

16 NOV. ’08 06 Ms. Renu, WSUP , Bangalore

17 18 Women Development Corporation

18 22 to 24 District Rural Development Agency,

TSC Co-ordinators Training

19 27 WPI, USA

20 27 Mr. Vivek Raman - Water & Sanitation Programme,

South Asia & Bangladesh Government Officials

21 DEC. ’08 13,12 Guardian

22 23 Mythiri, Bangalore & IDF, Bangalore

23 JAN. ’09 03 Gramalaya, GUARDIAN

24 03 GUARDIAN

25 21 WA - New Delhi

26 FEB. ’09 15 Safe Water Network – USA

27 27 ODP, Mysore

28 MAR. ’09 04 Philanthrophy Capital, UK

29 06 Hand in Hand

30 07 Gandhigram University

31 20 WPI Partners Visit

MONTH

Date : 09.06.2009

Place : Tiruchirappalli

J.GEETHA

Executive Director

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annual & audit reportthottiyam, thathaiengarpet and thuraiyur blocks. during the one year...

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