Dwaraknath Reddy Ramanarpanam Trust
Our Work
A Harvest Of Love
"What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action”
- Meister Eckhart
Whether it was in the slums of Bangalore, the rural villages of Chikkaballpur, the remote rural hinterlands of Chittoor district, a tribal community forced to live in an urban setting, or the village in Tamilnadu that was close to drowning due to floods in a nearby lake, DRRT reached out over and over again to urban and rural communities, supporting the poor to live with better security and dignity.
Mr.Dwaraknath Reddy, believed in not only giving away his entire personal, individual wealth towards community development, but he also participated actively in understanding people’s issues, and finding solutions that gave indigent families relief from pain and penury.All our work was made possible by his compassion and magnanimity. DRRT and the DRIK and DWARAKA Foundations were established for this very purpose.
These partnered with AVAS and DWARKA PLUS to expand the horizons of work.
The work and activities undertaken by the Trusts Mr.Dwaraknath Reddy established, including DRRT and RDRCT (Ranjini Dwaraknath Reddy Charitable Trust) are a testimony to his spirit of service and concern to improve the lot of those who lacked opportunities to live in peace, harmony, and justice.
The two foundations DRIK (Dwaraknath Reddy Institutes for Knowledge), and DWARAKA (Development of Women And Rural Artisans for Knowledge and Action) were born of the intense work done by DRRT, towards further expansion of the action networks. These partnered with AVAS and DWARKA PLUS to expand the horizons of our work.
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DRRT intervened in all areas where there were community-based issues regardless of the nature of the problem. Therefore, whether partnering with AVAS, or going at it as independent initiatives DRRT resolved different community issues.
Infrastructure Interventions
Water, Toilets and Sanitation, Electricity, Drains and Roads and Community Centers
DRRT facilitates and supports infrastructure development with emphasis on solving water and sanitation issues in different communities.
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DRRT finds community solutions as stepping stones to permanent solutions- These are found by catalyzing between people and government resources. It is established as a right in the communities. The dehumanizing conditions get transformed gradually.
Here are some examples
DRRT resolved the intense water problems in different communities with solutions that mitigated their immediate suffering. For example in one community it did so by reviving defunct borewells in the region by providing and interconnecting 24 water posts and 48 taps . The community was organized to do water sharing and women for the first time found that they did not have to trudge 3 miles with heavy buckets of water anymore. AVAS worked further to assisst in getting the Cauvery water project to the area. Over a thousand families were helped by DRRTs timely support.
G.Byappanahalli toilets and waste collection.
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Years ago DRRT and AVAS initiated interventions towards a “Swach Bharath” in different slums of Bangalore.
Community toilets made functional in G.Byappanahalli slum by DRRT
24 toilets catered to the families needs till each house made an individual toilet for them selves. Water tanks were provided in the blocks to make the toilets functional.
DRRT supports the families of Hosakerehalli slum to alleviate their immediate needs for water and power supply. Dwaraknath Reddy dedicates the project to the community. Subsequently along with AVAS, permanent solutions to get the city water supply and electrical connections to each newly constructed home were also found.
In the Sanyasikunte slums women formed themselves into groups to manage the community water project done by RDRCT (DRRT). They are seen sharing their joy and relief holding up placards representing their groups. Along with AVAS permanent housing solutions were found in this community of over 400 families .
DRRT FINDS A SOLUTION FOR RESOLVING THE MITTAMARRI PALLI WATER PROBLEMS BY PROVIDING THIS COMMUNITY WATER TANK AND COMMON TAPS FOR ALL TO SHARE.
IN DRAUGHT HIT MADANAPALLI REGION EVERY DROP OF WATER FEELS LIKE ELIXIR.
FINDING COMMUNITY BASED SOLUTIONS EXAMPLES OF WHICH HAVE BEEN SHARED, IS DRRT’S APPROACH TO RESOLVING PROBLEMS FOR THE INDIGENT FAMILIES.
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DRRT, ROADS AND DEVELOPMENT
Destiny took Anita to Mekalavaripalli, a remote village, 13 kms up in the hills we later named Ma Konda, near Madanapalli, in Andhra Pradesh. On that day Ashwini, a young girl child, had an epileptic attack and collapsed on the quarry bed that she lived on. There was no way to get her to the emergency care that she needed from the fall. There were no roads nor any transport facilities. The communities were divided on caste basis. Poverty was debilitating. Only a planned, sustained intervention would make the difference. That’s what DRRT stepped in to do.
WITH DRRT’S SUPPORT LIFE CHANGED FOR ASHWINI AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS IN THAT VILLAGE
Collective wisdom and united action would mitigate their problems. There in lay the challenges.
Organizing the communities and motivating them for change. We had to get the road laid. We had make divided factions come together. DRRT succeeded in organizing the people, and the Government eventually laid the much needed roads. Life in the region got transformed.
A ROAD THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TRAVERSE CHANGED
WITH DRRT’S EFFORT AND WITH IT CAME DEVELOPMENT
THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO MEKALAVARIPALLI, GIVING FAMILIES
THERE A NEW HOPE AND A NEW LEASE OF LIFE
COMMUNITY CENTERS CONSTRUCTED BY DRRT & RDRCT
COMMUNITY CENTERS HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED BY DRRT & RDRCT IN MANY URBAN POOR AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. THESE CENTERS HAVE PROVIDED SPACE TO CONVERT IDEAS INTO ACTION BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER CREATING AWARENESS ON INNUMERABLE ISSUES, AND FINDING SOLUTIONS THROUGH PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES.
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COLLECTIVE WISDOM FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION.
EACH CENTER HAS BEEN USED AS:
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CHILDREN'S DAY CARE CENTERS
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HEALTH CENTERS
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SKILLS GENERATION CENTERS
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CENTER FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS
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CENTERS FOR YOUTH ACTIVITIES
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COMPUTER TRAINING CENTERS
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INTER FAITH PEACE CENTERS
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COMMUNITY CENTER AT VYALIKAVAL SLUM, BANGALORE
THIS CENTER HAS BEEN USED EXTENSIVELY FOR ALL
MEETINGS AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS.
COMMUNITY CENTER AT NALLAKADERINAHALLI VILLAGE
ALONG WITH SIT-KC (SARVODAYA TRUST)
THIS CENTER HAS BEEN USED BOTH FOR CHILDRENS ACTIVITIES AND AS A HEALTH CENTER TO CATER IN THE REMOTE AREAS.
BHANDHAVYANAGAR COMMUNITY CENTER IN BANGALORE
THIS CENTER IS USED BY THE CHILDREN AND WOMEN FOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, MEETINGS AND CAPACITY BUILDING
THIS COMMUNITY CENTER IN KORAMANGALA , IN BANGALORE,
WAS DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SARVODAYA TRUST (SIT-KC),
ESPECIALLY TO PROMOTE VALUES OF PEACE AND HARMONY AND GANDHIAN
THOUGHTS AND TEACHINGS
HOSAKEREHALLI SLUM COMMUNITY CENTER HAS HELPED BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND IS USED EXTENSIVELY FOR TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND WOMEN, AND OTHER LEADERS.
AT G.BYAPPANAHALLI SLUM THE FIRST CENTER WHERE ALL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS WERE INITIATED
AND CHILDRENS DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH ACTIVITIES,
WOMENS SKILLING, YOUTH TRAINING ETC. WERE REGULARLY DONE
AT THE DRISHYA CENTER SUPPORTED BY
PEACE TRUST IN G. BYAPPANAHALLI
AT THE LAKSHMIPURAM CENTER IN INDIRANAGAR WE
WERE ABLE TO PUT UP THIS SMALL STRUCTURE IN WHICH MOST
OF THE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE
DWARAKA CENTER, BHASKARPET ,IN SRIKALAHASTHI, AP.
THIS SELF EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS TRAINING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT CENTER HAS NOW BEEN GLOBALLY ACKNOWLEDGED FOR DRRT’S WORK WITH RURAL
WOMEN ARTISTS AND THEIR FAMILIES
SWECHA CENTER, NAKKALADHINI, IN MADANAPALLI, AP.
MGR NAGAR, COMMUNITY CENTER - TIRUVANNAMALAI IN TAMILNADU.
THE COMMUNITY CENTER AT MGR NAGAR, TIRUVANNAMALAI IN TAMILNADU, WHERE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN, SENIOR CITIZENS AND SKILLS FOR WOMEN TOOK PLACE .
COMMUNITY CENTER AT WAHAB GARDEN, BANGALORE
COMMUNITY CENTER AT GM PALYA, BANGALORE
COMMUNITY CENTER AT SUDHAMANAGAR, BANGALORE
THE SWECHA CENTER IN MADANAPALLI, AP, WHICH IS PRIMARILY USED TO SUPPORT THE RURAL AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN OF THE REGION REVIVING TRADITIONAL SKILSS THAT HAD NO PATRONAGE EARLIER. THIS IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES DONE BY SATSANG FOUNDATION
DRRT PROVIDES INFRASTRUCTURE TO BETTER GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
DEVELOPES ITS LAND AND BUILDINGS FOR INDIGENT CHILDREN
TOWARDS THEIR EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT
The Primary School Where Sri. M. Vishweshwaraiah Did His Early Schooling In Kandawara Near Chikkaballapura, Karnataka.
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DRRT Makes The Difference
Kandawara government school was rebuilt strengthening the dilapidated buildings, providing girls toilets, renovating class rooms, starting A library, providing tables, chairs, uniforms and stationery to children. The DRIK jeevanotsava programs are continuing over the years.
MRS Palya Government School Buildings
Are Renovated By DRRT
MRS Palya government school was renovated, and DRRT refurbished all the classrooms, provided desks, chairs, tables, musical instruments and computers for the children. DRRT regularly gave children uniforms and books. We encouraged sports and helped the children network with other private schools also, to ensure the inter-mingling of children and communities from different backgrounds.
DRRT has provided infrastucture facilities, toilets, water tanks and taps through piped connections, borewells and pumps, desks and chairs, computers, water filters, music equipment, sports equipments in most of these and other Government schools in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. DRRT has also promoted innumerable programs through the DRIK platform, DRIK Jeevanotsava has spread into scores of schools , developing value based leadership in the children.
Nakkala Colony In Tirupathi
When DRRT first entered the Nakkala colony with around a hundred indigenous families living in urban thirupathi, their plea was for a school in the community. Their voices did not go unheard. DRRT stepped in and partnering with the AP Government built up this school. DRRT continues to be active in the support of this school not only financially but with all extra curricular activities, music, dance and sport integrated into their learning
DRIK Viveka Campus Near Chikkaballapur In Karnataka
DRRT invested in buying 40 acres of land and putting up buildings at the DRIK viveka campus near chikkaballapur to take education and learning beyond schooling. This campus is dedicated to the children from the villages, indigenous families, and urban poor communities. At DRIK viveka campus we have nurtured thousands of children with leadership skills, career options in art, performing art, music, sports, and other life skills. These buildings are used as a training center with residential facilities. The campus will house a school too.
DRIK Patashala Campus In Chittoor
DRRT was donated with 6 acres of prime land in the midst of Chittoor town by Mr. Dwaraknath reddy and his family. On this land we built the required classrooms and ran DRIK Patashala with the minimilistic construction, just sufficient for teaching over a hundred children. The teaching then moved into the open campus environment that catered to many more children from different government schools who are being trained under the DRIK Jeevanotsava banner.
DRIK-DWARAKA Campus At Srikalhasthi
About 6 KM’S from Srikalhasthi , DRRT has bought over 4 acres of land for rehabilitating the women artists of DWARAKA, and under an open sheets covered shed scores of children are being trained towards discovering their own inner worth and potential. Communities are linked to form A united network of young, committed individuals who are willing to be more aware and responsible in their communities.
Satsang Rural School – DRRT And Satsang Foundation
DRRT co-ordinated the Satsang Rural School along with Satsang Foundation in Madanapalli, AP. DRRT bought some land adjacent to the one already with Satsang Foundation, enhanced the old school building, and built a few more classrooms to augment the space for the children. With the merger of this school with Satsang Vidyalaya, DRRT proposes to utilize the space as a training center for families living in the Makonda villages.
Community Organization And Mobilization For Participatory Action
For over 40 years Anita and her team have worked towards organizing and mobilizing communities for participatory action. In fact the success of the team work in AVAS and DRRT stems from motivating children, youth, and women especially, to play active roles in the processes of their communities development. Neither negating the contributions of existing leaders, nor succumbing to their pressure tactics that may have political affiliations, communities were made aware of the strength in united and collective action. Faced with threats of demolitions and evictions almost all the communities lived in insecurity. Establishing their rights for land, shelter, infrastructure, healthcare, education and other social entitlements DRRT and AVAS touched thousands of lives in urban poor and rural communities.
DRRT Facilitates
Housing In Slums
DRRT Facilitates Housing In Bangalore Slums
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Facilitating access to secure shelter, DRRT worked
with AVAS and supported interventions like these:
MRS Palya Slum
MRS Palya slum in Bangalore was unique in that it comprised of hundreds of families living in different pockets in the same neighbourhood with differing levels of threats and fears of demolition. With AVAS’ intervention 165 families from the “hill top slum” got organized and a slum rehousing project was completed for them with peoples participation. DRRT facilitated this process by extending financial support - a revolving fund was given as the collateral to spur the project to action. This saved the project from becoming a non-starter. The completed houses are a testimony of peoples capabilities.
Vyalikaval Slum
The slum dwellers of the Vyaliakval slum were instrumental in building the nationally acclaimed Chowdaiah hall. However they were always looked upon as ”eyesores” and their poverty had to be hidden to keep the ‘neighbourhood clean’. AVAS succeeded in establishing their land rights and building interim housing. The community has grown since and a new revitalized housing project has been proposed. DRRT supported the housing by helping the families with the initial investment , after which they were able to slowly build up on the foundations.
Sanyasikunte Slum Communities
Over 400 families lived in the two areas - Sanyasikunte 1 and 2. Circumstances divided one community and families were rehabilitated on two separate sites. Before housing was initiated by AVAS, many homes collapsed in heavy rains. DRRT intervened and helped families rebuild. And when AVAS finally took up insitu hosing of the two communities, DRRT supported with the seed capital that the families needed to facilitate the rehousing projects commencement. With that help the processes began and then the families invested in their own development.
Ganganagar & Krishnayanapalya
Both Ganganagar and Krishnayanapalya slus were protected from demolitions by KKNSS, a State level Slumdwellers Federation, and Womens Voice, who fought and got the land rights of the people living there established. AVAS and DRRT intervened to help the families by giving support to start the housing processes.In Ganganagar, as each poor family searched for ways to begin laying foundations DRRT intervened to give them the initial financial support towards the housing construction. In Krishnayanapalya DRRT supported by giving a community revolving fund towards the land acquisition for the people. Today all families have built their own homes with additional support from Rotary Club of Bangalore.
Krishnayanapalya
Housing And Infrastructure Supports In Chittoor, AP.
Temples, Dargahs And Churches Were All Supported As Multi Purpose, Interfaith Peace Promoting Community Centers
“TO KNOW THAT EVEN ONE LIFE HAS BREATHED EASIER BECAUSE YOU HAVE LIVED. THIS IS TO HAVE SUCCEEDED.”
R.W.EMERSON
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DRRT HAS LIVED BY THIS BELIEF GIVING HOPE TO HUNDREDS OF NEEDY PATIENTS.
To have access to basic, quality health care is a right of every citizen. However DRRT was faced again and again with individuals, families and even communities in dire need, lacking access to affordable health care. And in so many cases even the non-availability of it leading to critical consequences. But at no time did DRRT turn its back on any patient in need. It not only did curative health care , but also organized awareness camps, and testing camps in different indigent communities. DRRT has been instrumental in saving thousands of lives through their health care interventions, both preventive and curative.
TREATING HEART PATIENTS AND GIVING THEM A NEW LEASE OF LIFE.
4 Year Old Ajay Was A Heart Patient And His Family Was Too Poor To Give Him The Treatment. DRRT Steps In To Help.
Venkatesh, a 6th standard student of MRS Palya school is an ardent tabla player. Diagnosed with a critical heart ailment, his health condition was becoming serious. DRRT contributed towards a pooled resource of funds for Venkatesh to have his surgery.
Little Rukmini’s Story Of Courage And Grit Will Warm Every Heart. Her Father And Mother Were Desperate When They Heard Their Child Needed An Open Heart Surgery. Where Would They Find The Money? DRRT Not Only Stepped In To Help But Educated Her, And Others In Similar Circumstances Too. Today Rukmini Is Doing Her College Studies.
Vinaykumar aged about 16 years is residing at VM Palli community in Srikalahasthi with his family. He was suffering from anemia & Leucopenia. His parents requested DRRT to give medical support for their son Vinaykumar. Immediately DRRT team took him to SVIMS hospital, Tirupati for treatment. Doctors said that it is a serious case better to go CMC Hospital, Vellore for better treatment. Then we took him to CMC Hospital, Vellore for treatment. But there was no betterment. Then we took him to St. Johns hospital, Bangalore. At St. Johns hospital the disease was cured. Now his health is good.
