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Dr.D.Swaminadhan Research Foundation

Human Development

In a Country like India with its vast Population "human development" should be at the core of all developmental effort. The priority sectors which contribute towards realisation of this goal are health, education, literacy, basic needs including drinking water, housing and welfare programmes for the weaker sections including employment.

Sustainable Development is the internationally accepted goal of the 21st Century. The term implies that all developmental activities must be so undertaken as to ensure sustainable use of the physical and biological resources of the planet, the country and the region. For ensuring this, environmental degradation is to be prevented.

It is ironic that poverty and environmental degradation are inter-related. On the one hand, environmental degradation contributes to poverty through worsened health and constrained productivity of the resources upon which the poor rely. On the other hand, poverty constrains the poor to act in ways which damage the environment. In addition, the poor also lack the resources for alleviating the causes of environmental degradation and for avoiding the impacts of environmental degradation.

Rural poverty is linked with low productivity, unemployment and underemployment. For reaching the goal of full and sustainable employment, the emphasis needs to be shifted from wage employment to building up of productive assets in rural areas with appropriate integration of several development activities and enhanced involvement of people through peoples' institutions.

Integration of sectoral development programmes could be achieved through development of micro development plans in consonance with the state and national level macro- plans. For best results, the micro-plans must be developed, with the involvement of people, around the locally available physical and biological resources, and implemented through people's institutions, development institutions and voluntary agencies. Also, ownership of the resources must be passed on from the government to the people.

VOLUNTARY ACTION

Development of institutions and organisational capabilities in the backward regions of the country and the delivery system for development programmes require strengthening to deal effectively with problems of development and redistributive justice. The Eighth Five year Plan document of India accordingly considered the scope for voluntary action unbounded as they are able to operate more efficiently than the formal organisations over a wide range of activities including anti-poverty programmes, training of rural youth, promotion of safe drinking water, rural housing, promotion of science and technology, wasteland development, health care and family welfare, education, welfare of women and children and programmes for the weaker sections like Scheduled Casts & Scheduled Tribes

The Plan document pointed out that it had so far not been possible to make a consolidated assessment of the contribution of voluntary effort as the voluntary agencies interact separately with various Ministries / Departments. A common mechanism to monitor the progress of voluntary effort in various sectors is conspicuous by its absence.

The Plan document further recognised that voluntary effort can grow if the environment is more congenial to its growth. If the professional and managerial capabilities of voluntary organisations are built up in a systematic manner, they can make tremendous contributions in bringing about people's participation both in financial terms and through beneficiary support. Generation of awareness, inculcation of appropriate skills and convergence of developmental programmes are essential pre-requisites for the overall development of an area. In this the voluntary organisations can act as catalysts and can organise beneficiaries, involve people in planning and development and provide the necessary support to make development a reality.

DR. D. SWAMINADHAN RESEARCH FOUNDATION [DSRF]

Dr. D. Swaminadhan Research Foundation (DSRF) is a non-profit and non-governmental forum established in 1995 by three former Members of Planning Commission, Government of India – Prof. Dr. D. Swaminadhan, Dr. Jayant Patil and Dr. S.Z. Qasim – with the laudable objective of contributing towards development based on eco-friendly, pro-poor and gender equity parameters. It is registered as a Society and as a Trust under Indian Societies and Trusts acts. Social Action, sustainable development, social empowerment, application of advancements in science & technology for rural development and promotion of human values are the focus. The Foundation has been recognised by the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) and by the Ministry of Finance for the purpose of Income Tax Exemption. DSRF is also registered with Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India under the Foreign Contributions (Regulations) Act of 1976.

THE VISION

The Vision of Dr. D. Swaminadhan Research Foundation (DSRF) is to be in the forefront to contribute to India’s development based eco-friendly, pro-poor and gender-equity principles and offer voluntary social action to improve the quality of life of the poor and the weaker sections.

