Please donate generously for the rehabilitation work following the devastating "super cyclone" Phailin that especially hit Odisha's coastal districts hard on Oct 12, 2013
Super cyclone Phailin has left thousands and thousands of residents in South Odisha in complete disarray marked by a long trail of destruction akin to a war zone. Hit hardest, Ganjam is estimated to have suffered a loss of at least 2 lakh hectares of agri-land with lakhs of people deprived of their livelihood and 2.4 lakh houses damaged.Power transmission was also crippled in the district as 40 transmission towers were eradicated by the cyclone's fury and the region is still reeling from blackout.  The food prices are astronomical and the environmental wealth is devastated with trees and crops taking the hit. Take for example, in Ganjam district, Govt. so far has merely reached relief to 170,000 people out of their own estimate of 750000 affected amply indicating the tough, long road to recovery. Concomittant flooding in Balasore and Mayurbhanj has been destructive.  Less than expected loss of life, today standing at 44, due to evacuation must not lull into a false sense of well-being as suffering is deep and livlihood and shelter loss momentous.

One SEEDS member writes:

      Friends,
      If you have thought the impact of Phailin and the flood followed it is not serious enough like 1999 super cyclone and if you are thinking the Govt is taking care of the devastation since it did a superb job in evacuation, then please read the following:

      http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/2013/10/misery-mounts-cyclone-phailin-wake-2013102994646771589.html
      -----
      To know the extent of devastation:
      "The rains have come as a double whammy for Orissa. The scale of damage and devastation due to the cyclone and floods would be the biggest in state's history," said PK Mohapatra, Odisha's special relief commissioner.
      "It even exceeded the devastation that the state suffered during the 1999 super cyclone when close to 10,000 people died."

      We are guided by media reports and there is an irony:
      Ironically, the brightest side of the cyclone story - its low death count - has also meant that media interest tapered off even before the full extent of the destruction was clear.
      "Only dead bodies get media eyeballs," a local bureaucrat who wanted to remain anonymous said.
      "But in Odisha, those marooned are the living dead."
      It is little surprise that aid for relief and reconstruction has been slow in coming.

      And our reaction:
      Meanwhile, those still marooned await assistance and empathy, both of which are seemingly in short supply.
      Stranded on rooftops and whatever higher ground they could find, they reacted in horror when told that a local official planned to deploy a much-sought-after helicopter in an attempt to dry up a soggy field for hosting the India-Australia cricket match.
      That a section of the local media ignored their hungry plight and chose to attend a cocktail dinner for a visiting celebrity sportswoman did not amuse them either.
      We can do something. Do your best. That ‘best’ may be a drop in the ocean. Never mind. Our collective conscience has ever been our invaluable wealth at times of calamities.
      Would you consider changing the tone of any celebration to an expression of empathy for the recent cyclone-flood victims and use the occasion for their cause?
      Would you bring some HOPE in the ‘Living Dead’?

Below are some images from the affected areas. You may see more at http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/photos-tropical-cyclone-phailin-20131012

You may also send your donation check to SEEDS Treasurer, 9617 Mariposa St, Houston, Texas 77025

The 2011 Flood Rehabilitation Drive is now closed. Thanks to all our donors who helped generously to address the needs of the affected communities. Click here for status update.

We have now closed the Japan Relief Fund drive by people with roots in Odisha, India. Click for Letter of Appreciation from the Japanese embassy.

Please enlist yourself as a member/supporter/friend of SEEDS here

What is SEEDS?

Sustainable Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS)  is a tax-exempt 501c(3) nonprofit organization registered in the US. It promotes sustainable advancement of  the people, focusing primarily in the state of Orissa, India.

SEEDS began as a registered student organization at the University of Texas at Austin, and is now incorporated in the state of Oregon, USA. This article provides a glimpse into our organization.

