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The Story of NEFORD
NEFORD is a not-for-profit organization committed to transforming the quality of life for the rural poor and under privileged. It had its inception in November 2003 and embarked on grass root level crusade against Illiteracy, Hunger, Malnutrition & Poverty. NEFORD is dedicated to achieving sustainable economic development & preserving environment with the focus on marginal communities. Its strategy is based on the understanding that eradication of poverty and sustainable economic growth can be achieved only if poor people themselves participate in activities aimed at improving the circumstances they live in. Initiating its development activities in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, NEFORD’s area of activity extends to all over India and drawing support globally both from individuals and institutions to fight maladies afflicting the poor.
Our Mission
Our mission is to protect and improve standard of living of small and marginal farmers, landless labourers, rural artisans, rural poor and other vulnerable sections. We strive to develop creative and sustainable solutions involving the communities, applying best management practices and modern technology. We value the role of women and children in the society, particularly in view of their contribution towards building a better world. We seek to reach out to them, taking care and improving their access to education, health care and nutrition. NEFORD seeks to build progressive, self-reliant rural communities by bridging the gap in the services provided in the villages in the areas of agriculture, health care, environment & sanitation, education, adult literacy and skills development.
Aims & Objectives
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To work for the overall development of rural community in general and for the economic upliftment of small / marginal farmers and landless labourers in particular.
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To arrange extension programs and to educate farmers in groups for technological developments on modern farming, animal husbandry etc. To arrange training in agricultural, non-agricultural and allied activities. To improve the irrigation systems. To enhance agricultural development with modern technologies and equipment.
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To draw up model plans for investment and establishment of production units for the benefit of rural people. To assist rural poor in marketing their products. To arrange for co-operative/collective marketing of agro-products.
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To create awareness on community health and family planning. To promote health & educational programs. To eradicate illiteracy, poverty and provide equality, self reliance and social justice to the poor under rural development programs. To direct efforts towards accelerating adult education as a process, a program and a movement.
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To empower the children and women with education and self-help trainings. To promote development activities for tribal & rural women. To provide economic employment to women belonging to weaker sections. To create self-employment opportunities for educated youth, by providing training.
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To work for the preservation of the environment. To create awareness about environment, and animal & bird protection.
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To organize disaster preparedness trainings.
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To facilitate and empower rural poor to improve infrastructure facilities like Housing, Sanitation, Biogas etc.
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To work for the upliftment of poor labour / dalit families with income earning programs and raising awareness among them. To encourage saving habits and inculcate the spirit of mutual help and to provide credit.
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To promote development actions of the poor at grass root level through establishing alliance of civil society organizations to influence governance and make its policies pro-poor.
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To promote gender and social equality.
Strategic Approach
- Holistic approach towards economic development & fighting poverty.
- Encouraging participatory methodologies & concepts.
- Promote village institutional building (Convergence, Self-Help Groups and other Focus Groups such as Youth Club, Women Club etc.) for mutual benefit of participants.
- Imparting Training & Undertaking Skill Enhancement Programs.
- Capacity Building through Community Participation.
- Establishing Partnerships & Alliances.
- Promoting synergies & coordinate activities with various local, national & international agencies.
- Developing Advocacy, Generating Awareness & Networking.
- Undertaking Volunteering Programs.
- Sustainability through Resource Mobilization.
Board of Trustees
R N Singh – President
R N Singh is an educationist & a social worker, having long experience in working in rural areas and is known for his sensitivity to issues related to poverty. He is popularly known as “Master Sahib” – a respectful way of addressing the teacher in local parlance. Considered as an icon for development among rural folks, Mr. Singh believes that if poverty is to be completely eradicated, focus has to be on overall development of child and shaping his future for better. He felt the need and conceived idea of establishing an institution, which aims at confronting the underlying causes of poverty through comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. Establishment of NEFORD is a realization of his dreams.
S N Singh – Vice President
S N Singh is a retired government official with vast experience in dealing with labourers working in mining industry and looking after their welfare. Experience gained by him, working as a liaison between labourers and senior management, enabled him to develop insight into poverty and drudgery related issues. A recipient of President’s Award for his dedication to Coal Miners Safety, he has also served as Secretary, National Coal Mine Labourers’ Association. He has initiated and run a number of schools and rehabilitation programs aimed at improving the quality of life and looking after welfare of Coal mine labourers & their families.
R K Singh –Executive Director
R K Singh is a world renowned agriculture scientist who has worked for several years at the Haryana Agricultural University as Professor, Director of Research, NDAUT - Faizabad and Representative, International Rice Research Institute – India Office, New Delhi. He has obtained his Ph.D. degree from the Rostock University, Germany and has done his Post Doctorate at the University of Birmingham, UK. Dr. Singh’s contribution to Plant Breeding & Genetics has been significant. He has widely traveled all over the world. Dr. Singh has been accorded Fellowship with National Academy for Agricultural Sciences and is known for his dedication towards fighting poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Dr. Singh is Head of Operations & Administration of NEFORD.
Madhuri Singh – Treasurer
Mrs. Madhuri Singh is a graduate from Gorakhpur University. Her innate quality of concern and sensitivity towards poor & needy is indeed appreciable. She has always supported poor both morally and financially. She takes keen interest in ‘girl child’ from poor families and encourages their education. She has been organizing medical camps to provide free check ups and medicines to women belonging to downtrodden & marginal communities on regular basis in rural areas.
Sushma Singh
Mrs. Sushma Singh is a social worker and is very actively involved in Khadi and Gram Udhyog (Cottage & Village Industry) Movement in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Her experience is particularly helpful in promoting skill enhancement and activities of rural artisans. She plays a key role in mobilizing rural women and assists in NEFORD’s Vocational Training Programs.
M.D. Pathak
Dr. M D Pathak is an internationally acclaimed Agriculture Entomologist. He has served as Director – Research & Training, IRRI - Philippines. He runs an NGO – Center for Research and Development of Marginal & Waste Lands. He advises NEFORD on activities related to advancement of agriculture and rural development.
V P Singh
Dr. V P Singh is Regional Representative, World Agroforestry Center – South Asia office. He has worked with Agronomy Division of IRRI for more than 30 years. Dr. Singh takes keen interest in NEFORD’s activities related to advancement of agriculture particularly in areas involving crop and farm diversification.
Abha Singh
Dr. Abha Singh is a social scientist, presently working with IRRI based at ND University of Agriculture & Technology, Faizabad (UP, INDIA). She specializes in gender issues and has worked extensively with farming communities in Eastern India. She has been engaged in numerous projects involving farmers’ participation in research & development. Her work on role of women in agriculture is well known. She assists NEFORD’s activities related to improving plight of women in rural areas particularly their role in agriculture.
D.C. Gupta
Mr. D C Gupta is a Former - Director (Statistics), Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Uttar Pradesh. He is an expert on Farmers’ Participatory Research & Development. He has been engaged in a number of IRRI and ICRAF funded projects. Mr. Gupta takes keen interest in NEFORD’s activities related to promoting agribusiness and rural livelihoods.
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