Chairperson’s Message

 

Dear Friends,

As Chair of the CYSD Board, I am meeting you all for the first time formally. I am very happy to be entrusted with this responsibility and like to meet you all including both Co-founders, Shri Jagadananda and Shri P. K. Sahoo.

I have known CYSD as long as my existence. It is a very important institution in the field of human centred, tribal focused and right based development organization.  CYSD as an institution is known by its values, not only it inculcates the values in its team but also everyone who comes in contact with this institution. It establishes own normative identify – which means it stands for the people in distress. The COVID-19 pandemic response work of the institution is a wonderful illustration of what CYSD stands for. Its COVID work presentation is a manifestation, demonstration and a symbol of the institution’s normative stand. Despite lockdown and shutdown, the quick response to the COVID through conducting daily meetings, generating feedback, mobilizing resource and pushing & influencing government to respond with that feedback is praiseworthy. Even for nearly last 40 years, it has created innovation – patented it and spread it among people, government and partner organizations. If we review history, we can find so many innovations, even long term partner, NOVIB learnt from CYSD and took it to other partners in another country. You may not have written the story yourself but others have written the story for you. Secondly, CYSD is an institution known for its incubation. Many people have met me during COVID pandemic, not only in Odisha but all over in the country, including international organizations who have spent time with CYSD and learned a great deal. Therefore, I urge you all to imbibe its values. CYSD is the institution of value driven entity, not profit making or money making body, but a valued based Incubator Institution.  If you count, you will be surprised – in my guess, no less than 100 successful incubator entities are working all over India. Thirdly, the style of CYSD, as an institution is different from many other organizations i.e. inclusive of different type of stakeholders, point of views, partnership, diversity and even those occasionally may harass CYSD. So it is a value driven institution with explicit normative stand – which has created innovations, incubations and inclusions. That is what CYSD is for me and therefore, I am particularly delighted and grateful to be having this opportunity to become part of this great institution so intimately and closely, as this position offers.

Nevertheless, the story runs forward and backward. At this juncture, not just CYSD but all of us including my institution PRIA are in a difficult situation. COVID phenomena has happened to all, whether the rich people living in palace or the poor people existing in hut, have become equal. Many disruptions have occurred due to the pandemic. This disruption has become severe in the lives of people which could impact generations to come. It could impact through livelihoods, health, education, movement and so on. You may think where the Anganwadi Worker serves for antenatal and post-natal care that stopped for long time, what has happened to the village / community poor tribal women and their health and those of their newborns and it could impact a lot. You are aware about the increased violence that has happened against women and girls at home, even during their work from home. On top of all this, all schools, colleges and universities remain closed. You can now see this impact of COVID on the learning opportunity and education of many young people from school to university level have been so severely disrupted.

At this juncture, we are facing a situation that we either keep our eyes closed and be happy with that we have got a lap top, a smart phone and our children are able to study hassles free and have two squares of meal for the family and we are healthy, therefore don’t need treatment. But, being part of CYSD, a value driven institution, it pains us increasingly because we cannot close our eyes. It has increased far more than even 40 years ago when the situation was not any better. But when we were hoping to improve the lives of our community, the people and showing some positive impact, this disruption has created a serious slide back. So we have to find fresh energy to be able to carry forward the agenda.

The second, of course, what happened for several years is the increasingly restrictive regulatory environment, which you are familiar, like legislation of GST, Income Tax, Societies Registration Act, particularly for the CSOs.  The restriction on funding, more recently the amendments on FCRA Act, has literally affected the CSO fraternity. We are at a critical interval predicting that we will get out of this challenge soon. So all adversities, disruptions, obstacles, blockage pushed us to find new ways to carry forward our organization. What I am appealing to all of you is to use this occasion and disruption to figure out ways of strengthening CYSD’s institutional identity as one of the hallmarks which will always be there i.e. CYSD as an institution will continue to be relevant.

Third challenge at this moment is to give CYSD’s institutional identity, a longevity beyond its Co-founders, who have given their blood, sweat and time 24 x7. CYSD is their first baby – their affection, commitment for their baby will be there. But, it means that the next generation leadership has to take the responsibility. Of course, we will support the future leaders, provide all the opportunities to them but, they have to stand up, take risk, make mistake and gain confidence. Most importantly, both the Co-founders along with myself are committed to support you. So, you take a small break and enjoy – take care yourself and your family and come back with freshness and new vigor as the next phase of CYSD’s journey needs fresh energy and enthusiasm.  I look forward to meet you all, may be in forthcoming Foundation Day of CYSD in March 2021.

Thank you all !

 (Dr. Rajesh Tandon’s first Introductory Address to CYSD Family members virtually on 12th December 2020)