The Genesis of SCINDeA
A climate needed to be created for NGOs in the South-Central India region to come together informally
for the purpose of working together towards a common goal of development. As we know, development
does not take place until it becomes a people's movement; it is only through collective action that
long-term change can be brought about. It is important that NGOs do not continue to develop policies
and programmes in isolation. Partnership will allow the quality of development programmes to be
improved and the giver/receiver model to be replaced by one of sharing.
With this perspective in mind as early as February 1993 in a discussion with some NGOs it was
suggested that a South-Central India Development Forum be formed in order to bring together a few
development agencies to work together on some common problems employing innovative methodologies. The time had also come for like-minded NGOs to come together for mutual caring and sharing with an
overall vision of people based participatory development. Thus, was born the Collective called South
Central India Network for Development Alternatives through the joint efforts of EED formally called
EZE, Dr K. Rajaratnam, Rev Prasanna Kumari, Dr Badal Sengupta and Dr Bennet Benjamin.
The
inspiration for a Network to collectively address regional issues also emerged from the previous
experience of EED/EZE with the Orissa Drought Action Forum (ODAF). Over the years, this inspiration
has been nurtured by the group and today, stands out as a vibrant example of what collective will
can achieve.
SCINDeA started as a Network of 15 grass root level NGOs from the 2 South-west districts of Andhra
Pradesh, 1 South-east district of Karnataka and 12 districts of Tamil Nadu. Basically, they are all
field based NGOs who had been working with communities for the last 15-20 years. There was a high
degree of emphasis on training and people's participation. A unique feature of the Network is the
sectoral emphasis e.g. work among the quarry workers, tribals, slum dwellers, women, fisherfolk,
Dalits and farmers. Further, of the 15 organisations, 5 were headed by women. 2 of the founding
members of the Network namely CReSA & TCT had withdrawn from the SCINDeA membership in 2004 and 2005
respectively. In their place WORD from Namakkal district and READ from Sivagangai district of Tamil
Nadu had been invited to join the Network. They brought with them rich experience in working among
child labourers in the power loom industry and the Dalits respectively.
The SCINDeA Secretariat (Central Office) is located at Yelagiri Hills in Tirupattur District of Tamil
Nadu.
SCINDeA was inaugurated on 28 March 1993 at Yelagiri Hills in the then Vellore District of Tamilnadu
While being an independent Network it is also accountable to its members, Resource Sharing Agencies
and clients. SCINDeA is a registered Network having its own character and identity.
SCINDeA an acronym for South Central India Network for Development Alternatives referred is
registered as a Society under the Tamilnadu Society Registration Act and with the FCRA division of
the Home Ministry, Govt. of India. It is also registered with the Income Tax Dept. and has 80G &
12AA certificates. Certification also with CSR Form 1.
The togetherness strengthens and supports the goal of the SCINDeA to collectively participate in
empowering the vulnerable, marginalized, underprivileged, socially, degraded, culturally alienated
and the politically and economically powerless communities.
Through partnerships, programme designs, programme management impact and sustainability assessment
SCINDeA has built a fairly good community rapport with different sectoral groups in grass root
communities covering 319 villages, 205 panchayats, 39 blocks, 26 taluks, 13 districts, 3 states & a
population of 2,73,576.
Our Vision
Our Mission
Our Strategies
Our Objectives
Core Non-negotiable Values of the SCINDeA
Unique Features of SCINDeA
