GREEN INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (GIRD) is a non-profit voluntary organization working for the protection of environment and promotion of environment-friendly products and practices. It was registered under the Societies Registration Act (Act No. XXI of 1860) in 1996.
The Society has 22 active regular Members. It has got support of a large number of voluntary activists in different States committed towards the cause of protection of environment. Besides the core areas of its action in the filed of protection of protection, GIRD has also, from time to time, been undertaking activities in the filed of health, education and socio-economic empowerment of the marginalized sections of society with the active association and collaboration with other NGOs as well as Governmental departments, organizations, universities, colleges and other public institutes. These are reflected in the various action programmes and campaigns that GIRD undertook in this reporting year (2006-2007) which are as follows:
April 2006
The Secretary Mr. Shamsuddeen AK led the members/ delegates of Kerala Chapter of Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI) on 29 April 2006 to meet H.E. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, President of India at Rastrapathi Bahvan. New Delhi. H.E offered a Predential Ceremonial welcome to delegates and the President joined for evening tea session and discussed the issues of Kerala and working method of deferent NGO’s. Mr. Shamsuddeen AK, the Secretary GIRD given a memorandum on victims of Endosulphan (chemical insecticide victims of Kasaragod district in Kerala)
Shamsuddeen, AK Secretary, GIRD and members of CNRI’s Kerala Chapter with HE. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India on an official meeting in Rashtrapathi Bhavan along, New Delhi.
Campaign Endosulphan (chemical insecticide victims of Kasaragod district (Kerala), (May 2006)
GIRD actively collaborated with the campaigns and support activities for the victims of Endosulphan (chemical insecticide) victims of Kasaragod district in Kerala. Our active involvement began with our participation in the Press Conference on 09-05-06 organized by the Badiadka Grama Panchayat, Kasaragod district seeking public and governmental support for the Poverty Eradication Project for Socially Retarded Families in Kasaragod. After the Press Conference, in Kerala House conference hall, New Delhi, GIRD volunteers visited the endosulphan-affected areas of Kasaragod district and collaborated in organizing medical camps and in activities to procure medical and economic support to the victims as well as in public awareness programmes to make the public aware of the ill effects of exposure to chemical substances like endosulphan.
Press Conference, at Conference Hall, Kerala House, New Delhi on Campaign Endosulphan (chemical insecticide victims of Kasaragod district, Kerala)
4. Mid Day Meal Programme (December, 2006)
Gird taken up a nutrition enhancing programme for the benefit of 20 very poor children studying in Wisdom Public School, Munirka by providing them wholesome Mid Day Meal including green vegetables and fruits. The programme was undertaken from December 1st to March, 25th (the last working day of the academic year 2006-07).
5. National Seminar on Social and Cultural
Impact on Environment of India in the Present Context (24 January, 2007)
Impact on Environment of India in the Present Context (24 January, 2007)
GIRD organized a National Seminar on “Social and Cultural Impact on Environment of India in the Present Context” in association with School of Environmental Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Humane Touch Touch on 24th January, 2007. In organizing the Seminar we could get the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, CSRI, ONGC and National Productivity Council.
The Seminar was held at Jawaharlal Nehru University on 24tth January, 2007. Shri Oscar Fernandes, Hon’ble Union Minister of State of Labour and Employment was the chief Guest at the Seminar. He recalled the pristine nature of the environment in which he grew up and stressed the need on our part, as human being, to repay nature by working for its sustainability the freedom given to us for living on this earth. About 100 participants attended the seminar from various important Universities of deferent parts of India.
Shri L. V. Saptarishi, IAS (Retd.), co-chairman of Confederation of NGO’s of Rural India (CNRI), New Delhi was the Special Guest. In his address, he pointed out the ill effects of globalization in bringing degradation to our environment. He stated that the new globalised era has brought brought many industrial and commercial products into our country in increased quantities which are detrimental to human health and environment. He said that we should adopt appropriate strategies in dealing with such products and issues related to the introduction of such products.
The secretary GIRD, Shamsuddeen, AK presented a paper on Impact on Tourism on the Environment of India: Cases of Garhwal Himalaya and Goan Coast and Published in the Souvenir released on the occasion of the National Seminar.
Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Hon’ble Minister Inaugurating the Seminar on Social and Cultural Impact on Environment of India in the Present Context. Shri L. V. Saptarishi, IAS (Retd.) Special Guest and Shamsuddeen AK Secretary GIRD are on dais
Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Hon’ble Minister for Labour and Employment releasing the Souvenir on the Occasion
In the Technical sessions of the Seminar, 14 speakers presented their papers. From the deliberations in the Seminar, the following conclusions and recommendations emerged:
- There is a need on the part of the Government to enact appropriate legislation to control religious activities that result in noise pollution, river pollution, and land pollution.
