Prarambha is a charitable trust that was registered in 1985. It has since then worked with Farmers and Youth and, presently, supports Manual Scavengers, Devadasis and communities in North Karnataka who are especially Climate-vulnerable.

To support and assist vulnerable people and communities to cope with and overcome their vulnerabilities.

To undertake interventions and collaborations that address specific vulnerabilities in defined periods of time.

Raichur and Koppal districts form a mix of the best and the worst: it has canal irrigation from the Tungabhadra Canals as well as from the Upper Krishna Project.

10 Gram Panchayats of the Devadurga block, which before canal-irrigation was part of the 100 most backward taluks in the country where MGNREGA was rolled out first, continue to be dry villages.

Yet as many farmers are finding, all water for irrigation, from canals, lift irrigation projects or groundwater is ultimately dependent on rain for recharge. A funny way to describe all farmers being in the same boat, and being left high and dry….

Goal: To address specific vulnerabilities through direct actions and collaborations

Objective-1: To work with Manual Scavengers to organise and undertake interventions that can be sustained by them as individuals and as a group;

Objective-2: To work with Devadasis to organise and undertake interventions that can be sustained by them as individuals and as a group;

Objective-3: To work with People With Disabilities to become independent within their psycho-socio-economic and physical limitations as individuals and as a group;

Objective-4: To work with water-stressed and climate-vulnerable communities to cope with and reduce the impact of climate change through an integrated package that helps them to adapt their lands and strengthens their livelihoods options.

Objective-5: To help communities cope with, and contribute to Climate Change through both mitigation (cookstoves) and adaptation interventions (agriculture).

In the face of the current Covid-19 biological disaster, this will also integrate appropriate responses, including generating green livelihoods, and functioning as an interface between existing Covid-19 responses and our communities

Prarambha’s work to empower and rehabilitate manual scavengers is funded by the Norwegian Human Rights Fund, Norway.

Location: Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Tumkur, Kolar, Chitradurga, Davangere.

Brief Overviews: The inhuman practice of manual scavenging was banned in 1974 by GO, and through a Central Act in 1993 and the 2013 Act. Yet the practice continues. The Project goal is to discourage a traditional occupation that is imposed on SCs because of both societal compulsions and the total absence of other livelihoods opportunities; to ensure that they receive the rehabilitation package offered by Government; and to ensure that the laws are implemented in spirit and letter.

Implementation Model: Since the community is a victim of social injustice, the Social Justice and Human Rights model empowers this community by collectivising them to claim their constitutional rights and legal entitlements.
Formation of community platforms: The Safaikaramchari Watchdog Committee functions as its community platform.

Beneficiaries Impacted: 785 Manual Scavengers enrolled as Manual scavengers. 785 manual scavengers have received ID cards. 451 have accessed one-time financial assistance of Rs. 40,000 each. The process of registration continues.

Outcome/ Social Return: Manual scavengers are coming together in a big way, and are asserting their rights through their community platforms.

Success Indicators:
• Organisation of victims
• Their right to share in development resources established with related government agencies established.
• Government schemes accessed as a matter of right.

Prarambha’s work to prevent the dedication of women as Devadasis; and their rehabilitation is funded by AID, Austin.

Geographical Location: Koppal district
Brief Overview: This inhuman and traditional practice of dedicating women from SC/ST families as Devadasis was banned in 1982. Yet the practice continues. The project works to prevent sexual exploitation of women and works to empowering them to prevent further dedications.

Implementation Model: Since the community is a victim of social injustice, the Social Justice and Human Rights model empowers this community by collectivising them to claim their constitutional rights and legal entitlements.
Formation of community platforms: the Vimuktha Devadasi Mahila Vedhike functions as its community platform.

Beneficiaries Impacted: 500 devadasi women and children have been organised. Rs. 6.5 Crores has been mobilised from different government schemes to allow many of them to pursue self-employment.In addition, 125 bore wells have been accessed for their agriculture lands.

Outcome/ Social Return: Devadasi women and children are now coming together in public against this evil practice their Devadasi Vedhike.

Success Indicators:
• Organisation of victims
• Their right to share in development resources established with related government agencies established.
• Government schemes accessed as a matter of right.

Prarambha works for the following climate-vulnerable people in Raichur and Koppal districts:

• Labour and Farmer Groups who access MGNREGA resources
  • for work, and
  • to undertake Land Water Trees treatments on their dry lands,
• Non-pesticide management (NPM) Paddy Farmers who practice LoWater Agriculture in the canal irrigated belts of the Upper Krishna Project in Raichur district, as well as the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal in Koppal and Raichur districts,and both
• Organizations of People With Disabilities and their Carers, whose vulnerability is compounded by Climate Change.

Prarambha’s disability work is undertaken in collaboration with

• •⁠ ⁠Samarthya Trust, a disability resource group that supports PWDs across Kalyana Karnataka,
• •⁠ ⁠SAMUHA, and
• •⁠ ⁠SODA.

Geographical Location: Kalyana Karnataka

Undertrials – Providing Dignity, Hope And Organised Assistance To People Forgotten By The State:
– A Concept Note submitted by Prarambha

1. Prarambha Registered Office is No. 25/1, 1st Cross, Capt. Munshi Layout, Hennur Main Road, Lingarajapuram, Bangalore – 84.
2. Prarambha Field Office is Vittalapura Road Csmpus, Kanakagiri Taluk, Koppal District, PIN – 583283.

• Donations received will be acknowledged by both an immediate automated receipt, followed up by an email with a signed receipt as a pdf document.
• Indian Donors are eligible for 50% deduction in their taxes as per norms and procedures of Section 80g of the Indian Income Tax Act.
• Donors will receive progress and completion reports of the funded activity as well as report on the village where this activity is being undertaken, as well as a project report.
• Donors will continue to receive a newsletter from the project till the life of the project or till they unsubscribe, whichever is longer.

PLEASE READ THE PRIVACY POLICY CAREFULLY BEFORE AVAILING SERVICES ON THIS PLATFORM. AVAILING SERVICES THROUGH THIS PLATFORM SIGNIFIES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS OF USE AND OUR PRIVACY POLICY AND YOUR CONSENT AND AGREEMENT TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THE SAME.

IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE PRIVACY POLICY, PLEASE DO NOT ACCESS THIS PLATFORM FOR ANY SERVICES.

• This Privacy Policy governs the manner in which Prarambha collects and uses the information collected from the visitors/users of this website.
• We may collect personal information from visitors/users, when visitors/users visit our site, register on the site, subscribe to our information, tweets and fill out a form at the time of making donations.
• Visitors/Users may be asked to provide their name, email address, mailing address, phone number, country and other details in the respective forms they fill up.
• The Prarambha website also uses “cookies” to enhance the Visitors/Users experience. The Visitors/Users can however use their browser settings to prevent cookies or alert when cookies are being sent. But doing so may affect some part of the website and it may not function as expected.
• We do not sell, trade or rent any of the Visitors/Users personal information to others. We only use this information to communicate with Visitors/Users about their contributions/donations, improve Visitors/Users experiences, improve our websites, and send periodic emails about activities/work that we do in the field.
• Data about Donors and Beneficiaries are proprietary and not for public use.
• Prarambha has the discretion to update this privacy policy at any time. When we do, we will record the updated date at the bottom of this page. We encourage the Visitors/Users to check this page periodically for any change in our Privacy Policy.