Taken from original Link:
http://www.aidindia.org/AIDstatementThe volunteers of the Association for India's Development (AID) are distressed by smear campaigns on a handful of email lists and web media. AID's coordinators in India include professors at IIT Chennai, IIT Mumbai, IISc Bangalore, Jagannath Institute of Technology Management, professionals
from local companies as well as reputed full-time workers recognized by both local people and agencies such as UNICEF, UN Foundation and the government Relief Commission. In the US, AID volunteers are active members of the student and professional community at universities, corporations and organizations.
We caution the community against deliberate attempts to misrepresent our work and take things out of context, exploiting the emergency situation caused by the tsunami. In short, AID rejects and condemns the slander campaign, and categorically states that it is not aligned with the communists or any other political party, opposes violence by any group, and has given an open account of its relief work on its website. We are issuing this detailed statement in order to inform everyone about the true spirit and the specifics of AID's work and our stand for peace and non-violence.
1. Context of Tsunami relief efforts: AID's relief efforts began within hours of the Tsunami striking. By the 27th of December, AID-India's Chennai office had become the hub of activity for coordinating relief efforts from AID as well as several other groups working in the districts of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Chennai, Kanyakumari and Pondicherry.
Simultaneously, hundreds of volunteers in the US have worked to solicit help from the community, set-up a dynamic website to give regular updates, and sent much-needed funds. AID's efforts in both India and US have been recognized and have received extensive coverage by independent observers
(See references).
2. A particular concern has been raised by the slander campaign about AID working with DYFI and SFI volunteers during the relief operation. While AID has made its approach clear in the FAQs at its website http://survivors.aidindia.org, some have continued to misrepresent the work.
In several villages AID-India was one of the first groups to reach the affected areas [Ref C]. The choice was to do things that help the people, like finding survivors, burying/cremating the dead and addressing relief needs, or to be on the scene as spectators or worse still, do post-mortem analysis on the internet while people are to be saved. AID chose to work with various groups including local villagers affiliated with DYFI without whom it would have been impossible to dig up bodies and find survivors -- tasks which many young people coming from Indian cities to volunteer for AID have no experience in, but learnt on the scene by working with others. AID has no plans to work with DYFI/SFI beyond immediate relief.
Many independent observers and reporters have described positively the cooperation between individuals from various backgrounds during relief work - from corporate executives to NGOs to religious groups to those with political affiliations. When two groups collaborate it doesn't necessarily
mean that there is an exchange of funds, since each group comes with its strength and resources.
3. AID and AID-India have not sent any funds to DYFI or SFI.
During the coordination of relief efforts, AID-India exercises full, independent control of funds to purchase relief material, transporting and distributing it. AID has sent funds to partners like SIFFS - Tamil Nadu Fishermens' Society, ANET, Breakthrough Science Society, CJWS; and is working with several long-term partners to provide long-term rehabilitation. The strength of AID is to work closely with the local communities with their full participation.
4. AID-India has worked with people from various backgrounds - more than 800 city-based volunteers and executives from corporations have worked hand-in-hand with villagers in the first 3 weeks. This work has been widely recognized by Chennai citizens, independent reporters as well as the district Collectors and the Relief Commissioner of Tamil Nadu.
5. AID has been open about all its work with about 50 field reports available on its dynamic website, and regular updates to donors. These reports from a variety of sources provide a good picture of the various groups that are working together, as well as our long-term plans. We urge everyone to visit http://survivors.aidindia.org - our only request is that you read the reports in full, in order to overcome the selective misrepresentation and avoid taking things out of context.
6. AID is an organization inspired by Gandhi's teachings - particularly non-violence, identifying and working with the most disadvantaged sections, and insisting on social justice. AID has always opposed violence of all kinds. AID condemns violent actions, whether by DYFI and SFI workers or any
other individuals or groups. It is unfortunate that malicious attempts are being made to relate such unconnected actions with AID. In the past, AID has condemned the violence in Godhra and rest of Gujarat, the attack on Akshardham temple, bomb blasts in Mumbai and attacks in Kashmir, and called for peace and communal harmony.
7. AID is not affiliated with any political parties or their organizations. AID is an independent public organization working for the interests of the marginalized sections of people, on various issues such as education, health-care, natural resources, people's rights and democracy, livelihoods and income generation, women's empowerment, and environmental protection.
In fact, AID has been involved in campaigns on behalf of people's organizations against specific unjust policies of the government, irrespective of the party in power. Examples are: fish-workers' campaign
against degradation of Sunderbans in West Bengal, right to primary education all over India, displacement without rehabilitation in Narmada valley in Maharashtra, MP and Gujarat, depletion of water resources in Kerala due to Coca Cola plant, election reforms in Andhra Pradesh, communal violence in Gujarat and justice for victims of Bhopal gas disaster.
In conclusion, AID rejects the misrepresentation of its work, and urges the community to get involved in AID's efforts and judge the work on its merits.
References:
A. "...decide to try the last address... AID India. How I wish I had gone there first ... AID is providing relief to the very remote coastal villages thatfew have reached …"
- Manjeet Kriplani, chief of BusinessWeek's India Bureau
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jan2005/nf2005016_1576_db017.htm
B. "Serving the nation
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. U.S.-educated engineers like Balaji Sampath, .nd their calling in development work in their homeland." - Sudhish Kamath, The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/edu/2005/01/03/stories/2005010300301100.htm
C. "And now, a wave of compassion...
Students, lawyers, doctors, slum-dwellers, IT professionals... help is pouring in from all quarters for post-tsunami relief works" - Shonali Muthalay, The Hindu.
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/01/06/stories/2005010600990100.htm
D. Relief is on the way - By Mark Hansel, Cincinnati Post
"AID would like to develop a network of agencies working together to provide relief. The group is trying to organize fund-raisers, multidenominational prayer vigils and other activities to help victims."
http://www.cincypost.com/2005/01/03/mercy010305.html
E. Focus on rehabilitation: NGOs
- R.K.Radhakrishnan, The Hindu, on meeting between Tamil Nadu Relief Commissioner and key NGOs.
"The organisations that participated in the meeting organised by the Bhoomika Trust include Christian Counselling Centre, Vellore; Abhiyan/KVMS from Gujarat; NIMHANS from Bangalore; IIT-Madras; Indians for Collective Action, U.S.A.; Association for India's Development, U.S.A.; The Banyan,
SMILE and Samanvaya, all based in Chennai, ActionAid, People's Watch and SIFFS Tamil Nadu Fishermen's Society."
http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/03/stories/2005010310240500.htm
