A Brief on Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR)

➢ About Us

The Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), a non-profit organization, founded in January 1998, is committed to advancing the rights of a cross-section of marginal communities such as the urban poor, the girl child, unorganized workers, transgender persons and sexual minorities, single women, sanitary workers, People Living with HIV, sex workers, elderly and persons living with disabilities.

The Mission Statement – Voice for the Voiceless – is translated holistically across the many endeavors. This includes setting up of community structures such as Single Windows across districts from over many states to strengthen social inclusion across schemes and social development programmes such as health, social welfare, livelihood, water and sanitation; and to do this on scale we capacitate community-based organizations to facilitate the process of social inclusion; also enable young people and children, women and transpersons who are victims and survivors of abuse and violence to shape the legal and societal response; and last but not the least strengthen access of urban poor to all basic services-water, sanitation and healthcare.

As a group committed to shaping and strengthening community engagement, CFAR helps create spaces in the community, in the key institutions and in the media for a dialogue on issues related to social development. The overarching goal is to shape inclusive policies and programmes aimed at marginalized communities from a gender and development perspective.

➢ Core Areas of Work

1. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Safe, inclusive and equitable WASH services for vulnerable and most-at risk- communities

residing in resource poor, informal settlements. This work is facilitated through

community led structures such as Community Management Committee (CMC) and Gender

Forums trained and enabled to set their own agenda, evolve strategies, and develop

context-specific solutions in tandem with Urban Local Bodies

2. Social Inclusion of Unorganized Workers

Social protection and inclusion of excluded occupational and marginal groups through the

mechanism of Single Window managed by community representatives trained to engage

with the system and transact with the officials and providers at every level so that the

entire process of governance of the schemes and services becomes consultative and

iterative. The efficacy of the Single Window concept, with focus on solutions, has been

tested by CFAR in Ajmer, Anantapur, Belgaum, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, East

Godavari, Jaipur, Pune, Salem and Solapur since 2012.

3. Media Engagement on Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child, Adolescent Health

and Nutrition

Strengthen media engagement by sensitizing media and supporting them in reporting on

highly complex issues related to reproductive, mother and child health, adolescent health

and nutrition. We work with the media at the block, district and state level across the 116

districts of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Bihar where we support the RMNCHA initiative

of National Health Mission through sustained media advocacy. We document all the

initiatives, sensitize journalists and ensure informed and evidence-based reporting on

maternal and child health, nutrition and diseases.

4. Mainstreaming Socially Marginalized Groups

This includes communities and groups such as young people, girls and women, children,

sex workers, transgender, sexual minorities, injecting drug users and people living with

HIV .sanitary workers, tribal and destitute who are vulnerable to stigma and discrimination,

abuse and violence, poverty, neglect and at risk of HIV and other related infections. This is

done in diverse ways: One, through creation of community care and support models to

create a community safety net; two, building institutional partnerships with state and

district legal services authority, police and statutory bodies; three sensitizing and

capacity building of media, administrative and decision making authorities and service

providers; four, innovative and solution oriented programmes for children and young

people enabling them to develop an equality consciousness; and lastly promoting access

to nutrition, education and social schemes for children of key populations and urban poor.

➢ Young peoples’ interventions

▪ School of Life

The School of Life programme was initiated with young people from colleges and slums in

Delhi as a part of our project on Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence. This programme

enabled young people to develop an understanding of gender, social justice and evolve

processes to fight against sexism and gender-based discrimination at home, community

and societal levels. Several workshops and sensitization meetings were held with

institutional stakeholders including shelter homes, legal services authority, police,

educational and medical establishments.

▪ Securing Social Entitlements for Orphan/ Vulnerable Children

The intervention reached out to children of key population groups including sex workers,

transgender, MSM and PLHIV to enhance access to health, nutrition, social and legal

schemes and improving adherence to Antiretroviral treatment through the Single

Window.

▪ Dream, Save Do and Play EveryDay

Initiatives focused on improving skills in saving, financial planning, and play-learn-play

techniques through a trans-media experience among children in the age group 3-8 years.

Techniques such as games, drawing, stories, films, songs and mimes were used to help

children and their caregivers including parents, teachers and child care centres bond

together and promote holistic development and social skills in children.

➢ Gender Equality

Been working since 1998 on building awareness on gender equality and equity and this has

ranged from developing community-led strategies to address the declining child sex ratio

to creating survivor centric strategies to address gender-based violence to ensuring that

all social development issues gets infused with strong gender perspective.

We worked extensively on the issue of sex determination and the implementation of the

PC-PNDT Act. Conducted workshops organized with doctors and legal experts based on

the Census data to develop strategies to curb sex determination.

Based on content analysis and audience feedback, we undertook various analytical studies

on portrayal of obscenity, violence and gender stereotyping on mass media, in particular

television. Media education modules for 8 to 14-year-old on gender stereotyping were

prepared, besides a study on the impact of violence on children.

➢ Statutory Compliance

At the institutional level CFAR has a robust Child Protection Policy, especially for children

affected by and living with HIV, belonging to key population, to ensure that there is not

only protection but also prevention and harm reduction to promote over all well-being and

personality development.

We are an equal opportunity employer and our Sexual Harassment Policy is extended to

all women, men and transgender employees.

➢ Geographical Spread and Team

CFAR has its Head Office in Delhi and project units in 116 districts and 9 cities in the states

of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh.

Our diverse professional staff of 208 with expertise in development, social work, women’s

rights, strategic and technical management, finance, communication, policy advocacy and

research; more than 2000 community representatives’ leaders enable us to benefit 422,781

marginalized people every year across eight states.

CFAR is registered since 1998 as a Public Charitable Trust with national operations under

the Indian

Trusts Act and U/S 12 A of the Income Tax Act 1961, and the Foreign Contribution

Regulation Act 1976 since 2001.

➢ Contact Us

Registered Office

Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR)

E 1, Press Enclave, Saket, New Delhi – 110 017, India

Head Office and Address for Correspondence

H16-A, Second & Third Floor, Kalkaji, New Delhi – 110 019, India

Phone: +91-11- 26418846, 26224301

Email: cfarheadoffice@cfar.org.in

Website: www.cfar.org.in

Twitter : @CFARngo

CENTRE FOR ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH

Statutory Details

Sr.

No

Particulars Status/Information

1 Name & Contacts Details of Organization

1a Name of Organization CENTRE FOR ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH

1b Address

Registered Office Add: - E-1, Press Enclave, Saket, New Delhi-110017

Functional Head Office Add: - H-16A, 2nd & 3rd Floor, Kalkaji, New Delhi-110019

1c Tel No. Head Office:- 091-11-26418846, 26418847

1d Official Email ID

Official Website

Organization's Website ID : www.cfar.org.in

Organization's e-mail ID : cfarheadoffice@cfar.org.in

Face book ID : www.facebook.com/cfar123

Twitter ID : https://twitter.com/delhicfar

LinkedIn ID : https://www.linkedin.com/home?trk=nav responsive tab home

1e

Date of the establishment of

the NGO

29 January, 1998

1f

Name and Designation of the

authorized /Responsible

Person.

AKHILA SIVADAS, Executive Director & Managing Trustee

1g Contact Person AKHILA SIVADAS Mobile No. (9810415066)

1h

Goals & Objective of

Organization

The Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), headquartered in Delhi is a non-

political, non-religious and non‐profit organization registered as a Charitable Public

Trust, in January 1998. The main objective of organization is to advancing the rights

of marginal communities such as women, girls, urban poor, unorganized workers

including sex workers, transgender persons, sexual minorities, single women, HIV

positive persons, people who inject drugs (PWID) and people living with disabilities.

1i

Mission of Organization

To create space within communities and on public domain for dialogues that are

community centred and aimed at influencing opinion and strengthening community

involvement.

1j Vision of Organization Strengthening/Enabling Voice of the Voiceless

1k Focus Area of Operation Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Social Inclusion of Unorganized Workers

Media Engagement on Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child, Adolescent

Health and Nutrition

Advocating for Rights of Children, Women and Transgender

Relief, Rehabilitation and Livelihood

1l Who are the main

beneficiaries?

The main beneficiaries are: -marginal communities such as urban poor

households, women and girls, unorganized workers including construction workers,

domestic workers, factory workers, sex workers to name a few, transgender persons

and sexual minorities, single women, HIV positive people, people who inject drugs

(PWID) and peoples living with disabilities.

2 Name Address of Founders/Trustee/Board/Governing Body/Advisory Groups etc.

2a Name & Designation of Board

Members

1. Ms. AKHILA SIVADAS, (Executive Director/Managing Trustee) 2 Ms. ANURADHA MUKHERJEE, (Secretary/Trustee) 3 Mr. MATHEW CHERIAN, (Trustee) 4 Ms. AMITA PURI, (Trustee)

3 Profile of the Organization

3a Is organization registered as

(i) Trust

(ii) Society

(iii) Sec. 25 Company

(iv) others

Registered as :- Public Charitable Trust (Copy Attached)

Registration No. :- 661

Place of Registration :-Delhi

Date of Registration :- 29/01/1998,

Area of operation :- National Level NGO (All over India)

Registration Valid :-( forever)- Permanent

4 Statutory Information

4a Registration certificate U/S

12 A of the Income Tax Act

1961 of the Organization

Registration No. :- C-520 dt. 17/09/1998

4b Registration certificate

under the Foreign

Contribution (Regulation)

Act, 1976 if any

Registration No. :- 231660104

Date of Registration :- 11th January, 2001

Last Renewed date :- 1st July 2016

FCRA Validity date :- from 1st November, 2016 to 31st October, 2021.

4c Main FCRA Bank Account of

CFAR Trust

Name of Bank :- STANDARD CHARTERED BANK.

Account No. :-*******7084 ( Saving Account)

Add. Of Bank :- 1st Floor, Express Building, 9-10, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New

Delhi-11002.

4d PAN No. AAATC-0743-J

4e TAN No. DELC-04334-B

5 Income Tax & Other Exemptions Details.

5a. Section 80-G - For NGO approved u/s 80 G donor can claim deduction from

taxable income subject to certain limits.

No-DIT(E)/2009-2010/C-520/1860 dated

29/09/2009 and valid from A.Y. 2010-11 to

A.Y.2012-13. The same is valid till perpetual

lives of the Organization vide I-Tax Circular

No-07/2010.

5b. Section 35 AC – Donor can claim 100% deduction from taxable income in

respect of donation to an Organization approved by the National Committee

for carrying out any eligible project or scheme.

……..….N/A………

5c. Section 35 (1) (ii) – Donor can claim 125% deduction in respect of donation

to a Scientific Research association

(iii) Donor can claim 125% deduction in respect of donations to a

university, college or other institution to be used for research in Social

Science or Statistical Research.

………….N/A…………

5d. Section 35 CCA – Donor can claim 100% deduction for donations to

Organizations which undertake rural development programs.

…………….N/A……………

5e. Section 35 CCB – Donor can claim 100% deduction for donations to

Organizations which undertake program of conservation of natural resource.

…………….N/A………………

6 Institutional Membership for Maintaining Good Governance and Transparency.

6a. Whether the

Organization has

affiliation or obtained any

membership so far.

1. We are accredited member with CREDIBILITY ALLIANCE and our Membership N. is - CA/02/2016.

2. We are also accredited member of MISSION CONVERGENCE, Govt. NCT Delhi, India. The information is duly available on the Website of Mission Convergence, under the list of Accredited/Rated Partner NGO.

3. We are also accredited by GuideStar India with Platinum Certification vide GSN 596

4. International accreditation with Techsoup NGOsource by obtaining Equivalency Determination -(ED) Certification.

7 Status of Income Tax Return/FC-6 Return/TDS Return/EPF/ESIC/Gratuity/Insurance etc.

7a. Whether the organization Gets Accounts Audited and files Income Tax Return along with

consolidated Balance Sheet including Income & Expenditure, Receipt & Payments and All relevant

schedules thereto to Income Tax Department.

Yes,

(Copies of last three

years audited accounts

attached)

7b. Whether the organization file FCRA Annual Return to MHA along-with Audited Balance Sheet,

Receipt & Payments and All relevant schedules thereto.

Yes,

7c. Whether the organization files Quarterly TDS return in time. Yes,

7d. Whether the organization files the EPF and ESIC returns in time Yes,

7e. Whether the organization provides the employments benefits to regular staff members like:-

Group Gratuity, Medical Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance and leave benefits etc

Yes,

8 Achievements & Awards

8a. Whether the

Organization

has received

or achieved

any award

so far.

1. Institutional Membership

a) CFAR Trust is an accredited member of CREDIBILITY ALLIANCE and Membership Number is -

CA/02/2016. CFAR Trust is accredited for adherence to the minimum norms of Governance &

Accountability, Transparency, Organizational Capacity and Program Implementation & Effectiveness.

b) CFAR Trust was also accredited by Samajik Suvidha Sangam, Mission Convergence, Delhi Government

for adherence to better Governance & Accountability, Transparency, Organizational Capacity and

Program Implementation & Effectiveness.

c) CFAR Trust is also accredited by GuideStar India, for adherence to better Governance &

Accountability, Transparency, Organizational Capacity and Program Implementation & Effectiveness.

GuideStar India has awarded Platinum Certificate (Champion level vide GSN No-596) to CFAR Trust

recognising it for better transparency and adhering to full compliance of required statute.

d) CFAR Trust is also registered with Niti Ayog (Planning Commission) under portal of DARPAN created

of Niti Ayog vide registration No- DL/2016/0095652.

e) International accreditation with Techsoup NGOsource by obtaining Equivalency Determination -(ED)

Certification.

f) Apart this we are registered with following credible organization and statutory bodies Like:-

FICCI-SEDF-FICCI Socio Economic Development Foundation

India Sanitation Coalition-(ISC)

BSE-Sammaan

DASRA

NALSA-National Legal Service Authority

National Alliance of Fecal Sludge and Septage Management (NFSSM Alliance)

2. Various Awards, Mementoes, Certificates and Letters of Appreciation

On June 2018, CFAR has been recognised for maintaining best practices work on building community structures in its target areas for social inclusion, social change is evidenced by self-governance and an evolution of organic leadership in these vulnerable Communities. It was published in the edition "Best Practice for Building Sustainability of NGOs for Social Impact and change- A copy attached.

