About

About
About us
Our History: A Journey Towards Transformative Change.

Village Development Centre, affectionately known as VDC, emerged as a beacon of hope and change in 1984. Founded by the visionary Mr. K.R. Raju, a postgraduate in Master of Social Work (MSW) and a diploma holder in NGO management, VDC's inception was a testament to the collective mission of Mr. Raju and a dedicated group of passionate youth. Their unwavering commitment was rooted in the desire to uplift the impoverished and downtrodden communities that too often fell through the cracks of society.

Mr. Raju's journey towards founding VDC was not a solitary one. Before embarking on this transformative mission, he honed his skills and dedication at People's Education for Action and Liberation (PEAL), a renowned rights-based NGO based in Madurai. Here, he began his career as a Field Worker, humbly walking alongside those whose voices had been unheard for far too long. Through tireless effort and unwavering dedication, he rose to the esteemed position of State Coordinator, overseeing the organization's efforts in organizing handloom weavers across the state.

However, it was witnessing the heart-wrenching conditions endured by the impoverished communities in and around his native village of Mannachanallur, nestled in Tiruchirappalli district that catalyzed Mr. Raju's decision to establish and register VDC. His determination to make a difference in the lives of rural poor in underdeveloped villages led to the birth of an organization that has now thrived for nearly four decades.

Today, Mr. K.R. Raju stands as a testament to the power of unwavering commitment and enduring dedication, boasting over 40 years of invaluable experience in rural development activities aimed at uplifting the lives of the less fortunate.

Our Leadership

At the helm of VDC's administrative body are dedicated individuals who share the same passion and commitment to our mission. Mrs. S. Pusparani, a Postgraduate in Sociology, serves as our esteemed President, leading us forward with her vision and determination. Alongside her, Mrs. S. Josephine Jayanthi serves as our Treasurer, ensuring that the financial stewardship of our organization remains strong and transparent.

Together, our leadership team and the entire VDC family remain committed to our core mission: transforming rural communities, one life at a time, towards a more equitable and just future. Join us on this incredible journey towards transformative change.

Village Development Centre (VDC) operates under the umbrella of legal compliance and accountability. Here's a breakdown of our legal standing:

VDC is a registered entity under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act of 1975, holding Registration No. 94/1984.

We possess our Permanent Account Number (PAN) under the Income Tax Act, in addition to receiving tax exemptions as per the provisions of Sections 12AA and 80(G) of the Income Tax Act.

To facilitate uninterrupted foreign contributions, we are duly registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, in accordance with the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 1976.

VDC proudly holds registration with NitiAyog, boasting a Unique ID of TN/2013/0064083. We are also registered under the Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) and CSR registration.

Vision

VDC envisions thriving communities, empowered by equal participation who bu ild a sustainable social order with justice and environmental responsibility.

Mission

Our Mission encompasses a diverse range of activities, including:
  • Combating child trafficking and promoting child protection measures
  • Facilitating socio-economic and educational advancement for women
  • Providing vocational training and livelihood skills for rural women and youth
  • Ensuring credit access for women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
  • Promoting organic farming practices among farmers,
  • Promoting gender equality and confronting all forms of violence against women
  • Providing relief and rehabilitation assistance to disaster victims,
  • Securing social security for unorganized laborers
  • Promote innovative and sustainable livelihood models with scope for replication
  • Promotion of natural farming, tree plantation, renewable energy and ecological awareness
  • Help support basic infrastructure in schools and communities to strengthen education
  • Empower adolescent girls in schools with health education and referral to support services
  • Train young people with skills for employment/self-employment
  • Establish work centres for vocational training and women’s micro-enterprises
  • Provide emergency aid to communities that face natural disasters, displacement effects of market economy, migrants and refugees and climate change
  • Revitalize and disseminate knowledge of traditional sustainable farming methods, heirloom seeds, health practices, sports and games, folk traditions and indigenous wisdom
  • Build alliances with other NGOs and civil society groups to establish Communities of Practice in different areas of development work
  • Promote digital literacy and access to information technology

Activities and Achievements since 1984

  • Rehabilitated 1500 child labourers via govt. program of Child Labour Special Schools
  • Enrolled over 5000 workers in social security schemes
  • Promoted 530 Women’s SHGs, facilitated 2600 women’s access to credit and provided self-employment training to 200 women
  • Promoted natural farming practices through 25 established farmer groups
  • Organized awareness camps on education, social security schemes, health, alcoholism and other development issues
  • Rescued 184 bonded laborers and ensured each got Rs. 20,000 rehabilitation support
  • Constructed 210 individual toilets and 12 school toilets with community participation
  • Provided emergency relief by building 63 houses for flood-affected families
  • Provided emergency relief to victims of the tsunami and other natural disasters
  • Improved water access by installing 21 bore wells across 21 villages in Trichy district
  • Promoted environmental sustainability by planting over 10,000 saplings in project area
  • Planted moringa plants in 1000 homes to improve children's and women's nutrition