AVAG concept

Auroville Village Action Group - 2000

Auroville Village Action Group (AVAG), founded in 1983, shares Auroville's ideals of human unity and unending education with the people of the surrounding villages. To that end, AVAG provides opportunities and encouragement to the local people, particularly women, children and youth, to improve their social, educational, economic, health, and environmental situation. AVAG's rural developmental activities focus on social training programmes, community organisation, women's empowerment, and primary education. At present, AVAG facilitates developmental work in 45 villages with plans to operate in 60 villages by 2004 A.D. AVAG's work currently benefits 3,000 people directly and about 45,000 people indirectly.

Data:

• AVAG has been officially recognised by the Government of Tamil Nadu for its singular achievements. AVAG is perhaps the only NGO in the state that works both with Dalit and non-Dalit castes and seeks to promote greater understanding between the two castes; involves both men and women in its activities; facilitates the undertaking of community development projects (micro-projects and work camps) where the beneficiaries contribute one-third of the costs of the project; promotes both social empowerment and economic empowerment; and directly supplements the primary education offered in Government schools.

• People's participation rather than charity forms the cornerstone of AVAG's developmental activities. AVAG ensures people's participation by working with a local staff of development workers who go through an intensive training for 2 years; and by creating a network of youth groups, and women's groups in the villages who are also given regular workshops and seminars on social issues and promoting leadership and team-spirit. AVAG also undertakes intensive staff evaluation annually, and continues to provide in-service training to its staff.

• AVAG is a registered Trust managed by a team of seven trustees. It receives funds from internationally recognized funding agencies, the Government and individual donors. Accounts are maintained by CSR Office Services, Auroville and annually audited by the Central Audit General.

Contact: avagoffice@auroville.org.in