Welcome!

SEDS, the Social Education and Development Society, was founded in 1980 by Rajen Joshua and Manil Jayasena as a grassroots development NGO, motivated by the desire to help the poorest of the poor in the drought-prone area of Anantapur District in Andhra Pradesh. In the early days, the main focus of the work was on community development by way of non-formal education and small loans to skilled target communities like cobblers, basket weavers, blanket weavers and others.

As Anantapur is the second most drought prone area in India and much of its natural resources are depleted, it soon became clear that environmental problems would have to be tackled first, if peoples’ livelihoods were to be made sustainable. Starting in 10 villages near the small town of Penukonda a scheme of pioneering work was developed which aimed to empower local communities and improve their environment. Initially small nurseries were started for homestead plantations and planting of avenue trees along village roads. Re-a-forestation and more sustainable agricultural practices were introduced. From 1990, SEDS started using a more participatory approach, through the formation of Community Based Organizations. Involving the communities more in the effort made them actual stakeholders in the development process of the region. Throughout the years the scope and area of the work increased and the fruits of the sustained efforts became visible in the greener environment and the enthusiasm of the communities.

Today, SEDS is working through an integrated rural development approach with an emphasis on women’s empowerment, watersheds, re-a-forestation and natural resource management. This is within five Mandals in the southern part of Anantapur District, in south western Andhra Pradesh namely, Penukonda, Roddam, Gorantla, Somandepalli and Chilamathur. In these 5 mandals SEDS currently supports 125 villages, being some 12000 women and their families, 980 Self Help Groups (SHGs), 120 Village Organisations (VOs) & 5 Mandal Samakyas (MMSs) .

Through its sustained efforts SEDS has made a significant impact on the lives of the people in the area and the local environment. The SEDS slogan “Towards a greener tomorrow” has become a reality.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Stakeholder Feedback Round

Dear All,

We completed the Gold Standard stakeholder’s meeting for the “SEDS Biogas CDM Project for the Rural Poor" on 18/02/2010. We thank all of you who were present for the meeting and gave us your valuable inputs.

In accordance to the guidelines of the Gold Standard, a Stakeholder Feedback Round should be conducted, which covers all issues raised in the local stakeholder consultation meeting and how due account was taken following the stakeholders’ comments.

A report of the stakeholder meeting has been prepared which describes about the stakeholder meeting conducted and the sustainable development indicators. This document can be downloaded from

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B30nvnyZAAs_YTEwZGU5MTItNzQzYy00ZTNlLTgzNjYtODRkOGIyOWNkYTEz&hl=en&authkey=CPXqir4P

Through this email I encourage you to kindly download these documents and give your valuable comments and suggestions on the Local Stakeholder Consultation report. Your valuable comments will help us in achieving sustainable development of gold standards for the project. I request you to submit your valuable comments and suggestion in the next 60 days i.e. by 09-20-2010

Looking forward to your feedback on the Stakeholder Consultation Report.

Regards

Manil

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