NGO Profile: Alternative for Rural Movement (ARM)

Alternative for Rural Movement (ARM)  was started by, few Academicians, Visionaries and professionals of North Balasore on 8th March 1989. Till date ARM has organized over 300 Women Self Help Groups (WSGs) across 100 remote rural villages in 16 Gram Panchayats serving a population of 1, 18,748 (21376 families) of Balasore district in the state of Odisha.

Vision and Mission of ARM in its own words:

Vision: To find out an alternative strategy of rural social intervention and facilitate the NGO movement in the state of Odisha.

Mission: Establishment of an equitable social order through motivation, facilitation and self activity among backward rural communities with emphasis on women and children in the sphere of health education, human rights, economy and rural leadership.

Here are a Few of the Many Accomplishments of ARM:

• ARM has received Certificate of Appreciation towards their excellent contribution in Women Empowerment Activities in the district of Balasore for the Year 2007-08.
• ARM has received Certificate of Appreciation towards their excellent contribution in Women Empowerment Activities in the district of Balasore for the Year 2007-08.
• With the assistance of ARM, 1318 no. of women have become self reliant through 475 rural women micro enterprise groups, under women self employment initiatives.
• ARM has immunized 6316 children till date.
• ARM has given Scholarship support for 200 poor and meritorious children, Art/craft/dance and music based extracurricular activities for 160 talented students as well as Teachers Training for 60 primary school teachers have been extended under School Child Resource Development Centre (SCRDC) project.
• Through ARM Model School project, 1468 no. of children of poor and underprivileged families have got primary education intended for school dropouts and non school going children of dalit and deprived backward communities.
• ARM has established 30 Village Development Committees.
• ARM has renovated 15 village ponds for multipurpose uses.
• School dropout rate has decreased significantly from 66 % to 12 % in this remote coastal area since ARM started educational intervention in 1997.
• ARM has empowered 5618 women and risk girls, trained and sustainably engaged themselves in different vocational self employment activities being protected from drudgery, child labour and women trafficking threats.

 Awards:

• ARM was appreciated as the best NGO at Balasore district for its excellent contribution towards women empowerment in 2007.
• ARM was appreciated as the best NGO at Balasore district for its excellent contribution towards women empowerment in 2004.
• Mission Shakti Govt. of Odisha recognized ARM Coordinating Member as the best facilitator on Women.

Address:
Alternative for Rural Movement (ARM), Baliapal, Dist:Balasore Baliapal, Odisha 756026, Phone- 06781 253 424