About Us

Brief History

A group of young and energetic youth came together in December 24th, 1988 and formed a secular and democratic association called General Movement for Rural Education and Environment, shortly abbreviated and popularly known as GREEN. It was established to protect the environment and mainstream the poor through education.

Prior to their involvement under the banner of GREEN, members were involved in welfare activities, like obtaining welfare-oriented programs with and on behalf of poor and the downtrodden living in and around Chinnamanur in Theni District of Tamilnadu and Idukki District of Kerala State, India.

The rural leadership-training programs organised by well-known Non-Governmental Organisations like Madurai Multi-purpose Social Service Society (MMSSS) and Peoples Education for Action and Liberation (PEAL) motivated them to work together to refurbish not only the environment but also the lives of the poor whose livelihoods depend upon the ecology in their own surroundings.

Since its inception, GREEN has been involved in multi-faceted activities touching various sectors like Education, Health and Nutrition, Sustainable Economic Growth, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and Strengthening Community-Based Organisations. Since then, the environment and the lives of the poor continue to flourish in the areas of our involvement.

Legal Status

GREEN obtains its legal entity under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 on January 1, 1989. It is also registered under Income Tax Act and enjoys 12A/12AA exemption. It is registered under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976.

Vision

GREEN envisions a society where the poor and the marginalised enjoy equal rights, justice and opportunities and live in an environment of improved quality of life within the ambit of empowered community and sustainable development processes.

Mission

In general, our mission is to work towards creating a rural and tribal community with social, economic, health, environment and political empowerment to lead a dignified, peaceful, equitable life in a sustainable world.

Improving Living Standards:

Creating a future of hope for children, families, and communities by helping them to develop skills and mobilizing local resources for sustainable development initiatives to improve their living standards.

Participatory Development Process:

Organizing and strengthening Community-based Organisations (CBOs) among tribal and rural community members to involve them in participatory development processes.

Empowering:

Capacitating CBO leaders to ensure self-governance at all levels to get empowered socially and financially.

Protection of Environment and Ecology:

Protecting and promoting environmental concerns as part of climate change responses and ensuring ecological balance.

Ensuring Dignified Life for All:

Creatively upholding the dignity of children, youth, women, men and senior citizens.

Involving Stakeholders:

Involving all stakeholders appropriate to local culture to analyse, assess and articulate their needs, and,

Working with Key Stakeholders:

Working with poor and marginalised to eradicate poverty and pursue justice.

Project Area

68 villages in Uthamapalayam, Theni, Chinnamanur, Cumbum, and Bodinayakkanur blocks of Theni district.

Major Issues

Drought
Unemployment
Poverty
Lack of housing facilties
Low wages
Rural indebtedness
Migration
STI/HIV/AIDS
Gender bias
Ground water depletion
Desertification
Malnutrition
Open defecation
Child rights violations
Unhygienic practices

Objectives

To bring together members of tribal community and the rural poor within the framework of Community-based Organisations for self-governance and help them to gain their livelihoods;
To assist women self- help groups to acquire skills and to provide necessary viability and feasibility analysis to establish new projects or ventures.
To enhance leadership and communication skills among CBO leaders;
To ensure participatory development processes for sustainable development initiatives so as to improve their living standards;
To propose a structured and pragmatic solution to address the lack of relevant skills amongst unemployed, underemployed, uncertified, un-benchmarked workers and potential workforce in the target villages;
To promote eco-friendly micro enterprises among poor women to reduce migration and to enable young women to get employed and/or self-employed;
To facilitate and provide financial products and services that are competitive and sensitive to the needs and preferences of women, specifically poor women, in rural and semi-urban areas as an effective anti-poverty tool to improve the lives of the poor;
To protect, preserve and promote flora and fauna in and around target villages to ensure ecological balance by promoting environmental education, increasing tree cover, diffusion of useful knowledge among the target groups and members of the public and various institutions;
To develop a sustainable agriculture system, which maintains soil fertility, conserves environment and ensures adequate food production;
In furtherance of the above objectives, GREEN shall undertake:

To run institutions for education and vocational guidance on trades, social customs to achieve healthy social customs and traditions and vocational guidance to youngsters;
To organize and establish centres for providing education to youth;
To arrange and provide medical aid and such other assistance necessary for the poor who are handicapped or mentally or physically retarded and financially uplift any incapable people of poor class;
To organize talent search programs for poor children so as to boost their confidence and provide the concept of mainstreaming:
To organize social awareness camps/campaigns and counselling sessions for women and youth to find alternate employment opportunities and financial services;
To construct and run schools, colleges, educational institutions, free dispensaries, and homes for the aged for the benefit of the public:
To establish and maintain clinical laboratories, hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries and institutions of similar nature and providing financial assistance to the deserving persons for medical treatment in any medical institution:
To collect funds through contributions, donations, subscriptions from donors, philanthropists and from public and government/non government organizations of India and from abroad to undertake the activity of society:
To promote sports, culture activities and adventure sports:
To serve people by carrying out various activities without the intention of earning profit and perform service with motive only:
To help and look after the handicaps, orphans, widows , senior citizens, sick and other needy/poor people by providing them facilities of free education, medicines, clothes, hospitalization, food, residence, arrangement of marriages, hostels, homes, dispensaries and other facilities for their betterment and welfare of these people:
To help any other body or institution to carry out similar social welfare objectives:
To work for bringing awareness and make efforts to save girl child and stop female feticide: and,
To initiate and maintain projects related to organic farming, beauty and wellness, retail, telecom, tourism and hospitality services, life science, media entertainment, for charitable purposes:

Activities

Promotion of sustainable agriculture and food security
Training on Bee-Keeping
Environmental Education and Environmental Justice
Sustainable Agriculture in Rain-fed Lands of Women Farmers
Training on Organic Farming
Nursery development for the production of saplings/seedlings
Sustainable Mountain Development
Mountain Ecosystem and Biodiversity Conservation and Documentation
Sustainable Agricultural Practitioners Training
Workshop on GM Crops
Indigenous Agricultural practices Training
Medicinal Plants Conservation and Cultivation
Afforestation Programme
Seed Preservation Programme.
Kitchen Herbal Gardens for SHGs and Tree Planting
National Environmental Awareness Campaigns-Climate Change
Youth Day Celebration
Handicraft Exhibitions
Reproductive Rights and Health
Rural Artisans Programme
Follow Up on Spices Tourism
World Environment Day
Collaborating programmes of the University of IOWA, USA

Supporters:

Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF), Japan
International Assistance Program – OSSTF/FEESO, Canada
Korea SHE Foundation, South Korea
United Nations Development Program (UNDP), New Delhi
Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India
Ministry of Textiles, Government of India
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi
Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF), Japan
SELAVIP Foundation, Chile
PEACE Trust, Dindigul
SIEMENPUU Foundation, Finland
Village Reconstruction and Development Project (VRDP), Salem
World Council of Churches (WCC), Geneva-2
Krakowska Fabryka Okien (KFO) Austria
Indo German Social Service Soceity (IGSSS), New Delhi
AIDS Prevention and Control (APAC) / United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
T.N.S.W.B.- Chennai
Nehru Yuva Kendra
Tamil Nadu Voluntary Health Association (TNVHA), Chennai
Tamilnadu Corporation for Development of Women, Chennai
C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation (CPR Foundation), Chennai

Achievements

GREEN – in Eradication of Child Marriage System – Campaign in Rural Areas

GREEN has been closely working with rural communities, where the system of child marriage was practiced before many decades, the abolished practice is being developed in many other ways today. The practice still persists and there are thousands of girl children are affected by this. To stop child marriage, GREEN have implemented a Special Campaign on Eradication of Child Marriage Events and awareness programs have been organised through Trained Women SHGs to create awareness among rural masses in the working areas.

GREEN – CHILD HELP LINE 1098 – Protection of Child Rights – Community Action

In association with the District level CHILD HELP LINE 1098 and in coordination of the Sub Center, Chinnamanur, our GREEN has initiated the Child Rights Awareness to create democratic space for all children to participate in governance and Protection of Child Rights through forming children's groups at the neighbourhood level, federated at Panchayat, block, district and state levels, backed by the mandate of the state. The participation of children representatives is linked in all above said levels by us and our GREEN has promoted the District level “Child Parliment” in the rural areas.

CAMPAIGN ON GIRL CHILD EDUCATION - TPF

Sumangali scheme is a well known child labor scheme in textile industries in Tamil Nadu. GREEN in association with the TPF (Tiruppur People’s Forum) is working in selected blocks and villages to create awareness about the anti children scheme – especially the Adolescnet Girls. It organizes consultations, awareness programs for Girl Children and stake holders about the importance of Girls Children Education and Development.