THE MISSION

The Foundation realises it’s Vision in terms of a Mission with certain Goals supported by Action Strategy that would convert these Goals into specific Tasks.

THE GOALS

• Become an effective instrument to contribute to development based on eco-friendly, pro-poor and gender equity requirement.
• Hold strong conviction for and undertake voluntary social action.
• Act as a Fora facilitating involvement of dedicated and socially committed scientists, technologists, social scientists and social workers for voluntary social action with a view to contribute towards improving the quality of life of the poor.
• Undertake and promote relevant education, research, innovations and extension activities.
• Form a competent educational, research, consultancy, technological, innovations and social action agency with a reservoir of expertise and experience in its relevant fields, and the necessary capability to harness multi-disciplinary, interrelated technological know-how.
• Act as a technological brain-trust, a trouble shooter, a long term planner and become a partner in progress from concept to complementation - and beyond.
• Serve the cause of development by offering expert services, almost totally and comprehensively in all the five fundamental fields viz. water, power, agriculture, industry, and human resource on which the edifice of development rests.
• Harness and foster the vast and varied experiences that India has gained in the broad fields and to build on it and expand the horizons of knowledge.

THE STRATEGY

The strategy to fulfill the objectives and achieve the goals is three fold: 1. The Foundation to act as a NGO undertaking developmental programmes and projects and also encourage interaction and cooperation among NGOs by creating a NGO Network; 2. Strengthening its Institutional mechanisms - Mahatma Gandhi National Institute of Research and Social Action(MGNIRSA) and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Studies(JNIAS) for academic and research potential and 3. Formulate a Ten-Year Perspective Plan covering the period 2002- 2012 to further actualise the goals. The Perspective Plan follows a 3-phased action strategy: Phase-I, the impact phase covering Tenth Five Year Plan 2002-2007; Phase-II, the metamorphosis, will cover the period 2007- 2010 and Phase-III, the directional phase, will cover the period 2010-2012 and lay the Foundation for futuristic perspectives for the ensuing decade. The Perspective Plan has been delineated in terms of projects, schemes and programmes envisaged for the period

BROAD AREAS OF OPERATION

The Broad Areas of operation of are:

A. EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

• Conduct relevant education and research programmes in science, engineering, technology, social sciences and humanities for the economic development of the country with special focus on the rural and urban poor. This may also imply undertaking of under-graduate and advanced level programmes though its established institutions.
• Facilitate linkages between technical institutions and rural development.
• Carry on research studies, surveys, evaluation etc., on the use of appropriate technologies.
• Take up literacy and adult education programmes.
• In furtherance of the objects of the Foundation, publish reports, papers, periodicals, monographs and books.
• Organise lectures, meetings, conferences, seminars, discussions, exhibitions etc.

B. TRAINING

• Upgradation of the skills of the village artisans, who are in the un-organised sector
• Organising village/cottage industries entrepreneurship programmes.
• Organising training programmes for health and development workers.
• Offering training programmes and short term courses for farmers and agricultural labourers.
• Conducting training for the trainers (TOT), particularly for those in the Voluntary sectors, so that improved technologies are disseminated for the proper development of the rural areas.
• Conducting Training Programmes, Conferences, Lectures, Seminars on Rural Development activities of particular interest to women, with an accent on improved technologies appropriate to their role in their development.

C. SOCIAL ACTION

• Work for the economic, social, educational and cultural development of the poor people.
• Buildup social approaches for technology development.
• Promotion of value orientation of education and inculcation of values in the society.
• Economic empowerment of the poor through technology empowerment.
• Economic and social empowerment of women through self-help camps.
• Work towards developing model villages.
• Service and rehabilitation activities.
• Popularise Family Planning.
• Take up integrated rural development programmes.
• Build up voluntary efforts in rural development with a focus on injecting new technological inputs

D. TRIBAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• Undertake research and studies on tribal art, culture, tradition and their traditional medicinal system with a view to recognise their richness and relevance and help their preservation.
• Undertake welfare, educational and other development programmes for the tribal people.

