Micro-Enterprise Development Center (MEDC) - FOOD has partnered with HP to establish a state of the art training centre in Chennai. FOOD will utilize the training center to deliver HP's Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Program (MAP) curriculum to micro-entrepreneurs and also provide ICT training to educated unemployed youth who are from a socio-economically disadvantaged section of the society.

Skill training center on wheels - FOOD has designed a cost-effective solar-powered LED lighting system using a simple manufacturing process. These lighting systems help reduce electricity consumption by 80%. We are now looking for partners to establish training centers on wheels that will train women self-help groups to integrate the LED on to printed circuit board to produce the final product. This will not only provide employment to thousands of women but also promote the use of energy efficient and eco friendly lighting. [more info]

Physical training for aspiring youth - FOOD has taken over the maintenance and running of a swimming pool and gym center to provide physical training to aspiring youth who are planning to take up jobs in police, defence and fire services.

Stainless steel garden furniture and bus shelters - FOOD has designed low-cost stainless steel garden furniture and bus shelters as part of its R&D activity. [View the photos]

Pilot project for waste management in Ambattur - Ambattur Municipality has partnered with FOOD to setup a pilot project for waste management at the Athipattu dumping yard. The project utilizes the mobile sieving machine developed by FOOD to seperate debris, organic waste and non-degradable waste. [Read the news item]

Disintegrating green manure from plastics and other non-degradable materials piled up in municipality compost yard and marketing the green compost - FOOD has developed a cost-effective 20 tons output capacity mobile sieving machine that could retrieve 100% of the naturally compost green garbage from the digested dumps with minimum human intervention. This machine consist of conveyers for loading the green compost into the sieving machine on a continuous basis which automatically separates the inert and other non-degradable materials and lumps from the green compost and pushes it through a duct which can either be filled directly into bags or loaded into a lorry with the help of other conveyers. This green compost can be either applied directly or further enriched through other available methods or used for producing vermi-compost by involving self help groups (SHGs). This will not only be a value-added product but also be an income generating activity for hundreds of SHGs as well as unemployed youth, and it can also be a small and medium enterprise for aspiring entrepreneurs. A pilot project has been setup with a machine of 20 ton capacity per day in the compost yard of Tirunelveli City Municipal Corporation and this is functioning to the utmost satisfaction of all concerned. [more info] [watch the sieving machine in action (video)]

ISO 9001:2000 certification - FOOD has been awarded the ISO 9001:2000 certification by JAS-ANZ for its infrastructure management and website design services.

ISO 9001:2000 certification for Madurai bus stand - The Madurai bus stand being maintained by FOOD has been awarded the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System certification by JAS-ANZ.

FOOD enters into MoU with IL&FS - FOOD has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited, (IL&FS), promoted by Public sector Financial Institutions and Banks of India including UTI, Central Bank of India and HDFC among others, with an objective of implementing socially oriented projects in the Infrastructure sector. [more info]

Madurai Bus stand maintenance - FOOD has taken up the operation and maintenance of the busstand at Madurai. This is FOOD's third venture into operation and maintenance of public infrastructure. The bus stand is being maintained through the bus entry fee collected. The project has provided employment to 100 people who are engaged in maintenance and upkeep of the bus stand. The project is for a period of 3 years and FOOD has been able to make it a sustainable in a short period of time. We have applied for ISO certification as well.

Providing basic infrastructure to small fishermen by establishing chilling units that are operated and maintained by women self help groups - The project is identifying women self help groups and providing them with chilling containers that can be used by the small fishermen to store their catch once they return back to shore. This enables the fishermen to find a better price for their catch by approaching outside markets without fear of the fish getting spoilt. Further the project acts as a source of income generation for the women self help groups who would charge a nominal amount from the fishermen towards storage of their catch. [view the project proposal]

Reconstruction & Resettlement for those affected by Tsunami: FOOD is constructing integrated housing complexes for those affected by the the tsunami. The complex will be adopt a modular design with 22 houses, a community hall, a balvadi, a playground, a sanitary complex, solar lighting and 2 shops for establishing micro-enterprise. Partnerships are solicited.[more info]

Trichy Bus stand maintenance - FOOD has been entrusted the responsibility of sanitation and upkeep two bus stands and vegetable market in Trichy by the Tamil Nadu Government. [read the news article]

Tirunelveli bus stand maintenance -FOOD has been entrusted the responsibility of sanitation and upkeep of three bus stands and two vegetable markets in Tirunelveli District by the Tamilnadu Government, creating employment for about 150 sanitary workers. This is a part of the Government's efforts to explore the possibilities of NGO participation in operation and maintenance of public infrastructure. [more info]

Waste to Wealth: FOOD develops a three-ton capacity per day low cost mobile hand-operated sieving machine to sieve and separate non-degradable materials from non-segregated garbage and recover 80% of naturally compost garbage from the dumps. [more info]

Our other initiatives - NGOS.CC provides non-profit organizations with free email and networking facilities. FOOD, in partnership with Commissionerate of Municipal Administration (Tamilnadu Government) has established the Tamilnadu Helpdesk to assist Urban Local Bodies to initiate projects involving public-private partnerships.

FOOD has provided technical support and has established around 150 telecenters in rural areas of Tuticorin, Kanchipuram and Kanyakumari districts in Tamilnadu.

FOOD has provided technical support to Vellore, Tambaram and Tuticorin municipalities in introducing e-governance and value added service through electronic networking to the citizens.

EasyLink, the ICT division of FOOD, has provided technical support to Loyola College (Chennai) for establishing campus-wide student networking services and digital library.

[View the archives]