Relief and Rehabilitation for the affected children have been done by the organization.Identifying and mainstreaming the affected children by fire accidents in the fire works industry in Theni District. They are linked to the Tripur Peoples Forum – Care -T
GREEN has been awarded for the effective implementation of Government Welfare Schemes in the District by the District Administration, Theni
GREEN has studied in detail on forest biodiversity in all the eight forest ranges of Theni Forest Division.
GREEN received Appreciation Award for better implementation of UNDP Program in Theni district in collaboration with the District Administration and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION & BIO DIVERSITY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

GREEN’s main agenda for working is the “Environmental Protection and Bio Diversity Conservation” for this we have working with grassroots level communities and geared up the Mass Tree Plantation among the Boarder forest and Down hills of the Western Ghats of India. During the year 2018 our organization has implemented the project with the help of KNCF - Biodiversity Protection and Greening Project, GREEN Planted 175,000 tree saplings in 50 villages across Theni District to help the nature to reduce the emission and keep environment green and clean.

The Organization provides training for the Students, farmers, tribal children and youths on tree plantation and how it helps to the nature. We also promote social forestry across the district.

The major components of this Project are as follows:

Biodiversity Conservation
Increasing the Natural Resource Base
Institutional Capacity Development

There is a demanding need to find both locally and globally relevant tools to measure and compare biodiversity patterns.

The current situation of bio diversity in the country is need a locally and global relevant tools to measure and compare the biodiversity patterns. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is important to biodiversity monitoring, but has a contested role in preliminary biodiversity assessments.

Organized Participatory Rural Appraisal with the rural people to know the cropping pattern, seasonal mapping, village mapping, resource mapping etc. It also helps us to find out the beneficiaries of the program. Participatory Rural Appraisal conducted in 50 hamlets in 5 Blocks. There were 1500 participants were attended the program and shared their opinions and ideas. It was a wonderful experience for the project team to design the intervention and to implement the same. The program was implemented to benefit 285 Beneficiaries. The beneficiaries are very happy to involve the activities and very helpful for implementation. They also said that the program would help them to save their earth and preserve the greenery in their own land.

Linkages

The University of IOWA, USA (WINTERIM INDIA Program)
The Gandhigram Rural University, Gandhigram, Dindigul District
Foundation for Research and Sustainable Development (FRSD), Madurai
The Kalasalingam University, Srivilliputtur
PEACE Trust, Dindigul
Iyarkai Velan Inaiyam, (Network for Natural Farming), Tamilnadu

Publications

Biodiversity Conservation

With the support of Korea Safety Health Environment (SHE) Foundation, South Korea, GREEN implemented a project called “Environmental Education and Environmental Justice for Protection and Conservation of Biodiversity in villages” of Theni district in Tamil Nadu, India, during May to October, 2021. During this period, GREEN published a handbook “A Manual on Biodiversity Conservation”.

As part of awareness building and equipping the volunteers and the personnel involved in biodiversity conservation with knowledge and skills, GREEN published this handbook to guide them and to train them on the implementation of biodiversity conservation measures.

Please visit Publications section to read and download the book.

TREAD Scheme:

GREEN implemented Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development, shortly known as TREAD Scheme, during 2014-2015. It was supported by Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India.

GREEN sent a narrative Performance Report to the Ministry. The downloadable book provides information on the various aspects and processes followed, details of beneficiaries, various skills imparted, profiles of trainers, bank loans mobilised, Income Generation Units started and progress achieved. The photos in the book describe various activities accomplished.

Please visit Publications section to read and download the book.

Roofing for the Roofless:

As part of its approach to environment and ecology, GREEN initiated and implemented an eco-friendly housing project with the support of SELAVIP Foundation. The main thrust of this project is to provide 50 poor indigenous tribes with affordable bamboo houses in Kurangani hilly areas. Under this project, GREEN facilitated construction of 50 bamboo houses for Tribal community living in Kurangani hills of Western Ghats. The beneficiaries from the tribal community participated in the implementation of the project in terms of sharing their contribution in labour and also in kind.

This little Hand Book consists of details pertaining to the implementation. This book can be used as a guide to design similar models for tribal community members living elsewhere in India.

Please visit Publications section to read and download the book.

GREEN-Silver Jubilee:

GREEN celebrated its Silver Jubilee (25th anniversary) in 2015. As a mark of its Silver Jubilee celebrations, GREEN published a book titled “GREEN Reflections.” This booklet analyses GREEN’s achievements within a historical perspective.

It narrates its milestones with pride and proud. Eminent personalities from various fields have contributed to enrich the contents in the book. It comes with colourful photos that depict its achievements and awards received during its eventful journey. The book explains GREEN’s approach to development.

Please visit Publications section to read and download the book.

GREEN

About Us

Brief History

Legal Status

Vision

Mission

Project Area

Major Issues

Partners

Objectives

Activities

Supporters:

Achievements

Network

Linkages

Publications

Biodiversity Conservation

TREAD Scheme:

Roofing for the Roofless:

GREEN-Silver Jubilee:

Who we are?

Where we are?

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