E. WOMEN’s STUDIES AND GENDER EQUITY

• Undertake Women’s Studies/Action Research Programmes.
• Leadership Training Programmes for Women Panchyati Members.
• Gender Sensitization Programmes for both men and women members of Panchyati Raj and Local Self-Government institutions.
• Evolve and implement appropriate gender equity based programmes and schemes for the welfare and empowerment of women.

F. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D) AND INNOVATION

Greater stress would be laid on commitment to development of eco-friendly technologies through innovation. Undertake research on all aspects of development based on gender-equity and pro-poor approach.

G. AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED AREAS

• Development of Appropriate Technologies for preservation of vegetables, flowers, fruits for both domestic and export markets.
• Organising cool chains like Pre-cooler, Refrigeration, Controlled Atmosphere, Cold Storage etc.
• Development of agricultural tools and implements to reduce drudgery for rural men and women.
• Organising Agro-Centres.
• Organising Tissue Culture Centres in rural areas.
• Organising Embryo Transfer Technology Centres in rural areas.

H. ENVIRONMENT

• Focus on conservation of the environment and natural resources.
• Wasteland development and social Forestry.

I. ENERGY

• Carry on research and organise low-cost and energy-efficient cooking devices for rural people.

J. WATER MANAGEMENT

• Development of location specific technologies for watershed development
• Development of technology for irrigation and water management for both surface as well as ground water.

K. DRINKING WATER.

• To contribute in solving drinking water problems in arid and drought prone areas.

L. RURAL HOUSING

• Development and promotion of technologies for low cost housing using local materials.

M. SLUM DEVELOPMENT

• Improvement of sanitation, housing and providing low cost toilets with the involvement of people.

N. WASTE MANAGEMENT

• To work on technological options relating to collection, transportation and disposal of urban solid waste with stress on recycling of waste for energy generation.

O. HEALTH CARE

• Community based low-cost comprehensive health care programmes for mothers, infants, children and disabled with a special focus on child survival and safe motherhood.
• Building up of low-cost Diagnostic and Delivery Kits and ORT kits
 

P. SCHEDULED CASTES AND OTHER WEAKER SECTIONS

• Undertake welfare, educational and other development programmes for scheduled castes.
• Work towards eradicating scavenging and help in the related rehabilitation programmes.

RESEARCH INSTITUTES

In furtherance of its objectives, the Dr. D. Swaminadhan Research Foundation (DSRF) has established the following institutions:

1. Mahatma Gandhi National Institute of Research and Social Action
(MG NIRSA), Hyderabad
2. Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Studies (JNIAS), Hyderabad.

Top Executives	Prominent Trustees
A. Dr.D.Swaminadhan Research Foundation(DSRF) 1. Chairman Prof.Dr.D.Swaminadhan 2. Hon.Executive Director-General Dr.D.Swaminadhan Research Foundation(DSRF) 3. Managing Trustee, Sri D.Suresh B. Mahatma Gandhi National Institute of Research and Social Action(MGNIRSA) 1. President- Prof.Dr.D.Swaminadhan 2. Director-General- Dr.K.Anjanappa 3. Registrar- Sri D.Suresh C. Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Studies(JNIAS) 1.President- Prof.Dr.D.Swaminadhan 2.Director-General-  Dr.I.V.Subba Rao 3.Registrar-Smt.Ch.Sujatha Gangadhar	Dr.S.Z.Qasim Former Member, Planning Commission, Government of India New Delhi Dr.Jayant Patil Former Member, Planning Commission, Government of India New Delhi Dr.D.Swaminadhan Former Member, Planning Commission, Government of India New Delhi, Member, National Advisory Council Government of India New Delhi and Vice-Chairman, State Planning Board, Govt. of A.P, Hyderabad
Main Objectives of DSRF
ROLE SPACE FOR DSRF
DSRF PROGRAMMES FOR ALLEVIATION OF RURAL POVERTY
ACTIVITIES OF DSRF FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DSRF - Organisation Structure
Index DSRF -Dr.D.Swaminadhan Research Foundation MGNIRSA -Mahatma Gandhi national Institute of Research and Social Action JNIAS -Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Studies EDG -Executive Director - General DONET -Development Organisations Network LIS -Library & Information System CC -Computer Centre

