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Who We Are
Institute for Development of Youth, Women and Child (IDYWC) was started in 1988 by Sadiq Agwan, an MSW from Nagpur, Maharashtra. He, along with few of his batch mates, was determined to take up the agenda of social development with some of the most disadvantageous groups. They identified Amarwara tehsil of Chhindwara district, a predominantly tribal district of Madhya Pradesh, for their work.
In the initial phase, they began their development intervention in the form of balwadis in three villages, which were without primary schools and with a large number of non-school-going children. At the same time, visits were also made to the interior villages of Amarwara and Harrai blocks in an attempt to get deeper understanding of the socio-economic profile of the communities and identify the poverty issues. Seema Sonkusre joined the organisation in 1990, giving it an exposure on the issues related to women and peoples' organisations (POs). In 1992, the organisation got the permission to receive foreign funds.
The organisation has successfully completed two decades of its existence and at present it covers 200 remotest and backward villages of Chhindwara and Seoni districts of Madhya Pradesh and has adopted the approach of community empowerment. IDYWC is involved in organising tribal communities, strengthening POs and building the capacity of the PO members. It successfully achieved the formation of cluster level samitis (committees) and a regional forum called Adivasi Shramik Sangathan. The organisation is working for the active involvement of women in the process of social change. Training and meetings are regularly conducted to enhance their knowledge base as well.
Clusters consisting of 5 villages are formed for closer monitoring by the organisation and greater participation of the villagers in the village development activities. Credit support for on-farm and off-farm activities and land and development works are initiated in the area to enhance the family income. Interventions on community health care and education for children and adults are also initiated for an integrated socio-economic development of the community.
The organisation used legal aid camps as a tool to educate the sangathan members about their rights and duties and enhance their capacity to secure rights of a citizen and resist wherever necessary. The organisation made efforts to enhance capacity and leadership qualities among the elected panchayat members and simultaneously facilitate the process of strengthening Gram Sabha through developing their managerial skills such as planning, monitoring and evaluating development activities in their villages undertaken by the panchayat and create pressure from the lower end. The organisation gives emphasis on the capacity building of its staff members to make them more efficient.
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