- The Government should take waste management as a priority area and appropriate guidelines be evolved and orders issued to the agencies that pollute the environment.
- The concept of “environmental balance sheet” should be promoted and implemented at the family, village/town, district and State levels. Industrial establishments should be asked to file an “environmental balance sheet” every year.
GIRD GETS FCRA REGISTRATION
GIRD received registration under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 on 20-03-2007 and have been allotted Registration No. 231660777 in order to receive foreign fund.
ANNUAL REPORT 2007–08
GIRD volunteers in action, providing Nutrition supplements to school children
Proposal for Amendments in the Memorandum of Association and the Rules and Regulations
The Executive Committee in its meeting held on 08-02-2006 made some proposals for amendments in the Memorandum of Association and the Rules and Regulations of the GIRD, The amendments were proposed in view of the increasing areas of activities of the GIRD and to meet various stipulations of the Government and also the funding agencies in carrying out such activities. On authorization by EC, Secretary prepared a draft of the amendments required. The draft amendments were considered by the AGBM held on 22-04-2006 which after normal business converted itself into a Special General Body Meeting to consider the proposed amendments. After lengthy discussion on each point of amendments, the AGBM passed the following resolution:-
“The GBM resolved to amend the Memorandum of Association of GIRD by replacing existing Clauses (III) (1) to (III) (10) with new Clauses (III) (1) to (III) (17) and also to amend the Rules and Regulations of GIRD by amending Clauses (III) (1), (III) (3), III(4), V(5), VII (by inserting new sub-Clause (iii), XI, and XIII as proposed by the Executive Committee in its Meeting held on 08-02-2006”
Special General Body Meeting on 24-06-2006
The amendments in the Memorandum of Association and the Rules and Regulations approved by the GBM of 22-4-2006 were considered and ratified by the Special General Body Meeting of GIRD held on 24-06-2006.
Secretary, GIRD was entrusted with the responsibility of taking necessary action to get the amendments as ratified by the Special General Body Meeting on 24-06-2006 approved by the office of the Registrar of Societies.
1. Grid’s Association with Self-Help Groups (July, 2006)
GIRD associated with the National Seminar on “Graduation of Self Help Groups from Micro Credit to Micro Enterprises – Issues and Challenges” held on 15 July, 2006. The Seminar was organized by the Vividh Vikas Samiti at Conference Hall, National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), Khel Gaon Road, New Delhi. The Seminar was sponsored by National Commission for Women. In the Seminar, GIRD presented the need for Self Help Societies to take up and address issues of environment in their activities of micro enterprises.
The List of Executive Body Members elected by the General Body held on 22-04-2006
(1) Mr. Harindran Achari President
(2) Mr. Krishna Kumar Vice President
(3) Mr. Shamsuddeen, A.K. Secretary
(4) Dr R. Murali Nair Jt. Secretary
(5) Mr. M. C. Abbas Treasurer
(6) Dr (Ms) Usha K. B. Member
(7) Mr. George Samuel Member
2. Campaign and Action against Child Labour (August, 2006)
On 1st August 2006, GIRD started a campaign and action programme of discouraging Child Labour among the residents of Delhi’s rural villages by organizing, as a first step in this direction, a survey of hotels, small shops, automobile workshops in and around Munirka. We have found about 100 children working in these establishments. The campaign was formally inaugurated on 15th August, 2006, Independence Day, by the President Shri Harindran Achary. In the function organized at Wisdom Public School, Munirka 25 working children were provided with new clothes as a token gesture. Our volunteers identified the parents of the working children and gave some of them training and motivation in small-entrepreneurship. Some of them were enabled to engage in small trades like running petty tea and food stalls, making and selling of food items to hotels and restaurants. GIRD provided some small finance to 22 families (Rs. 1000/- each) of such new entrants into petty trade.
3. Environmental Education: Campaign for Healthy Life Style (October-November 2006)
GIRD organized a campaign on Healthy Life Style among school children and their parents in three localities in Delhi, viz., Munirka and Muhammadpur in South Delhi and Narela in West Delhi in the months of October-November, 2006. During the campaign GIRD enlisted the support of a number of doctors who voluntarily cooperated with GIRD and also a few doctors practicing in the respective areas who detailed the gathering of the resident villagers about the ill consequences of bad food habits which are presently in vogue among children, especially school students and the need to discourage children from sedentary habits like confining themselves to watching televisions programmes for prolonged hours.