ADVISORY COUNCILS

There is a Main Advisory Council for the DSRF and JNIAS to steer their activities. There are eminent people represented in this Council and Dr.D.Swaminadhan, Former Member of the Planning Commission and the President of the Institute chairs it. In addition, there are four advisory Councils for JNIAS, namely (I) Advisory Council for Education and Research chaired by Dr.S.Z.Qasim, Former Member (Science), Planning Commission; (ii) Advisory Council for Social Empowerment Chaired by Dr.Jayant Patil, Former Member (Agriculture and Rural Development), Planning Commission; (iii) Advisory Council for Innovation and Transfer of Technology chaired by Dr.D.Swaminadhan, Former Member of the Planning Commission (iv) Advisory Council for Computer and Library Information System chaired by Dr. N. Vijayaditya, Director-General, National Informatics Centre, New Delhi.

OPTIMISTIC NOTE:

POVERTY, GENDER INEQUALITY AND ECOLOGICAL IMBALANCE ARE OUR ENEMIES. TECHNOLOGY, PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION AND VOLUNTORY SOCIAL ACTION ARE OUR ARMAMENTS. PROSPERITY FOR THE POOR, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GENDER EQUITY ARE OUR GOALS. WE ARE AN ARMY OF HOPE AND SHALL SUCCEED IN THIS MISSION.

----- FOUNDATION’S PLEDGE

RANGE OF SERVICES

PRE - PROJECT SERVICES
• Reconnaissance surveys
• Pre-feasibility and feasibility studies
• Planning studies and project reports
• Preparation of project specifications
• Pre-investment survey and investigations
COMMERICAL SUPPORT SERVICES
• Market Surveys
• Preparation of contract/tender documents
• Contract processing and evaluation
• Monitoring
• Selection of material, equipment, machinery, technology and guidance in prices bargaining
• Credit and Financial tie-ups
• Joint ventures, buy-back arrangements
• Arbitration
PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
• Project planning and scheduling
• Cost estimation and economic analysis
• Project finance and accounting system
• Inspection and quality surveillance
• Project evaluation and appraisal
ENGINEERING DESIGNS AND STUDIES
• Engineering design and drawings-preliminary and detailed
• Irrigation and drainage studies
• Mini-micro hydel schemes
• Bridges, tunnels, dams and reservoirs
• Architectural and Planning Consultancy
ADVISORY SERVICES
• Transfer of technology
• Institutional strengthening
• Technical assistance and advisory
services
• Testing and research
TURNKEY PROJECTS SELECETIVELY
• Wasteland development, rural development, Watershed development, environment and ecology
• Social forestry
COMPUTER
• Software development
• Computer aided design
• Systems analysis
• Modeling of water and power systems
• Training
• Hydraulic model studies and analysis
• Decision support system
TRAINING OF PERSONNEL
• In-service training
• Special training
• Human resource development
• Training in O&M projects
• Study tours and workshops
SOCIAL ACTION AND ALLIED AREAS
• Social approaches for technology development
• Value orientation of education
• Model villages
• Integrated rural development
• Voluntary effort in injecting new technologies for rural development
• Tribal research and development
• Women’s studies

PROPOSED REGISTRATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• African Development Bank
• Arab Fund for Economic Development in Africa
• Asian Development Bank
• Food and Agriculture Organisation
• World Bank
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• World Health Organisation
• International Fund for Agricultural Development
• Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development
• United Nations Organisation
• West African Development Bank
• Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme