The primary goal ofthe education initiative is to provide for the "all-round development" of the child. SVYM's school offers free education, uniforms, text books and mid-day meals for nearly 300 students, as well as free donn facilities for 140 children. Vocational training is provided in horticulture, agricul ture, sericulture, dairy farming, tailoring, typing and computer skills. After school hours, the school campus is being used as a resource center for the community members.
These services focus on providing basic amenities such as housing, drinking water and sanitation to tribal communities.
Tribal WOlpen's "Self-Help Group" operates a Resource Center that provides training to the members for improving their incomes. This is done by implementing savings and loan schemes; purchasing and renting agricultural equipment etc,.
The Youth Organization supports youth with education loans, vocational training, support to initiate small trades and guides the youth for community participation and leadership.
A community farming co-operative of 250 families on 600 acres has helped to share, to better manage water and other natural resources. 
In 1990, SVYM established the Shankara Community Health Center serving about 30,000 in Kenchanahalli. The hospital facilities include a 24-hour emergency room, an outpatient clinic, ten beds for inpatient care, an operation theatre, a laboratory X-ray and scanning facilities. The Hosahalli sub-center provides outpatient services for 2,000 tribals. A mobile clinic provides out reach services.
SVYM also addresses public health, reproductive health and child health issues. It implements programs for tuberculosis control, the survey and treatment of Sickle Cell anemia, health education, and screening for STDs and AIDS.
SPS is a grassroots organization committed to evolving an alternate path of development under the principles of empowerment, equity and sustainability. Inspired by the philosophy of Baba Amte -nijabalthey work towards making the most neglected section of society independent. SPS today works with 100,000 people in 90 tribal enclaves in the Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh.
SPS uses innovative watershed development strategies to provide drinking water and irrigation in dry lands. By creating barriers / catchments to slow down the velocity of water flow at every point, SPS has recharged the ground water and has replenished falling water tables. SPS's watershed activities include regeneration and a forestation using local species, construction of contour trenches and bunds, percola tion ponds, underground dykes and open wells.
SPS integrates its watershed program with sustainable agriculture methods and equitable water distribution. They always use low-cost, improved varieties of drought resistant seeds, which need very little fertil izer. With the support of the local agricultural college they have disseminated six varieties of cotton, two of maize, three ofjowar and one oftuar. These seeds are multiplied in their seed production program for dissemination to hundreds of farmers in 18 villages.
SPS has also been in the forefront of income genera tion programs for tribal women, including quilting and needlework. SPS has established against great odds, a system of equal pay for equal work for women and men.
The Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM)
SVYM is a volunteer organization inspired by the work of Dr. Sudarshan, our distinguished honoree of 2000. It was started in 1984 by a group of medical students in Kamataka to assist communities that were displaced twice due to 'development' projects in H.D. Kote. Though SVYM began its work with the health issue, it now has developed integrated approach combining education, vocational training, social and economic development.
Vidya is a voluntary organization dedicated to the education and empowerment of socially handicapped people. Started with five children by Rashmi Misra 12 years ago, Vidya now supports over 1000 children, Vidya's fundamental aim is to encourage personal de velopment because they believe that an individual's empowerment is best reflected in their attitude towards themselves, their work and people around them.
Bal Vihar provides education to 500 young people between the ages of four and twenty. A holistic ap proach to teaching is used to address the spiritual, emotional, physical and creative needs of children. Both health and library facilities are provided. Bal Vi har is unusual in that it integrates physically disabled children into the regular classroom.
Ekta is a program for education, awareness, vocational training and health for 600 underprivileged children, women and men. The Ekta approach is being imple mented in six slums of Delhi and includes a production center for income generating activities and adult liter acy classes. Ekta Swasta Kendra provides consultation, medication and health education.
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