ActionAid India

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency formed in 1972, working in over 42 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together. ActionAid works with local partners to fight poverty and injustice worldwide, reaching over 13 million of the poorest and most vulnerable people over the last year alone, helping them fight for and gain their rights to food, shelter, work, education, healthcare and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. In India, ActionAid works with more than 300 civil society organizations and over five million poor and excluded people in 24 states and two union territories.

ActionAid India’ Vision
An India and world without poverty and injustice, one in which every woman, man, girl and boy enjoys the right to life with dignity.

ActionAid India’s Mission
To work with poor and excluded women, men, girls and boys to fight poverty and injustice.

ActionAid India’s Goals
1. Poor and excluded people and communities will exercise power to secure their rights
2. Women and girls will gain power to secure their rights
3. Citizens and civil society across the world will fight for rights and justice
4. States and their institutions will be accountable and democratic and will promote, protect and fulfill human rights for all

With this background we were given an introduction by Ms. Srimati who was the director of HR at ActionAid India. Following this, the director of Action Aid India, Mr. Babu Mathew, gave us a brief overview of Action Aid’s mission, goals, and overview of current projects. In addition he gave us a brief introduction of why Bangalore was picked as the IT center instead of another Indian city. Shown below are the reasons:
1. 5 major public undertaking projects
2. Private companies
3. Labs
4. Colleges
5. Production Centers
6. Self-Reliant push manifested in Bangalore.


As India has developed a huge portion of the country has been left out. Action Aid as stated earlier looks at India from the point of looking at excluded groups. Shown below are the key categories and brief descriptions:
1) Dalits (“untouchables”) – They have been discriminated against (employment, education, social status, etc.) for some time and are extremely difficult to work with. Dignity is a key factor.
2) Indigineous/Tribals – Tribal people that are getting affected due to corporate greed, etc. For example Vedanta aluminum company has found a bauxite site near a tribe and without any concern, they have almost eradicated the entire tribe by polluting their water and exploiting them.
3) Muslims – The largest minority in India feel that they do not have a voice or social status in India. Things have become difficult especially after 09/11.
4) Urban Poor – The slums are constantly being moved due to cities expanding and the poor are never allowed to settle down.
5) Women, Children and Disabled (HIV/AIDS focus) – HIV/AIDS education is lacking and there is a large stigma attached to affected persons.

Action Aid works by using the Indian Constitution as a basis which states that basic needs are guaranteed to everyone. They work to address the needs of the excluded using the following strategies:
1) Human rights framework -> Socio/economic cultural rights are as enforceable as the rest.
2) Focus on basic needs of the above excluded groups (food, rights, education)
3) Mobilize community from below.
4) Health Care (Every village needs primary health centers)
5) Livelihood
a. Majority of the population has growing unemployment.
b. Public Distribution System

The talks that were given showed the other side of India, not commonly visible outside of India, and were pretty somber, highlighting the plight of the people that have been left behind despite current hi-tech developments. However, I would like to point out that the representation of Hinduism being the root cause of the plight of the Dalits and the root cause of the caste system was inaccurate and the presentation was more emotional than factual at times. This NGO seems very well organized.

- Ashok Seshadri