Digital Pulse - Ch 3 - Sec 2 - AIDS Prevention and Control Project in Tiruchy City

Development Issues: HIV/AIDS, Child welfare, Disadvantaged communities, Education, Environment, Micro-enterprises, Water, Women's Issues

Programme Summary

The Development Promotion Group (DPG) is an organization of professional development workers with a commitment to develop the socially and economically marginalised sections of society with a basic philosophy, orientation, and tools that would enable them to be on their own. DPG concentrates on the southern states of India, namely Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and reaches out to the urban, rural and tribal sections of the society in these areas. Most staff are qualified professionals in Social Sciences, Accounting, Agriculture, Engineering, Computers, etc. Human Resource Development has been given more importance.

DPG was born in 1986 as a registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) and grew up serving various other developmental groups. They organized and financed an eco-camp at Ooty as a part of the Save Nilgiris campaign in 1987 for students. This was followed by awareness camps on environment, water for rural women and children, development of financial accounting system for voluntary organisations, the translation of capart guidelines for rural development projects from English to the regional language and its distribution to NGO's, the publication of a manual on housing finance and capacity training for NGO personnel in accounting, amongst many others. During this period they have also undertaken several evaluation studies for donor agencies and have conducted various exhibitions to market small NGO products. They have also undertaken or promoted empirical research studies that relate to the developmental problems of the socially and economically weaker sections.

Summary of ICT Initiatives

The aim of this particular project is to prevent and control the transmission of STD/HIV/AIDS in the high-risk groups through multi-pronged and multi-sectoral approach with full participation of community. The strategies involved are education of the community for better awareness and behaviour change and integration of this programme with other urban development programmes to improve the status of living of the slums dwellers. This involves the communication of the message through a range of multi media approaches, including radio and various print formats, one to one counselling, identification and training of peer leaders and influencing condom promotion and facilitating better access to STD treatment and services. The AIDS Prevention & Control Project (APAC) identified the staff knowledge needs and arranged various training activities for the staff. Some of the training programmes attended by the staff included themes like Programme Management, Networking through information systems for NGOs, Strategy of Self Help Groups (SHGs), Strategic Planning, Watershed, etc. On an average a staff member gets at least 12 human days of training.

Source:Development Gateway site.

Development Promotion Group (DPG)site.

For More Information Contact:

R. Bhakther Solomon

Development Promotion Group

49 - A, and 52, Josier Street, Nungambakkam

Chennai – 600034, Tamil Nadu, IN

91-44-8256660

dpgsulo@md2.vsnl.net.in