Siddhartha Social Development Centre.

Siddhartha Social Development Centre (SSDC) works to empower marginalised, ethnic, dalit (‘untouchable’ caste) and other disadvantaged groups economically and socially. SSDC provides vocational training to offer people a way out of poverty, as well as working with children, especially those used by the Maoists and other armed groups, to reintegrate them with their families and wider community.

Children Associated with Armed Groups

This initiative ran from June 2007 to January 2009, working to reintegrate and rehabilitate children in Kapilvastu used by Maoist and other armed groups. SSDC works with the children and their families to try to reintegrate them, helping young children re-enter education, and providing vocational training for those for whom this is not appropriate. SSDC have so far reintegrated 124 children back into their families. Of these, 38 have returned to school, and the others have received training and support for starting their own businesses.

Vulnerable Communities Programme

The initiative works with those left most vulnerable by the Maoist conflict: those from very poor, ethnic minority, or dalit groups. It started in February 2008 to run for 18 months. Participants receive training in activities such as rearing livestock, shoe-making, ironmongery, blacksmithing, and farming. Over ten Village Development Committees, comprising some 200 families, have taken part in the programme and built new post-conflict livelihoods. Single women, in particular, have achieved huge improvements in their standards of living through the project.