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Philosophy And Aspiration

SEEDS philosophy is rooted in our wish to promote educational and economic progress and development for the common folks particularly in Orissa, but in the developing world in general. We, in principle, also would take stand against social evils and injustices whenever possible. We hope that these, in turn, would indirectly bring about and foster the other important ingredient -- political consciousness-- among the people.

We do not believe in simple, conventional charity. Rather we believe in working as perhaps catalysts and facilitators of development --- the exact roles for people near or on the field will naturally differ from those of volunteers who are abroad. Fundamentally, we support and promote the sort of development that is

  • SUSTAINABLE (long-term, self-supporting, environmentally non-predatory),
  • EQUITABLE (fair and just, more for the needy), and
  • DE-CENTRALIZED (not imposed from above, grass-roots, native solutions, free-thinking).

Our financial support is only catalytic; we largely rely on selfsufficiency-promoting loans and strategic/technical help to the beneficiaries. We hope this  will eventually grow into a movement of  "participatory consciousness for sustainable & equitable development" among non-resident Indians and Orissans worldwide.
  
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When Did It Start

It started in March of 1993 in the wake of shocking news of inhuman misery and deprivation in the famine-affected region of Orissa, as a result of extensive discussion on a electronic medium called ORNET. Initially, it was informally called "Kalahandi-Bolangir Initiative". The effort was organized into an independent group in April, 1994. The group was formally named as "Sustainable Economic & Educational Development Society" (SEEDS), reflecting its broader focus and philosophy. 
  
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Brief, Concrete Objectives

We seek to be conscionable agents of sustainable, non-violent, democratic and equitable development in Orissa and elsewhere. Towards this end, we see the need to educate ourselves and other non-residents, to raise monetary contributions and ideas from among us to catalytically help development workers and ordinary people to help themselves achieve their freedom from hunger, deprivation, ignorance, and exploitation -- the many socio-economic & political ills. We do not have delusions of any quick, grand changes by a few of us, but we hope the movement grows among more people to steadily but surely proceed towards that lofty goal. The two facets of our goal:

  • We serve as ambassadors/messengers of the SEEDS philosophy. This is the awareness part. We bring to light people's suffering and inequity to help alleviate/eradicate the problem. Mobilize youths and others outside Orissa who will be forward-looking in this respect. Serve as an incubator for new and viable ideas of development.
  • We try to financially and morally support/adopt some small-scale, grass-roots development projects in Orissa, and later, beyond. This will give us

a.       first-hand knowledge about the issues of progress

b.       volunteering opportunities

c.       concrete milestones to achieve, and more.

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Organizational Structure

The structure and operation is DEMOCRATIC, EGALITARIAN and NON-SECTARIAN. At present, a few individuals have been asked or have generously taken upon themselves to provide primary leadership, coordination and to perform day-to-day, related work. A subset of these people can be contacted for more details. The SEEDS core set of volunteers and members is a dynamic list of dynamic people.

   The board and other volunteers.


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Activities, projects, reports and newsletters

 

New/Current Projects

 

Donate

Please donate your time, thought and/or money to the projects and activities of SEEDS. You could join seednet@yahoogroups.com for greater interaction with us. You can also become a voting member by paying yearly dues and staying involved with SEEDS activites (yearly dues for US members is $150; for others, please contact a board member). Your contribution as a member, or though targetted donations to specific projects, or via your general patronage is greatly needed and appreciated. Treasurer's address:


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More about SEEDS and its projects

Transparency is a hall mark of SEEDS. In that spirit we are providing basic information to empower the public and to enable the SEEDS volunteers reach for their potential in making a positive difference. Careful thought and near-zero overhead underscore our financial approach to funding projects.

Our Constitution

IRS-501c3 status

Articles of amendment

Chapter Guidelines

A story from the field

Photo Gallery

Forms for applying for sponsorship of a development activity

grant_application html form

grant_appl. text form

Social entrepreneurship

Some Ideas on Social Entrepreurs: Fellows

FormsAndDocs/India_potential.doc

Long-range Strategic Plan for development

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