A registered organisation working with marginalised communities across India
Registered Organisation · Est. 1994
Building inclusive and caring communities.
The Association for Rural and Urban Needy (ARUN) is a registered organisation working to establish caring and development supporting systems through democratic spaces for marginalised communities in particular, Dalits, Safai Karmacharis, children without adult care, and families and communities in distress suffering from homelessness and hunger.
The Association for Rural and Urban Needy (ARUN) is a registered Organization working to establish caring and development supporting systems through democratic spaces for marginalised communities in urban and rural areas in general; in particular, dalits, safai karmacharis, children without adult care, families and communities in distress and suffering from homelessness and hunger.
Caring systems
Supportive systems that protect people from hunger, violence and deprivation.
Democratic spaces
Spaces where marginalised communities can organise and lead social change.
Dignity for all
A life of peace, social integration, harmony and dignity for every person.
Aims & Objectives
ARUN's work is guided by a clear, constitutional commitment to justice, dignity and the rights of communities that have been historically excluded. Our objectives translate that commitment into concrete action across rural and urban India.
To empower the underprivileged in the society to access social justice
To liberate and rehabilitate Safai Karmacharis
To conduct programmes for communal harmony and peace
To Rescue and Rehabilitate children in need and to establish educational and residential homes for children from urban and rural areas
To initiate educational, vocational, and health centres for Dalits, Adivasis, women, minorities, homeless and other needy from underprivileged communities
To take up campaigns and programmes on water and sanitation
To organize, encourage and build the capacities of Dalits, minorities, women, and children to be involved in social change processes
To take up campaigns for gender justice among various sections of the society
To take up research activities on issues of the underprivileged
To protect and promote the entitlements of marginalized people
To protect, promote, and safeguard the food security of marginalized people
To organize single women and to create developmental opportunities and rehabilitation support for them
To take up comprehensive programmes and activities to safeguard the constitutional privileges of farmers, artisans, wage workers, agriculture workers, sanitation workers, domestic workers, migrant workers, vendors, and other under-represented workers
To create awareness against social evils like child marriage, untouchability, female foeticide, dowry deaths, domestic violence, traditional devadasis / jogini systems, child and bonded labour, witch hunting, eve teasing, and attacks on women
To spread the values of democracy and secularism in the society through organizing recognized forums
To establish libraries, reading rooms and produce documentaries on social and development issues
To develop and build theatre skills of cultural groups to take up campaigns on socio-economic and educational issues
To provide comprehensive programmes for the marginalized through micro finance
To take up campaign activities to promote the health of families and communities, and facilitate medical care and support for the rural and urban poor
To prevent HIV/AIDS and facilitate health care and rehabilitation programmes for affected people and their families
Three pillars. One commitment.
Our programmes are organised around Humanity, Dignity and Equity values that frame how we work with children, sanitation workers, women and young people.
01 — Humanity
The Rainbow Homes Program
The Rainbow Homes Program – ARUN – aims to protect, care for, educate and empower our most disadvantaged children. These include children who live on city streets; orphaned, abandoned, and violence-affected children; working children; children of farmer-suicide and starvation families; and children of sex workers. We strive to ensure that these children access their rights in loving, open and safe residential care homes in government schools and buildings; and for them to grow into happy, responsible and caring citizens. ARUN runs the Rainbow Homes Program with diverse partners in many cities across India.
02 — Dignity
Safai Karmachari Liberation Program (SKLP)
The Safai Karmachari Liberation program is committed to the total eradication of manual scavenging and the rehabilitation of all scavengers for dignified occupations. The SKLP works to document instances of illegal manual scavenging and bring these to the attention of the government, and to assist scavengers in seeking rehabilitation schemes from the government. While primarily focusing on the rights of manual scavengers, the SKLP is also committed to working with all those engaged in 'unclean' occupations such as sewage workers, pit workers, and sweepers who fall within the ambit of 'safai karmacharis'. SKLP empowers movements and organizations involved in liberation of safai karmacharis at national and state levels.
03 — Equity
Empowerment of Youth
Empowerment of Youth builds the skills and leadership of young people from marginalised communities, encouraging them to take part in social change and to speak up for equity and justice where they live.
Governance & leadership
ARUN is led by a committed group of activists, scholars and practitioners with decades of experience in social justice, child rights and the liberation of safai karmacharis.
Dr. Deepthi Sukumar
President
Dr. Konkepudi Anuradha
General Secretary
Ms. K Saraswathi
Treasurer
Ms. Bhasha Singh
Executive Member
Ambika AV
Executive Member
Mr. Yellaiah
Executive Member
Dr. Bezwada Wilson
Executive Member
From the field
A glimpse of communities, programmes and people ARUN works with across India. Images shown are placeholders and will be replaced with photographs from the field.
Reach our offices
For partnerships, media, volunteering or programme enquiries, please write to the office most relevant to your request. We aim to respond within five working days.
