Jan Shiksha Evam Vikas Sangathan (People’s Education and Development Organization - PEDO)
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Established: 1980
Lending Groups, Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management, Strategic Business
Development, Managing Financial Resources, Community Financial Institutions,
Business and the Environment, Fundraising
Strategies, Cooperative Development, Education, Gender-Based Program Analysis
Sanitation, Renewable Energy, Resource Management, Conservation, Environmental
Health, Environmental Education, Biodiversity
Capital, Social Work, Social Responsibility
value-based institutions to utilize existing resources for poverty alleviation
and environmental upgrade. It aims to:
- Create and maintain local Self-Help Groups (SHGS) for
women to address exploitation - Implement group savings programs to relieve community
members of debt - Equip the community with skills training to produce
marketable goods - Address socio-economic effects of high migration
levels, low literacy rates, and environmental degradation in - Create common land holds in nearby villages to
minimize unchecked soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, and shortage of
fodder, fuel, and wood - Teach impoverished families to utilize their land as
a resource - Provide drought relief to economically vulnerable
families - Improve the standard of living through community educational
programs that focus on proper sanitation, nutrition, and school attendance
1.
on training programs that address the loan and credit needs of impoverished
women. PEDO formed its first women’s Self-Help Group (SHG) in 1988 to empower
women to be socially and financially independent and self-sufficient.
- Attend group meetings, create surveys, and provide impact
assessments of current projects - Teach women to mobilize and take collective action to
address common problems - Develop workshops to introduce micro-enterprise
concepts and financial training to rural communities - Build information networks among interested women
- Implement programs for savings schemes, budgeting and
financial management, and small business development
- Experience or background in microfinance, business,
and/or economics - Frequent field visits and constant interaction with
the surrounding community - Ability to adapt to a rural environment
- Basic knowledge of Hindi
- Possess innovation, energy, and flexibility
- Ability to work independently as well as in a group
setting
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Management and Livelihood
This
program aims to empower local farmers to regain control of their land and
educate the entire community about sustainable farming and agricultural
practices. The Common Land Development Program, implemented in 1984, teaches
the community about their land rights and to prevent further encroachment of
land erosion. A seed bank was also established to assist poorer farmers, and to
initiate reforestation of the land.
- Identify and deter detrimental agricultural practices
- Research and assist in areas of forestry, rainwater
harvesting, biogas plants - Maintain and expand the seed bank
- Conduct a statistical analysis of PEDO’s
programs - Assist in designing and carrying out impact
assessments - Monitor and evaluate current projects
- Experience or background in microfinance, business,
and economics - Frequent field visits and constant interaction with
the surrounding community - Ability to adapt to a rural environment
- Basic knowledge of Hindi
- Possess innovation, energy, and flexibility
- Ability to work independently as well as in a group
setting
Educational Program
basic health education to the local communities, primarily women and children,
through informal school systems and interactive venues, such as puppet shows,
films, village meetings, and women’s camps. The educational program also
attempts to reduce dropout rates and increase community involvement in youth
education.
- Tutor children in primary subjects such as math,
English, science, and history - Develop health workshops on nutrition and sanitation,
infectious diseases, disease prevention, and life management skills - Evaluate current projects for grant consideration
- Create new materials for educational entertainment
venues - Teach women to mobilize and network
- Conduct outreach to secure community participation
- Program evaluation and research for grant development
- Experience or background in microfinance, business,
and economics - Frequent field visits and constant interaction with
the surrounding community - Ability to adapt to a rural environment
- Basic knowledge of Hindi
- Possess innovation, energy, and flexibility
- Ability to work independently as well as in a group
setting
PEDO and has served as its director for over 25 years. He has an extensive
background in social work, education, land development, health, rural
employment, and microfinance. PEDO has provided various types of aid to over
175 villages in the rural Dungarpur District, and after
26 years of community service, Mr. Vyas continues to
demonstrate his commitment to the livelihoods of the local communities.
offered to each participant will be proportionate to their level of experience.
Participants who are new to development work may predominantly support and
assist current project agendas, while those with much applicable experience may
be able to assume greater responsibility. Research projects are strongly
encouraged by this organization to support each program’s objectives because
minimal resources are currently allocated for research.
district. While computers are available, they are not always reliable, and participants
should be prepared to experience electricity shortages and limited internet and
phone functionality. Basic living accommodations are provided on the PEDO
campus. The main city of Udaipur is a 3-hour bus ride away.
success of a development program implemented by The Social Work and Research
Center (SWRC) in Tilonia, Mr. Vyas
launched PEDO in the summer of 1980. Mr. Vyas chose
to recreate a similar model in another region where he hoped to address the
pressing needs of the people. PEDO’s trainings and Self-Help
Groups (SHGs) have been incredibly successful, with
over 300 SHGs established in 175 nearby villages; membership
in the SHGs has reached nearly 6,600. All
communities of over 175 villages in Dungarpur District.
A strict hierarchy exists within these communities, and economic and social status
is largely determined by gender and caste.
