Registration Details

INSTITUTION FOR CULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT NGO Organization Members

INSTITUTION FOR CULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT Source Funds

Contact details

INSTITUTION FOR CULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT Key Issues and Operational Areas, Major Activiities & Achivements

Operational Districts: Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Tinsukia

Operational States: ASSAM

AchieveMents: MAIN ACTIVITIES OF I-CARD The main activities of I-CARD consist of empowering tribal communities to discover their identities and achieve recognition through a sustainable and replicable model of development. 1. Leadership training of tribal youth – since 2003, 20 youth (boys and girls) are being trained in our Leadership Training Centre at Sadiya, Tinsukia Dist. It is a ten month campus course, focusing on personal, social, cultural, spiritual and community development, transforming them into agents of change and transformation. 2. Probation – after the intensive training course, the youth leaders in four groups of five members each spread into 40 villages, each group covering 10 villages to complete their six-month probation period. During this field-placement the youth leaders (now known as Takars, meaning Stars) interact, eat and sleep in the villages, undertaking awareness campaigns on various social issues through street-plays, cultural songs and dances at the same time assisting formation of SHGs, JLGs , dissemination of right-based personal and social problems, organization of the village Youth Groups who are to initiate and take forward the actual work of transformation and change. This stage is followed by their vocational training, after which they are given free tools to start a business enterprise in their villages. 3. ARDA Committees – towards end of the probation period, Agency for Rural Development Action (ARDA) Committees are formed in every 10 village circle for continuity, sustainable and culturally-rooted development in areas of Agriculture, Livestock, Weaving, Health, Hygiene, Education & literature, Culture, Women & Youth and SHG. Most of their activities are related to women empowerment. It is an on-going process since 2002 such that as of date 280 villages in the 8 districts of upper Assam and 3 districts of south-east Arunachal Pradesh are under the coverage of I-CARDs developmental programmes and projects. 160 trained youth leaders–the Takars, 280 village Youth Groups, a network of TakarNets, 28 ARDA Committees and numerous village sub-groups constitute a formidable movement and unique agents of transformation that is dynamic, life-giving, sustainable and above all replicable. 4. I-CARDs well tested strategies have been internationally acclaimed by the ASHOKA FOUNDATION, based in Washington, USA – guaranteeing its ethical fiber, replicability, innovative and potency to create NATIONAL IMPACT. 5. I-CARD is one model NGO in the North East that has adequate physical infrastructure, professional manpower and vibrant presence in 11districts (8 in Assam and 3 in Arnchl Pradesh) for implementation of State /Central Govt Welfare Schemes. Students from foreign Universities are being encouraged to undertake research work on the replicability model of the developmental programmes of I-CARD. 6. Future Plans: Mobile Theatre – to effect internal transformation of the indigenous tribes in North East India. Computer Literacy Training Centre – self-employment oriented course for graduates. Paramedics Training Centre – a two-month course for placement of a health-worker in ARDA village circle. Teacher Training Institute – to train village teachers to teach in ARDA Public Schools. Human Rights Watch Cell – to deal with problems from within and outside the tribal communities.