About Us

Founder's story and what motivated him to start the NGO

Mr. Athappan, an astute social activist and a social worker, started his career in the early 1980s as a volunteer for one of the leading rights-based action groups in Tamil Nadu. He was entrusted with the task of organizing and releasing the bonded laborers engaged in stone quarrying in and around Pudukkottai, the headquarters of Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu, India.

He organized the meetings of bonded laborers of various stone quarries situated in Pudukkottai district during the late night hours to escape from the eyes of stone quarry owners. He was successful in releasing hundreds of bonded laborers from their bondages and bringing them under the Stone Quarry Workers Association. At times, he was caught by the hooligans of stone quarry owners and was beaten up. But he did not give up his efforts to bring the stone quarry workers under the same association.

In 1992, he got an opportunity to meet Mr. (late) Nammalvar, a well-known natural scientist who promoted organic farming practices in the nook and corner of Tamil Nadu. He participated in a training program facilitated by Mr. Nammalvar and was very much impressed and inspired by his teachings and commitments. From then onwards, Mr. Athappan set about promoting organic farming in Pudukkottai district.

Hence, he took up the leadership role as a Managing Trustee of ROSE and started promoting sustainable agricultural and organic farming practices as its primary objective. He joined hands with organizations with similar objectives and activities and was involved in converting 300 acres of vacant land into a mini-forest in Pudukkottai district. He was supported by Ms. Ahila Bharathi, a graduate in agriculture. She has been playing a parallel role in her capacity as the Joint Director of ROSE and the Program Support Officer of the organization.

With active and productive support from American Jewish World Service (AJWS), USA, over a period of 10 years, followed by Terre des hommes (Tdh), Germany for another 10 years, he and his team members were able to promote child development, youth empowerment, women's empowerment, and specifically the concept of sustainable agricultural and organic farming practices among hundreds of small and marginal farmers of rain-fed lands in Pudukkottai district.

The cumulative efforts initiated since 1992 resulted in the formation and registration of a farmer producer company named Pudukkottai Organic Farmers Producer Company Ltd (POFPCL) with 1,364 farmers, 71% of whom are women, as shareholders. At present, the company has a turnover of INR 33418,430 (US$445,579) for FY 2020–21) compared to INR 436,322 (US$5,818) for FY 2014–15.

Legal Status

ROSE obtains its legal entity under Indian Trust Act, 1882 (vide) Registration Number 201/93 dated 21 July, 1993. It is also registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. It has obtained exemptions under sections 12A and 80G of Income Tax Act.

Vision

Greener Livelihood endowed with Equity, Dignity and Justice

Mission

Rebuilding the capacities of the margin communities towards ensuring sustainable livelihood security;
Strategic intervention balancing science and knowledge management; and,
Building /working with broader alliance.

Project Area

68 villages in Annavasal, Arimalam, Pudukkottai, Aranthangi, Manamelkudi, and Thiruvarankulam blocks of Pudukkottai district.

Our Working Partners:

Children
Youth
Women
Unorganized Labourers
Small and Marginal Farmers
Fishermen and Fisherwomen
Rural Artisans

Objectives

To mobilize workers in unorganized sectors and ensure their welfare and development;
To ensure equal access to natural resources, legal provisions and democratic spaces for women and enabling them to fight the socio-cultural/political barriers of gender bias and discrimination;
To strengthen resource poor women through community mobilization and capacity building in order to protect their legislative rights /constitutionally assured spaces towards broadening their bargaining power;
To promote sustainable agriculture system and ensure sustainable development to all the rural communities;
To protect land and water resource and ecosystems;
To build capacities and skills of vulnerable communities in disaster risk reduction / management / resettlement and rehabilitation processes as the district is more prone to disasters - such as drought, cyclones, floods, and tsunami;
To take up special programmes for children of socially, educationally and economically weaker sections;
To take up alternative and sustainable economic development programmes exclusively for women of most vulnerable;
To organize women into associations and federations ensuring their participation, empowerment and self-reliance by taking up government schemes and programmes and projects for their own development and of the community in general;
To run non-formal education centres for children, youth, women, adults and other illiterates; and,
To involve in agro-forestry, animal husbandry and other eco-friendly environmental and economic programmes.

ROSE's Strategic Interventions for Sustainable Development

Introduction:

ROSE has implemented a range of development strategies that prioritize the well-being of individuals, gender equality, child welfare, and environmental preservation. These strategies encompass various activities such as child development, youth and women's empowerment, capacity building, vocational skills training, microcredit programs, afforestation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, organic farming, and the formation of people's organizations and farmer producer organizations.

Women's Empowerment:

Formation and strengthening of self-help groups
Promotion of savings, internal credits, and credit linkages
Addressing gender-related issues in agriculture, health, food security, livelihoods, and environment
Training programs on leadership skills, legal rights, and gender perspectives
Organized and trained women in vocational skills.

Child Development:

Running crèche units
Formation and strengthening of children facilitation centres and eco-clubs
Training in life skills and psychosocial care
Formation of children parliaments and capacity building in child rights
Protection of children from abuse and involvement in biodiversity conservation

Organizing the Unorganized:

Organizing workers in various unorganized sectors
Facilitating access to social security schemes
Enrolment of unorganized workers in the government's welfare union

Capacity Building:

Peer learning and leadership development
Equipping community leaders with information and negotiation skills
Conflict resolution training

Microcredit Program:

Providing low-interest loans to women groups
Promoting microenterprises for self-employment and regular income

Environment and Biodiversity Conservation:

Protection of flora and fauna
Tree plantation initiatives and conservation of indigenous varieties
Distribution of tree saplings to community lands and individual farmers
Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming
Training on livestock development and cattle management
Preparation of organic agricultural inputs
Promotion of zero budget farming and chemical-free practices
Soil health improvement and pest repellent preparation
Production and preservation of indigenous rice, millet varieties, and fodder for livestock
Formation and Strengthening of People's Organizations, and
Establishment of Farmer Producer Organizations

In conclusion, ROSE has implemented a comprehensive range of strategies and interventions to promote sustainable development, gender equality, child welfare, and environmental conservation. Through their various initiatives, they have empowered individuals, supported livelihoods, enhanced agricultural practices, and strengthened community organizations.

Major Achievements:

Thanks to our consistent motivation and support, we have successfully integrated 325 children who had dropped out of school back into the mainstream education system. We worked closely with parents and children to facilitate this positive change.
In five schools, we assisted 1,171 children in establishing school gardens and provided them with health check-ups and herbal medicines. These initiatives aimed to promote a healthy environment for learning and well-being.
To empower women, we formed and strengthened 153 Self Help Groups. These groups enabled women to engage in savings, internal credit, and microcredit activities, liberating them from the clutches of moneylenders.
Through the Bharathi Women Movement, we offered support to women members facing various challenges such as dowry, marital conflicts, discord, love affairs, pre-marital affairs, maintenance issues, bigamy, and more.
In the target villages of Pudukkottai and Nagapattinam District, we provided assistance to 10,547 individuals by facilitating free medical check-ups and providing herbal medicines. Additionally, 614 children from five schools benefited from school gardens, health check-ups, and herbal medicines.
We empowered 300 women to establish and maintain herbal gardens, which not only provided nutrition and healthcare benefits for their families but also created opportunities for selling herbal and medicinal plants to the local medicine production center.
To ensure the well-being of workers in the unorganized sector, we facilitated the registration of 22,145 individuals with the welfare board. This registration allowed them to access various benefits and support. In Pudukkottai district alone, 3,675 members have availed benefits worth Rs. 49,63,800/-, including educational support, marriage benefits, death benefits, and maternity benefits.
In Tranquebar Taluk, we identified 1,475 unorganized workers for registration with the Welfare Board of Unorganized Workers. This initiative aimed to extend support and benefits to these workers.
We actively engaged with local elected bodies to advocate for greater powers and autonomy for grassroots democracies.
Working closely with Dalit families, we assisted 174 families in approaching Revenue officials to secure land ownership titles (pattas) for their 246 acres of land, which had been reclaimed from private parties the previous year.v
Through our medicine production center and outpatient clinic at Thavoodhu mill, we provided traditional healthcare and medicines to 3,995 patients, with a total value of Rs. 32,000/-.
In 15 target villages, we organized free medical check-ups and provided herbal medicines to 2,109 individuals.
We supported coastal communities in their fight for livelihood rights and encouraged collective efforts to protect and promote those rights.
After a prolonged struggle and facing resistance from landowners, 750 tenant families residing in Karnapatti, Nilayapatti, Kunnakudipatti, and Perunchunai villages in Pudukkottai district successfully gained ownership of their homes.
When an influential politician encroached upon a common irrigation tank, causing significant damage to the lands of 75 Dalit farmer families, we mobilized and fought for justice. We pressed for the arrest of the culprit and the repair of the tank. During this struggle, 300 people were arrested but later released. The government repaired the tank, and the guilty party was apprehended.
We facilitated the allocation of cultivable lands and farm implements to 159 Dalit families in Perungudi, Muna Sandhai, and Poovampatti villages. The lands were recovered by the government without prior notice, and we intervened to prevent the takeover. These families have now been enabled to develop the lands sustainably through various farming practices.
Under the agro-forestry program, we planted 92,450 saplings of different species. This initiative reduced farmers' expenses in terms of cattle fodder, fuel wood, medicines and green manure etc.
A resilient coalition of community members, empowered to plan and manage their natural resources, has formed and established connections with external experts and resource organizations.
We successfully constructed 55 farm ponds, which have collectively harvested 42,240,000 litres of water, benefiting 312 acres of land. This significant improvement in per-acre farm productivity can be attributed to enhanced soil moisture, soil stabilization, and restoration of animal habitats. As a resul
The adoption of biodiversity farming practices has led to multiple increases in farm productivity, positively impacting the household economy. This progress is evident in the liberation of farmers from the clutches of local moneylenders who charge exorbitant interest rates (ranging from 25% to 35%).
We have reintroduced and promoted minor millets and indigenous paddy in farmers' fields, which not only possess rich nutritional and medicinal values but also contribute to mitigating global warming issues in our region.
In 2013, ROSE organized over 1,000 small and marginalized farmers, with women farmers comprising 50% of the group. We established and registered the Pudukkottai Organic Farmers Producer Company Ltd. (POFPCL), which has emerged as one of the most esteemed Farmer Producer Companies (FPOs) operating in Tamil Nadu.

Our Donors:

Resource Sharing of World Rersources (RSWR), USA
Women's World Day of Prayer (WDP), Germany
Groots International, USA
Jede Tree Three, USA
Terre Des Hommes, Germany
American Jewish World Service (AJWS), USA
The Riverside Church, USA
Korea Green Foundation, South Korea
Manos Unidas, Spain
Tzedek, UK
Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund (VGIF), USA
Associated Country Women of the World, UK
Christian Aware, UK
Australian Embassy
MIVA, Netherlands
Global Green Fund, USA
ANTENA, Switzerland
SWARAJ, Bangalore
DASARA, Mumbai
SSP, Mumbai
National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC)
National Agriculture Bank for Rural Development (NABARD)

Network Partners:

Coastal Area Network (CAN)
Sound India Volunteer Alliance (SIVP)
Campagin Against Child Labour (CACL)
National Alliance of Street Vendors, India (NASV)
Unorganized Working Federation (UWF)

Glimpses of ROSE Trust

Empowering Lives and Nurturing Sustainability: The Story of ROSE

Introduction: Founded in 1993 in the District of Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu State, India, the Rural Organization for Social Education (ROSE) is driven by a powerful vision of creating greener livelihoods endowed with equity, dignity, and justice. Committed to improving the lives of marginalized communities, ROSE focuses on empowering women, children, unorganized workers, Dalit community, agricultural laborers, marginal farmers, and the coastal poor. With its mission to bring about positive change, ROSE actively engages in various areas such as women's and children's empowerment, food security, sustainable livelihoods, and environmental preservation.

Intervention Strategies: To translate its visionary goals into actionable missions, ROSE employs strategic intervention approaches. Building alliances with like-minded organizations, ROSE forms strong partnerships that amplify its impact. Furthermore, the organization focuses on rebuilding the capacities of marginalized communities, ensuring that they have the skills and knowledge needed to thrive. Balancing science and traditional wisdom, ROSE promotes a holistic approach to development. By encouraging the formation of community-based organizations and systems, ROSE empowers local communities to take charge of their own growth and well-being.

Collaborations and Partnerships: ROSE takes pride in its collaboration with various government line departments, including Agriculture, Horticulture, Agriculture Business Centre, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Universities, and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). This close association allows ROSE to align its efforts with government initiatives and leverage available resources for maximum impact. By working hand-in-hand with these departments, ROSE strengthens its position as a leading non-profit organization dedicated to rural development.

Pudukkottai Organic Farmers Producer Company Limited (POFPCL): A notable accomplishment of ROSE is the establishment and promotion of the Pudukkottai Organic Farmers Producer Company Limited (POFPCL). Within just three years since its inception in 2013, POFPCL has risen to become one of the top three farmers' producer companies in Tamil Nadu. Recognizing its significant contributions, the Government of Tamil Nadu has honoured POFPCL with numerous projects, such as the construction of millet processing units and the provision of machinery and transportation. Today, the company employs over 50 full-time workers and its value-added products reach out to 10 states across India.

The challenges ROSE is facing

Being a non-profit organization, the biggest challenge is the mobilization of financial resources for its projects. It is not possible and advisable on our part to generate our own funds that will amount to making profits through our activities. Hence, we depend on external sources to continue our activities. We need individual donors to support specific projects.

The core team is intact, and the members have been working with ROSE since its inception with due commitment. They have been trained and experienced and equipped with necessary skills to carry out specific projects in accordance with our goals and objectives. Despite fluctuations in funding receipts and ever escalating administrative costs, the other biggest challenge is payment of honorarium, which is between 200 and 250 USD per month per person.

The operational cost of the organization by means of transportation, logistical arrangements for meetings and training, water and sanitation, electricity, etc., remains another major challenge.

The credibility of the organization can be attributed to the number of volunteers it gets. Hundreds of farmers and youth came forward to organize the programs. They do not expect any monetary benefit. However, their travel and food expenses have to be met by ROSE. This becomes an additional burden to ROSE.

The other major challenge is the lack of talent in the field of documentation and dissemination of our services and achievements. Developing a good website, updating it periodically, remains a challenge. Professional people are required, and they demand huge salary which ROSE is not affording. Though ours is a popular organization, we do not have adequate basic infrastructure such as a spacious office, residential facilities for resource persons or volunteers, a training hall, proper transport facilities for the staffs and volunteers for their mobility and other advanced equipment and training tools like digital forms.

Despite the rich experience, hard work, and commitment of the staff and board members, we struggle to make ROSE a professional organization with appropriate management systems and practices. We are all simple people without any instinct for profit motives and business tactics, but with high service orientation and ethics.

The opportunities for ROSE to scale up its services:

There are tremendous opportunities available in our project area, which is one of the most backward districts in India, to demonstrate people-centric alternative models of development. ROSE is averse to the execution of stereotypical projects that do not encourage people’s participation. The project area is more suitable for implementing multiple projects that take into account the specificities of the local area and its people. People with innovative ideas could approach us to validate their concepts related to the environment, ecology, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture in rain-fed lands, land use, etc.

People in rural areas are more open and approachable when it comes to the implementation of multiple projects for their social and economic development. They are expecting external assistance to improve their living standards using the resources available locally. With strong CBOs functioning in almost all of our target villages, which also include coastal communities, there are immense opportunities available at the micro levels for innovators and change-makers to come up with alternative models of development.

There is tremendous scope available for bringing back to life the lost area-specific indigenous rice and millet varieties that were once the staple of the vast rural masses. ROSE has already rejuvenated eight varieties of indigenous rice and millets with the help of NABARD, a government of India undertaking. Read the newspaper report. However, we have lost most of them due to the advent of the Green Revolution, which in the course of time spoiled the fertility of the lands and the health of the rural people by promoting carbohydrate-rich rice varieties. Here we need a change for the better.

Herein lies enormous potential for developing value-added additions to organically grown food grains in order to improve people's health and alternative income sources. ROSE is already involved in adding value to the indigenous rice and millet varieties, but there is still a large opportunity to capitalize on the enormous marketing potential in Tamil Nadu, India, and abroad. ROSE encourages small innovators with start-up capital to utilize the situation in favour of both the local people and the small investors.

Another proven traditional occupation with potential income for the survival of rural families is livestock development. The only issue that farmers, particularly women farmers, face is a lack of start-up capital. Women do have expertise and experience in livestock farming. However, value addition can be done by forming cooperatives for direct marketing and better income.

Seek Partnership and Collaboration:

The harvest is great, but the workers are few. We invite international NGOs to come forward to assist local NGOs to improve the living standards of poor people who toil and moil without adequate income from the agricultural sector. India, being a populous country, needs more such NGOs who can go to the remote areas and keep the poor away from the distress of migration.