HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH CENTRE
St. XAVIER’S NON-FORMAL EDUCATION SOCIETY
Since its inception, HDRC has focused on Dalits and their social inclusion and economic empowerment. HDRC has tried to create awareness, capacity building, promote livelihood options, mobilize and organize through conducting reflections, trainings and educational courses. HDRC aims to critically analyze the prevalent situations and frame development strategies for interventions.
Operated as part of the St. Xavier’s College, Training programmes in Applied Behavioural Science
Registered as a Society & Trust
Development of a Educational Pedagogy, Interaction between the pedagogy and the organizational thrust of the HDRC
Technical training in the Animal Health Project, Practical application of the educational pedagogy
Initiation of educational programme – Fellowship Programme in Social Development (FPSM) in English; later in Gujarati between 1990 and 1996
Massacre on Dalits – 4 killed and several injured in Golana village. Intensive social and legal action for justice and rights for Dalits. With legal battle of more than 15 years, the Supreme Court convicted assailants
Focus on women in Bhal region was strengthened through Community Health Programme (CHP) in Bhal and process of mobilization and organization
Started working in Dhandhuka taluka of Ahmedabad district – formation of Manav Vikas Sangh (MVS) and Women’s Credit and Saving Cooperative Society
Registration of the area level organization of Dalits – the Federation of 11 Cooperatives of Bhal region, Initiation of work with the Valmiki community (the lowest among the Dalits)
Registration of the Women’s Savings & Credit Cooperative Society in Bhal region
Registration of the Antyodaya Vikas Shikshan Centre (AVSC) in Bhal region, Started working with Adivasis of Danta taluka of Banaskantha district, Initiation of the research project on the self-image of Dalit women, which resulted into a publication
Registration of the Manav Vikas Sangh in Dhandhuka, Registration of the Women’s Savings & Credit Cooperative in Dhandhuka, Registration of the Adivasi Sarvangi Vikas Sangh (ASVS) in Danta, Banaskantha District
Registration of the women’s collective in Petlad as a Company – the Jagruti Garments Ltd.
Registration of the Women’s Savings & Credit Cooperative in Danta, Banaskantha District, Judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in connection with the Golana Massacre
FPSM was revised based on a study on needs of the ‘Development Sector’ and creating cadre – started Postgraduate Programme in Development Management (PPDM), Initiation of work in 5 talukas of Banaskantha district
Registration of the 5 Women’s Saving & Credit cooperatives in Vav, Vadgam, Palanpur, Tharad and Dhanera blocks of Banaskantha district – empowerment of women through microfinance
Relief operations in Kachchh under the banner of “Citizens’ Initiative” after massive earthquake; a study on monitoring of rehabilitation rights in Kachchh sharpened the focus on the situation of the marginalized communities
Started working on the issues of governance and social justice – participation of Dalits in Panchayati Raj Institutions, especially through Social Justice Committee for their political and development rights
Initiation of the Fellowship Programme in Development (FPD) in Gujarati for 12th standard pass students, as part of cadre building for development sector
Registration of the Banaskantha Jilla Dalit Sangathan (BDS), Relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the communal carnage in Gujarat under the banner of “Citizens’ Initiative”
Started ‘legal cell’ within HDRC, providing legal and moral support to communal riot victims in Ahmedabad
Conducted Baseline Survey on “Situation of Koli, Dalit and Muslims in Rapar and Bhachau” to plan long-term intervention and creation of people’s organization
Conducted Baseline Survey on “Situation of Dalits in Banaskantha district” to plan rights’ based activities
Started Bal Vikas Kendra (BVK) Kishor Juth (group of adolescent children) in earthquake affected areas – Rapar and Bhachau of Kachchh district and Vav of Banaskantha
Started broaden our base of ASVS – working in 6 taluka, i.e. Bhiloda, Khedbrahma, Megharaj and Vijaynagar blocks of Sabarkantha district and Amirgadh and Danta block of Banaskantha district
Started process of registering people’s organization – Lok Adhikar Manch (LAM), Conducted a research study on “Situation of Primary Education among Marginalized Communities of North Gujarat” to plan intervention and advocacy for right to education of Dalits, Koli, Muslims and Other Backward Classes
Focusing on Social Justice Committee and participation of Dalits in Panchayati Raj Institutions
Conducted research studies on issues related to Dalits in the context of discrimination, governance – “Availability and accessibility of basic amenities in the village”; “Extent of pending applications for availing government schemes” and “Impact of Land Reforms on Dalits’ in Banaskantha district”
Conducted research studies on “Identity of Tribals and Concept of self-rule” to increase participation of adivasis in arena of self-governance under Panchayati Raj Extended to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA)
Started Bal Vikas Kendra (BVK) and Kishor Juth (group of adolescent children) in Maliya block of Rajkot district, Bhachau and Rapar of Kachchh district and Vav of Banaskantha district
Started supporting Siddharth Manav Kalyan Trust (SMKT) for running girls’ hostel for increase in their education, and community organization and promoting livelihood options in Maliya block of Rajkot district
Conducted advocacy programmes for different issues – (i) Public Hearing on problems of Dalits in achieving political rights; (ii) Social Audit of Fair Price Shops to ensure Food Security to the marginalized communities in Gujarat; (iii) A group of disabled persons undertook advocacy with the government for their rights
Started working with Adivasi Migrant Workers in 2 blocks of Sabarkantha and one block in Banaskantha
Strengthened Resource Centre to cater to needs of academia, students and CSOs on development issues
Started advocacy for Dalits and Adivasis for their economic rights – analysis of budget, financial allocation, utilization through social auditing for them, etc
Began interventions for Prevention of Child Labour in 3 blocks of Sabarkantha
Enabled marginalized communities in our work areas to ensure the effective implementation of the Right to Food (all the Food Schemes – PDS, ICDS and so on)
Empowering, capacity building and preparing the Dalit, Adivasi and marginalised women for decisive participation and leadership in governance mechanisms.
Organizing Migrant workers, strengthening them to voice their issues and access their rights and entitlements
Changed the name Behavioural Science Centre (BSC) into Human Development and Research Centre (HDRC).
SHELTER: sustaining housing health, education and livelihood through empowerment and rights programme in Ahmedabad.
Organizing Valmiki women in the city of Ahmedabad.
Swabhoomi Kendra started at Meghraj taluka of Arvali District.