Community Action for Rural Development Society (CARDS) is a non-governmental, social service organisation formed by educated people of the deprived community. Its development activities are centered around the downtrodden and oppressed people of backward villages in Gingee, Memalayanur and Vallam Blocks of Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

- The project area villages are in Gingee Block of Block of Villupuram District, in Tamil Nadu State, India.  

- Different caste groups inhabit these villages. Almost all villages have a sizeable population who belong to the Scheduled caste groups called Dalits that have been recognized by the government as belonging to the educationally, socially and economically weaker section of the population. Tribal people known as Irulars also live in some villages. Gypsies also live in considerable numbers in some villages.

- Small family norm has been accepted by most of the families. However there is a definite preference for the male child.

- The status of women in the project villages is very low. Women are not consulted in making decisions in families.

- The literacy rate in the project villages for males and females are estimated to be at less than 50 percent. For the girls it is much lower. Children are dropped out from schools as they move to higher standards.

- Children suffer from many preventable illnesses like diarrheas and dysenteries. Women suffer from general malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia. Unwanted pregnancies and unwed pregnancies are prevalent in the villages. Unwanted pregnancies are terminated through illegal abortions and not through Medical Termination of Pregnancy.

- Reproductive Tract Infections & Sexually Transmitted Diseases are not uncommon in men and women in the project area villages.

- The health seeking behaviour of women gives room for concern. Family chorus, lack of money to spend for treatment, and negligence of the male members in families are reasons for the delay in seeking medical help.

- The presence of HIV/AIDS cannot be ruled out as the infection has been reported to be spreading fast in all parts of the district, state and the country.

- The villages are dependent on agriculture. Irrigation is mainly through wells and bore wells. When there is no water in the wells people have no work and this is especially so for the women and young women who have not picked up any skills other than agriculture related skills.

- The vast majority of people are living under-the-poverty line. In percentage this could be anywhere between 30 to 35 percent.

VISION

An egalitarian just social order wherein the oppressed communities final equal opportunities for development to voice for their rights and act upon to achieve the same.

MISSION

Sensitizing the most disadvantaged and oppressed communities to provide opportunities for development, building awareness to realise their rights and enabling them to strive for the same.

PROJECT LOCATION

CARDS’ development activities are centered around the backward villages of Gingee & Vallam Blocks of Villupuram District in Tamil Nadu.

PRINCIPLE OBJECTIVE

Empowerment of the deprived and disadvantaged people for self reliance through non-formal and continuing education.

STRATEGIES

• Awareness Building

• Initiating & Strengthening People’s Organisations

• Linking People with Support and Resource Systems

• Social Advocacy

• Networking

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

CARDS recognise that each child has an inherent right to life. And the society has the duty towards the development of the child’s personality, talents and mental, physical abilities to their fullest potential. CARDS takes up community based initiatives for ensuring these rights. The activities include campaign for immunisation, enrollment campaign, supplementary education, child labour elimination and special care for children with disabilities. 

TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR YOUTH

CARDS excels other institutions by giving efficient Technical Education for the school dropouts, poor and needy young boys and girls. It has well versed resource personnel to teach the interested candidates on servicing house-hold electrical items and also audio and video equipment.

Every year about 20 to 25 boys benefit from this and become experts. This training helps the youth for self-employment and channelize them from going astray. It is taking steps sincerely to increase the number of beneficiaries in the years to come.

WOMEN DEVELOPMENT

Women’s contribution for development form a major share but they have little resources to call their own. They are deprived and denied of their rights to life, development, protection and participation. CARDS is striving to get them organised into self help groups and provide a learning atmosphere so that they become aware of the root causes of deprivation and denial and take proactive role to secure their rights.

SMALL AND MARGINAL FARMERS ASSOCIATION

With small land holdings, the small and marginal farmers are faced with multitude of problems. The efforts to equip them with knowledge and skills on rotation of crops, multiple crops, water management and working out the feasibilities of cooperative farming are being taken up. Through non-formal & continuing education, they shall be trained to develop their management skills on regular and continuous basis.

CULTURAL PROGRAMME

CARDS have a sound cultural team comprising of 10 volunteers. The team goes to village to village for building awareness among the people on area-specific issues and problems through means of folk media. Depending on the issue prevailing in the project area, the cultural events are designed or updated. Water and sanitation, primary health care, importance of early childhood care and development, safe-motherhood, importance of education and prevention of disability are some of the areas being covered by the cultural team.

LINKING PEOPLE WITH SERVICES

Most of the rural people are non-literates and unaware of the welfare measures meant for them. CARDS as a facilitating body, strives to link the disadvantaged people with services. The Persons with Disabilities, are linked up with District Rehabilitation Services, the aged get the supportive pensions, the widows and parents of low-caste people are assisted to avail educational sponsorship for their children, the small and marginal farmers are linked up with the Block Development Office for availing agricultural implements and subsidies in procuring seeds, saplings, fertilizers and pesticides, the young people are oriented about the possibilities of going in for higher education or vocational education.

RESOURCES

CARDS profess the ideology that ‘people are the best resources for themselves’. In this context, it initiates the disadvantaged people to get organised and enables them to collectively strive for their development. CARDS identify and utilises the services of people who would work on voluntary basis. It also takes efforts to mobilise external support from individuals and organisations within and outside the country. So kindly send your recent Project guidelines, application to CARDS. 

 Thanking you for your kind action and fruitful cooperation in the further. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. For further information and other details, please contact:

Yours Sincerely,

A. JOHN WILLIAMS

Secretary

Community Action for Rural Development Society (CARDS)

68-D, Adhil Complex, Gandhi Bazaar

Gingee 604 202. Villupuram District

Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

Email : cardsngo@yahoo.com

Website: www.cardsngo.org.

Cell: 9894191571