 AID-family
is proud to inform you that AID JeevanSaathi Dr. Balaji Sampath and AID
Chennai have been selected for the Global Indus Technovators award by a
MIT group for grassroots technology, Indian Business Club (an
initiative of Sangam in MIT).
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Association for
India's Development (AID) is a non-profit, volunteer movement committed
to promoting sustainable, equitable and just development, especially at
India’s grassroots. Dr. Balaji Sampath, while a graduate student at the
University of Maryland, was instrumental in expanding AID's chapter
base to many cities across the US. Upon completion of his Ph.D. in
1997, he returned to India as an AID Fellow (Jeevansaathi). Based in
Chennai, Dr. Sampath works with the Tamil Nadu Science Forum,
particularly in the areas of community health, education initiatives
and women's savings groups. He, as part of AID Chennai, was
instrumental in organizing the national-level workshop of the People's
Health Assembly in Nov-Dec 2000, and is a key coordinator of the
block-level developmental initiatives of the All India Peoples Science
Network (The Hundred Block Plan).
Dr.
Sampath’s AID-team has established Ganini Computer and Information
Centres, which are low cost computer education and information centers.
Each center serves about 30-60 villages. Another grassroots project
they have been involved in is the Arrogya Iyakkam project that mainly
addresses the blocks which are formed as part of the Hundred Block Plan
(HBP). In each block (of about 30 villages) the health needs of about
30,000 families are addressed. Dr. Sampath’s team has developed a
mathematical model for malnutrition studies from data gathered as part
of the Arrogya Iyyakam project. This project was adjudged one of the
ten best projects in the world by UNICEF. Dr. Sampath’s team has also
developed the use of a digital data card for use in Self Help Groups
and other development related areas. The impact of their work has been
seen in several villages, where technology is actively used, and which
are now able to generate their own funds and are able to sustain their
own community development programmes. Recently,
Dr. Sampath, in his capacity as the AID Tsunami Relief and
Rehabilitation campaign leader, was elected as an Ashoka Fellow. As a
person Dr. Balaji Sampath has been a true role model to a number of
people. His commitment and honesty in trying to tackle important social
issues are both inspirational as well as infectious. |
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