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Rural Education And Development Society (READS) is a voluntary organization involved in education, health and development activities for villagers, principally women, in the Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu since 1992. The vision of READS is to empower people to access community facilities and exercise their rights, thereby creating an attitude of self-help.

Some of their activities are:

• NABFINS scheme of NABARD: READS is connected to more than 900 men and women Self-Help Groups (SHG). The role of READS is to connect SHGs to NABARD Financial Services Ltd (NABFINS), which is a subsidiary of National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD), and support them in the process of getting micro-credit. This was a unique opportunity for women to become financially independent as most of the SHG members used their micro-credit money to buy cows, equipment for agricultural work, petty shops, etc. Loan of Rs20,000-50,000 per member is granted. So far, the total amount disbursed to SHGs under this scheme is Rs2,826.19 lakhs.
• Special Residential School for Mentally Challenged Children: The Government of Tamil Nadu has sanctioned a grant for running a Special school, to facilitate 50 mentally challenged children through special education, exercises, and rehabilitation services.
• The Childline Programme: READS supports and promotes a helpline called ‘CHILDLINE 1098’ as a part of the CHILDLINE India Foundation network, by reaching out to local schools every week. Interventions covered – medical help, shelter, restoration with family, rescue, finding missing children, etc.
• Other programmes: (i) Agricultural training, (ii) Environmental camps, (iii) Women leadership training programmes.