Anita was in the vicinity of the Sadashivanagar Public Swimming pool. There was a strong smell emanating in the neighbourhood. It was one of septic, reminding one of unhealed wounds. Anita walked towards it to find Mallesh. He had leprosy and oozing wounds on a leg that was so deeply infected that not only had gangrene set in but the eggs and the squiggling larvae of maggots eating into the flesh was visible. Even more horrifying was the image of maggots flying out from the flesh. That is where the stench was from. No one would pick Mallesh to take him to the doctor. Anita did. That and his immediate hospitalization saved him from a miserable and paralysed end. Mallesh was operated upon and the doctors amputated his leg to save him. All through this, DRRT took complete care.
Post surgery, and till he recovered in body and spirit, DRRT helped him to get crutches and a Jaipur leg that enabled him to walk again.
The flame of hope shone bright. Rekha had her operation, and the Ramanarpanam Trust supported her. The operation was a success. Today she is happily married and has a beautiful little girl, Vaishnavi. As days passed, her sister Padmavathi borrowed a loan to touch up and repair their dilapidated house, in which the entire family lives with their parents. She was economically empowered to stand on her own feet through the DWARAKA effort, was equipped to repay the loan which she did and proved that the poor can be very responsible with financial loans. The two sisters say, “it is DWARAKA and the Ramanarpanam Trust that have touched our lives to make a difference. We thank Appa for his kindness. We live with a new hope now…”
My Name vs Muddukrishna, I live in nallakadirenahalli belongs to Chikkaballapur taluks and district I live with my Father, Mother, wife and three Daughters We are poor and we work & labour. I was working but Suddenly I came to know that I have heart related Health problem From then I couldrat work , doctors also Infromed that I am not going live for long time and there are chance of loosing my wife it was very difficult for me and family to spend money for treatment and heart operation, we losses hope but we met Anithamma and shared about our problems, she encouraged me and family she arranged my heart operation in “narayana hrudayalaya bangalore” . she spent money for my operation and saved my wife and family. I thank Anithamma for giving and showing us light of living my 3 daughters participate in JEEVANOTSVA Program they learnt values, and again I thank Anithamm from bottom of my heart
DRRT stepped in to support a number of accident victims whose families were grappling with the sudden crisis’ in their lives.
Parveen, widowed with 3 children struggled to make ends meet. Tasleema her daughter went to the DRIK school. Her brother Abdul met with an accident and fractured his leg. DRRT helped him. And educated them. Tasleema is doing her graduation in nursing now.
And DRRT helped Arul, Gopals son when he became immobile with a broken leg.
Health Camps
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Not Just Saving Lives But Promoting Preventing Care Through Health Awareness Camps
Tsunami Rehabilitation
DRRT HAS PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLR IN THE REHABILITATION OF THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS, AND THE FLOOD HIT COMMUNITY OF NAKKALA COLONY. IT HAS ALSO HELPED SHELTERS THAT WERE BURNT DOWN IN SLUMS.
When the waves of the destructive tsunami ravaged the Eastern Indian coastline, DRRT was among those who intervened and started work in the more neglected coastline of the Andhra border near the town of Nellore. Many in the fishing communities staying in villages of Isakapally, Salt Bunglow Colony and Kothur had lost all sources of livelihoods, including their nets and boats. There was a need not just for economic rehabilitation but also psychological healing of minds ravaged by this shocking tragedy. DRRT quickly organized the community, rebuilding confidence, rebuilding homes and rebuilding livelihoods.
DRRT recognized the need for the fisherfolk to take their own decisions and mobilize themselves for proactive rehabilitation. The people soon got involved in all aspects of rebuilding their lives. Perhaps one of the happiest moments in this whole process was when the community of over a 100 families in Salt Bungalow colony, went and put their new nets in the sea and hauled in the catch of a lifetime that had rarely been seen for years in this coastline.
Flood Relief To Nakkala colony
Fire Relief to Koramangala slum
“It’s your road, and yours alone, others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.”
RUMI
The journey undertaken by DRRT has lived in spirit and action the famous saying that the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. The bountiful “ Harvest of Love” won over two decades of work in urban poor and rural communities is a testimony to being able to reach out and give of oneself with compassion and conviction that brings peace, harmony and justice to all.
