Construction of free bus terminal - FOOD is currently constructing free bus terminal for municipal corporations. We also propose to construct similar shelters for temples, which can be used by pilgrims as chatrams. [view the photo gallery]

Renovation of bus stand by NGO without any financial commitment from the municipality - FOOD has taken up the renovation of a 50-year-old bus stand at Madurai that is used by over 50,000 people every day but has been neglected for several years. The work is being executed with the help of sponsors at an estimated cost of Rs 60 lakhs, without any financial implication to the municipality. [more info]

Air-conditioned Traffic Police Kiosk - FOOD, with financial assistance from Pothys Textiles, has designed, developed and installed air-conditioner kiosks for traffic police in Madurai city for the first time in India. These A/C kiosks help traffic police avoid inhaling noxious fumes that they are otherwise exposed to for over 8 hours a day, provide them respite from the scorching sun during summer, and faciliates an improved work environment for them which results in improved efficiency. The innovative elements are that the structure is made out of stainless steel and the interior is air-conditioned. The unique feature is that the public addressing system fixed in the kiosk can be activated and operated with a cell phone from anywhere in the city and outside. This will help the police to pass on forward information about traffic jams, processions, VIP movements etc. In addition to this we have also facilitate switching on and off the lights and air-conditioner from anywhere with the help of cell phone. We have also proposed to add other features in the near future. [more info]

UN-HABITAT Best Practice - Our sustainable solid waste management project at the Tiruchirappalli City Corporation bus terminus & markets has been selected as a Best Practice by the UN-HABITAT database in improving the living environment. [more info]

GET-IT training - FOOD has partnered with HP to establish a state of the art ICT training centre in Chennai. FOOD is utilizing the training center to deliver HP's Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through IT (GET-IT) curriculum to educated unemployed youth. [view photos from the evaluation visit by HP] [view video of interview at HP's Master Training of Trainers]

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

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. [view the live video feed]

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]

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]

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 9001:2008 certification - FOOD has been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 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]

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]