On 19 January 2018, CFAR received appreciation letter from Mr. Nazrur Ali Mondal, Member,

chairman in-council, Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality, and Smt. Firdousi Begum, Member West Bengal

Legislative Assembly, working for social development, women empowerment and sanitation for last

10 years in Kolkata.

On 19 February 2018, CFAR received appreciation letter from Delhi State Legal Service Authority for

co-operation in organizing Mass Legal Awareness camp on 3rd February at Kendriya Vidyalaya Vigyan

Vihar

In February, 2018 the Community Management Committee, Pune was awarded Swacch (Cleanliness)

Award by Pune Municipal Corporation

On 9 March 2018, CFAR received Dedicated Social Worker award from Ashapradeep newspaper on

occasion of International Women’s Day 2018

On 2nd April 2018, CFAR received award from Computer Lab which are doing Aadhar enrollment; for

dedication and sincerity work for the vulnerable people especially for women

On 17 April, 2017, CFAR received Letter of Appreciation from Mr. Vikram Singh Gour, Joint Secretary

of Niti Aayog for Implementing Single Window Pilot Project in four States

On 2nd February 2016, CFAR received appreciation letter from office of the Child Development Project

Officer for the kind of the work has done in reaching out 73 Anganwadi centre under Sonarpur ICDS

project in 9 Municipal wards of Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality, South 24 Paraganas during the period

from August 2013 till date.

On 4 February, 2016, CFAR received Appreciation from National Health Mission, Rajasthan for forming

and training Mahila Arogya Samiti (Women’s Health Committees) and for raising awareness on

Menstrual Hygiene management among adolescent girls in slums

On 22 April, 2016, CFAR appointed as the lead NGO for ODF programme under SWACHH BHARAT

MISSION by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation

On 22 July, 2016, CFAR received Letter of Appreciation from Ministry of Urban Development,

Government of India for Partnership with SBM (Urban) for National Triggering Drive.

On 9 November, 2016, CFAR entered into a MoU with Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board

(DUSIB).the Nodal Agency of Swachh Bharat Mission-Delhi

On 22 December, 2016, CFAR received Swacch Rajasthan Award from Ms. Vasundhara Raje, Chief

Minister, Rajasthan

On 29 April 2015, Mr. Shekhar Rao Perala, Vice Chairperson of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

presented a certificate to MARPs of SLPMS for organizing Labor Welfare Camp at Sellur as a part of

the nationwide campaign

On 11 May 2015, CFAR received “Appreciation and Best Compliments” by Local Self Government

Department, Government of Rajasthan”.

On 30 May 2015, CFAR received appreciation letter from District Legal Service Authority for

conducting Legal Awareness Programme on 22nd May 2015.

On 11 July 2015, CFAR received Letter of Appreciation for participation in “Udaan Yojana” programme

or Free Distribution of Sanitary Napkins.

On 25 January, 2014, CFAR received Certificate of Appreciation from District Magistrate, South Delhi

for “Celebration of National Voters Day 2014”

In 2014, CFAR received “Regional Winner Award from PLAN INDIA” for Implementing Campaign on

Let Girls be Born.

On 18 August, 2012, CFAR received a Charter of Collaboration from the National Mission for

Empowerment of Women (NMEW) for the Thematic Convergence Project

On 3 August, 2010, CFAR received Letter of Appreciation from Mr. A.A. Khan, Department of Health

and Family Welfare, Government of Rajasthan for spreading awareness about PCPNDT Act and

Stopping Sex Determination.

In 2010 CFAR received appreciation letter from Rajasthan Chief Minister, Smt. Vasundhara Raje

Scindia appreciating that Centre for Advocacy & Research is making continuous efforts and working

on the issue of declining child sex ration in Rajasthan.

In 2009-10, CFAR received Certificate from NACO for the excellent work done in documenting the RED

RIBBON EXPRESS PROJECT 2009-10

On 14 August, 2009, CFAR had been awarded by Mrs. Pratibha Patil, President of India for its

Meritorious Work done in collaboration with Mission Convergence Programme, Government of Delhi

Sd/- Akhila Sivadas (Executive Director/Managing Trustee) CENTRE FOR ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH