The Institute of Social Development, Kandy, Sri Lanka

At present the Institute of Social Development (ISD), of which the mission is to ‘ Strive to promote a just and equitable society’, is involved in sensitisation and awareness raising programmes on human rights ,labour rights, gender sensitisation ,trade union rights , housing and health rights along with library and documentation services and in the process of completing archive to preserve and protect the plantation community’s cultural heritage. This programme is assisted by both the HIVOS and Christian Aid.

At present ISD is adequately resourced with 17 members of staff,15 computers, two vehicle, four Motor bikes, library, furniture, one rented office cum non residential workshop facility and its own income generating residential capacity building centre in a close proximity with an archive.

The Institute of Social Development was initiated in 1991 by a group of people in the hill county of Sri Lanka who have been involved in various field including education, literature, trade union and politics. This group understood that, unless the marginalized realise their reality, no one could bring any changes from outside. Based on this ISD operates in following micro, meso and macro levels.

1. Awareness raising among the plantation/informal sector workers

2. Awareness raising among the trade union leaders, CBO members and other opinion creators of community; such as teachers, Samurdhi officers etc.

3. Lobbying the national, regional and international level policy makers and institution on rights issues of the community such as Citizenship, Education and Housing Rights etc, in which gender and ethnic harmony is crosscutting.

The outstanding success of the ISD regarding lobbying activities proves that ISD is in the position of hiding the policy makers nationally and internationally. For example: the recommendations made by ISD on citizenship issue of Indian Tamils has been positively considered; the output of education conference of ISD has been seriously taken in to the consideration during the implementation of education reforms, housing rights campaigns involved the UN Rapporteur and influenced the policy makers of the country to provide individual houses for plantation workers with land ownership. The proposed out-grower system on plantations is being temporally suspended on the findings and request of ISD. In addition, now ISD representation is heavily requested in plantation related provincial and line ministerial steering bodies.

Organizing the 2^nd International Tea Day (ITD) celebration (December 2006) is an added responsibility entrusted to ISD, having understood ISD’s capacities in reaching the polic makers.