Association for Sustainable Community Development (ASSCOD)

The Association for Sustainable Community Development (ASSCOD) helps in promoting and developing the socio-economic conditions of people in rural communities. The focus is towards social and economic development of rural India through women empowerment thereby enabling women as agents of social change and empower them to lead the prosperity of their community.

Major Interventions:

Health: ASSCOD has been implementing health activities-based on Millennium Development Goals (MDG) such as anemia correction programme, awareness on personal hygiene and menstrual hygiene among tribal women. During COVID, the NGO provided medical equipment such as Oxygenator, Cylinders, Masks, Bed materials etc., to the primary health centres. Potable drinking water facilities are provided in villages along with addressing malnutrition issues among tribal women and children. It also extends financial support to the accident victims through raising funds and conducts menstrual hygiene and personal hygiene programmes.

Solar Lights: To address the absence of electricity in tribal communities and the resulting challenges, ASSCOD has been distributing portable solar lights. This initiative has notably enhanced the community's quality of life, enabling women to manage evening tasks, men to engage in activities like fishing, and children to study using solar-powered lights. The program has proven immensely beneficial for the overall well-being of the tribal families involved.

Environment: Mangroves forest development had been one of the best sources for generating employment opportunities for fishermen communities in the coastal areas. Also, it addresses climate change related issues. Hence, Project Alaiyathi was started to plan a million mangroves in the region.

Women Empowerment: Intensive domestic violence and gender inequalities are the two main reasons that prompted to focus on empowering women in rural areas. The approach includes:

- Formation of self-help groups/ Mahalir Gramsabhas (Informal women associations)

- Providing life skills training, vocational training to be entrepreneurs

- Helping women create assets in their name as many women were deprived of such rights

- Livelihood enhancement through micro loan programme

Education: The focus is on improving the education status of children through implementing a number of activities such as providing scholarships, improving the Government schools infrastructure and supporting in various forms to increase the children enrolment, children retention and reduce the dropouts, running evening tuition centres, enhancing higher education for girl children.