The Programmes
Education, Culture and Knowledge Systems
Post-colonization, our education system was used to underrate indigenous knowledge systems and completely overlook local cultural heritage trying to ratify education with modernization. At Anandalaya, the modernization theory is examined, unpacked and critiqued for equating modernization with Westernization culminating in the promotion of cultural imperialist sentiments that have an alienating effect between the educated and society. PIDT deals with this issue through it’s work at Anandalaya and Shilpalaya >>
Early Childhood Education and
Nutrition
The first six years of life are characterized by rapid physical and mental growth and development. They are critical in setting the path for a child’s future. This future to be bright, young children are dependent upon others to provide healthy environments. The Indian government has the largest program in the world to cater to this need through it’s Ïntegrated Child Development Scheme’ (Now called Anganwadi Services). It is a very valuable program since it combines both health and nutrition and early education within the program. PIDT works through the Anganwadi Teachers Training Center and Snehalaya and Swasthalaya to create school readiness for children. >>
Artisans, Livelihoods and Entrepreneurship
Small artisans play a big role in emerging economies. The “artisan economy” is one of the largest employers in the developing world. But these entrepreneurs, many of whom are women, are often limited by their inability to access financial services such as loans to expand their operations and hire workers. The research shows that when women entrepreneurs succeed they drive economic growth and invest more back into their families and communities. It is said that all together, the world’s artisans represent the fourth largest economy on the planet. The area of PIDT’s work however is in a very backward area and we are engaged in immense effort to bring the artisans to be entrepreneurs in new expanded markets. >>
Agriculture, Ecology and Climate
Change
Agriculture is the largest occupation in the country. The challenge of agriculture in the 21st century requires a systemic integration of the environmental, social and economic pillars of development to meet the needs of present generations without sacrificing the livelihoods of future generations. Over the next 50 years, the world population is projected to increase by some 3 billion, primarily in the developing countries. Yet, even today, some 800 million people go hungry daily, and more than a billion live on less than a INR 50 a day. This food insecurity and poverty affecting one-quarter of the world's population is a sad indictment of the failure to respond adequately in a time of unprecedented scientific progress and economic development. There is no way we can meet food security and poverty concerns without first addressing the issues of sustainable agricultural and rural development. >>
Peace, Feminity and Sustainablity Dialogues
Peace must be recognized as a social environment, a space, both physically and in the mind, steeped in the feminine, in which communities can formally and informally come together. The presence of women and care nurtures this very context, producing mindful spaces in which tension and conflict can be negotiated through dialogue and compromise. Women play a critical role in terms of family integrity; women are the perpetuators of ideal society. When the family space is safe, gender-neutral, it is appropriate for informal, public community gathering. Such shared gathering, activated by feminine presence, provide a community-based platform for peace; whose familiarity inspires participation, dialogue, and decision-making, and empowers a sustainable society. Women have also been cultural leaders in the creative arts where every menial task like say plastering the walls is made into an expression of joy through decoration.
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PIDT SCHOOLS
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ANANDALAYA PUBLIC SCHOOL – Secondary School
This is an CBSE school upto the 10th grade. The school students are encouraged to take up leadership roles through various pedagogic ...
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SHILPALAYA -School of Arts, Crafts and built environment
This is a craft development center that follows Mahatma Gandhiji and Gurudev Tagores viewpoint of making craft the center of education...
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ANGANWADI - Teachers Training Center
PIDT organizes an Anganwadi Teachers Training Center for the Government of India. The concept of Anganwadi (courtyard home) ...
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SNEHALAYA
PIDT organizes a kindergarten for children before they enter into formal schooling. Various education pedagogies are being experimented...
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SWASTHALAYA - School for Preventive Medicine, Nutrition and child birth
PIDT is developing a herbal garden for educating the children as well as preparing basic medicines for preventive and daily use ...
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ZAMEENALAYA - School for studies in Natural resources and Energy
PIDT works with farmers through it’s farmers clubs where the farmers fields are linkedwith local Krishi Vigyan Kendras and become learning ...
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NATYALAYA - School of Folk based Creative arts & communication
Theatre, poetry, music, folk arts all convey abstractions of social experience. They also help us get in communication with our inner self ...
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CHARCHALAYA – Dialogue and Advocacy
People to people and people to places connections can transform people and their worldview. PIDT wants to develop people’s understanding of peaceful ...
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SEVALAYA - School for Volunteer Leadership and Transformation
PIDT has been instrumental in changing the nature of dialogue in conflict situations between different groupings of caste, community, gender, family etc...