The Mangalore location-based activities of the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation started in 1998, at the preparatory stage of setting up the GMR Power Plant at Tanir Bavi.

Initially the activities included providing basic facilities to the communities surrounding the plant. Some of these were, construction of the community hall, village roads, providing drinking water, books and uniform to school children etc.

A detailed Base Line survey of the areas surrounding the plant was conducted and the following issues were identified:

• Lack of Employment Opportunities : Only a small section of the population was employed. The number of dependents in each family was high and most of the working members fell in the low income bracket. Youth Empowerment: The youth of the community needed guidance and direction to channelize their energies.
• Health: Most of the community members did not save for health emergencies and therefore ended up taking loans from money lenders. Hence, most of them were in heavy debts. Another health related concern was that at the anganwadis most of the children were found to be underweight.
• Hygiene and Sanitation: Most of the houses did not have toilets. Some of the families were using thatched bathrooms covered with palm leaves which were not very hygienic and safe.
• Anganwadis and Schools: The infrastructure in both the anganwadis and schools was poor. They lacked safe drinking facilities, playground facility, proper building etc. Most of the children did not pursue education after primary school, since the high school and college were located far away.

Based on the results of the survey, community development activities were undertaken from 2001 onwards at Tanir Bavi and some of the other villages in the vicinity of the plant.

Initiatives in Mangalore:

Education: At Tanir Bavi, seven Anganwadis run by the government are being supported by the Foundation. The Foundation supports by way of augmenting the staff salary, providing free slates, uniforms and play materials for children.

Since 2001, under the “Gifted Children Scheme,” 18 children from the Tanir Bavi village have been adopted. These children are supported through their entire academic period, right from kindergarten to professional education.

Books and uniforms are being provided to the identified children from poor families at some of the government schools in Tanir Bavi and surrounding villages since 1999. Children are also provided free computer training courses.. This facility has been extended to children of AIDS victims at Kaup, Udupi district as well.

Since 1999, midday meals are being supplied in four government schools, that caters to nearly 345 children.

More than 100 deserving and poor college students of Tanir Bavi have been provided a scholarship of Rs. 1000/- a year, to pursue their college studies.

Every year, a 10-day summer camp is conducted for government school children from Tanir Bavi and surrounding villages. The children participate in several extra-curricular activities like cultural programmes etc. Around 80 children from Std. VI to Std. X take part in these camps each year.

Health & Hygiene: A free Allopathic clinic was started at Tanir Bavi in 2002 followed by an Ayurveda clinic in 2003. The clinics are open every day except Sunday. On an average 15 patients are treated every day at these clinics.

Health Awareness Camps for SHG members have been conducted at Tanir Bavi once in every six months. Apart from this, several other camps such as, dental check up camps, eye camps etc. are organized for people of different age-groups in to the community..

The Foundation conducts several awareness camps on important days. For instance, An awareness camp is conducted at Tanir Bavi every year during the Chemical Disaster Prevention Week.

Several HIV/AIDS awareness camps have been organized at Tanir Bavi and surrounding villages targeting people of different age groups in the community. Awareness sessions are also held for jail inmates. Adolescents and youth are targeted through various interactive activities like quiz, competitions etc.

In collaboration with Wenlock Hospital Blood Bank, a Blood Donation Camp is held each year at Tanir Bavi, that sees active participation from the community members.

Individual Sanitary Latrines:

GMRVF realizes the importance of hygiene and sanitation in every household. At Tanir Bavi, the Foundation has contributed towards the construction of Individual Sanitary Latrines for all its Self Help Group members. This is a part of MCC’s (Mangalore Municipal Corporation) programmes, under which MCC, the individual, and the Foundation contributes towards the construction of the toilet. Until now, 121 such toilets have been built.

Youth Participation: In association with Dr. M V Shetty College of Health Sciences, NSS Camps are held regularly. In these camps, the students are encouraged to take up various activities like cleaning the beaches around Tanir Bavi etc. Several talks on health related issues are also organized for the students in these camps.

Empowerment: Foundation currently facilitates 30 Self Help Groups (SHGs) with a total strength of 440 members at Mangalore. The SHGs include 27 women groups and 3 men groups. Two of these groups have been formed at Freedom Foundation, Muloor, Udupi District for the AIDS patients.

These SHGs have managed to get loans upwards of Rs. 20 lakhs. A total saving of Rs. 9,08,085/- has been mobilized from 28 SHGs upto March 2007. The Foundation has supported these groups through funds, given as grants. Bank Loans to the tune of Rs. 14,13,000/- mobilized from four Commercial Banks, has been extended to12 SHGs. Repayment of these loans has been 100% without any overdue.

GMRVF has formed an Apex Group - the “Mahashakti Okkuta”- for these SHGs, which has mobilized Rs.45, 000/-. The money is being lent to youth groups and young individuals for conducting their business activities. The group holds regular monthly meetings and initiates income generation programmes like network marketing. The group also monitors the working of SHGs, advises the members, conducts training programmes and supports new entrepreneurial ventures.

The Foundation facilitates various trainings for SHG members through different reputed organizations like RUDSET institute and SIRD Manipal etc. with an aim to strengthen these groups. The programmes impart training on a range of topics including Self Help Group concepts, accounting in Self Help Groups, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Development etc. The group members are also trained in different self-employment programmes. Several micro- enterprises like candle production, phenyl making, hotel business, preparing food items and selling etc. have been undertaken by these groups. Most of these enterprises are doing very well today.

444 Self Help Group members and their families have been insured under LIC’s, Janashree Bima Yojana group insurance scheme by the Foundation. The monthly premium for the scheme is Rs. 100/-, 40% of which is funded by the community and the remaining 60% by the Foundation. These schemes are of immense help to the members especially in times of emergencies. For example three SHG members of Tanir Bavi have availed death benefits of Rs. 20000/- under the Janashree Bima Yojana after to the death of their husbands.

66 SHG members are part of LIC’s Shiksha Sahayog Yojana and under the scheme the children get a scholarship fee of Rs.1200/- per year for four years. 430 families of SHG members have been covered under the Arogya Suraksha Yojana mediclaim policy jointly with MAHE Manipal. Under this scheme each person is covered for Rs. 30000/- for treatment at KMC hospitals.

Apart from making women financially stronger, SHGs have made them socially aware and active. SHG members with constant work were able to close the only arrack (local alcohol) shop at Tanir Bavi.