Voluntary Organization for Social Action and Rural Development (VOSARD)

VOSARD focuses on community mobilization and capacity building. It uplifts marginalized sections through self-help initiatives, micro-credit, and micro-enterprises. Over 12,000 families in remote areas form self-help groups. VOSARD coordinates 766 SHGs, 45 Children’s Clubs, and 16 Child Protection Units, alongside 36 Clusters, 4 Federations, and an Apex Federation for decentralized planning. This structure enables project implementation with community participation, information dissemination, and financial transactions. VOSARD also promotes a thrift and credit system within SHGs, primarily benefiting women. The Apex Federation oversees micro-credit activities across Clusters and SHGs, facilitating financial sustainability and linkage with banks for income-generating activities.

VOSARD engages in Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) with a significant impact. Starting with six Panchayats in Idukki District, it expanded to 18 Panchayats, uniting over 13,000 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) under Self-Help Groups (SHGs). VOSARD collaborates with PRIs, government schemes, and financial institutions to empower these groups. It's instrumental in forming a District Local Level Committee, distributing Guardianship Certificates, and introducing the Niramaya Insurance scheme. Notably, VOSARD's work led to heightened awareness of PWDs' rights, reduced social stigma, and their active participation in decision-making. The organisation's initiatives have transformed the lives of PWDs, ensuring inclusive education and increased self-employment, facilitated by JAF (Jeevajyothi Apex Federation) and KCDA (Kerala Confederation of Differently Abled).

Its Senior Citizens programme, initiated in 2013 and expanded in subsequent phases, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens. It achieves this through self-help initiatives and community-based care and support services, engaging families and stakeholders actively. The programme also focuses on safeguarding the rights of senior citizens, promoting livelihood opportunities for the active and semi-dependent, guiding them to access health and welfare services, and encouraging their full participation in family and social life. In collaboration with MISEREOR, Germany, VOSARD organized 1,006 senior citizens into 61 Elder Self Help Groups (ESHGs). The programme includes forming Elder's SHGs, and Panchayat-level ESHG federations, providing seed money, conducting medical camps and routine health checkups, advocating for social security schemes, promoting income-generating activities, and raising awareness about physical, mental, and spiritual health.

VOSARD's Community Health Promotion and Counselling Services programme provides essential healthcare support. This includes medical checkup camps in collaboration with local hospitals, eye and psycho-socio medical camps, and regular monitoring of blood pressure and blood sugar for senior citizens. The organisation conducts educational programmes to raise awareness about preventive healthcare. VOSARD also operates a Family Counseling Center to address family disputes and various issues, while its counselling helpline has effectively prevented suicide attempts. In collaboration with a national insurance company, VOSARD offers a health insurance scheme to ease the burden of medical expenses, particularly for economically disadvantaged individuals.

VOSARD's Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security program addresses food dependency in Idukki's Western Ghat region, encouraging farmers to grow traditional food crops alongside cash crops. This approach enhances food security and nutrition, promoting sustainable farming practices and organizing farmers into Self-Help Groups, clusters, and federations. Even after project completion, initiatives such as dairy farming, organic farming, and rainwater harvesting continue. This programme successfully shifts farmers towards cultivating safer food crops. VOSARD also focuses on soil and water conservation to improve rural livelihoods and mitigate environmental degradation in the steep hills of Idukki District.