From the Desk of the Executive Secretary

M. K. Gurung

I would like to begin by taking this opportunity as Executive Secretary to congratulate Youth Development Society of Sikkim, which is familiar to the people as YODESS for successful initiative of pursuing the agenda of development sector with other activities concern. Along with the efforts in pursuance of the goals, it is also heartening to see that more people have faith in the ability of it. This is quite evident in the number of female SHGs as well as the general members who decided to come into its fold with constructive support and guidance. I am happier because most of the people come from the under-served society of the state basically.

YODESS is a non – profit making, nonpolitical, secular and developmental oriented grass root level organization established with joint hand effort of ten enthusiasm youth / women from different parts of the state of Sikkim with their different and excellent key developmental profile. Partnerships and collaboration are important strategies for development, and will become even more important in the era of open economy was something that the founders visualized and wanted to set up mechanisms to be prepared for the change. The vision statement of YODESS holds good today. The thrust area of working has been to work for creating self employment avenues for the un – employed and income generation by the rural poor for self reliance. Scientific management of enterprises and income generation activities in rural areas had been the main hurdle for coming – up for a sustainable economic growth. Emphasis of the organization had been to address the problem through dissemination of scientific production procedures and management and identified the key economic activities prevalent in rural areas to make them more income generating. With the initiative to sustain the platform created as facilitator for the society, YODESS always realizes that the NGOs role should be professional as systematic as distinct, so that the key developmental inputs as holistic approach for economic empowerment can be run by the society itself with the concept by the people, for the people and of the people.

YODESS addresses the need of NGOs to access unaffordable but much required skills and professional talent, as well as the aspiration of a section of people who believe in social change and want to contribute their time, skills and talent for the benefit of the community, but are uncertain about the approach and methods to be adopted. We act as an interface between our partner NGO’s and the aspiring individual to come together on issues which engage them to work towards a common cause. YODESS is seeing this as a privileged to work for upliftment of the rural poor and the disadvantaged and will work hard for fulfillment of our cherished objectives with zeal and dedication. The seed sown appears to have started giving flowers and we are waiting to see the unlimited fruits the true of development bears. We have patients to endure courage to work with the seemingly impossible task of mitigating suffering of the disadvantage, weaker section and the poor.

I take this opportunity to especially invite the donor community to join hands with YODESS to broad base the sector in a way that most areas are effectively covered through civil society efforts and that these organizations can play an important and efficient part in the state’s and country’s development. YODESS is also conscious of the fact that the sector is being invaded by a large number of players who have motivations other than public benefit and are misusing the partnership frameworks for their own vested interests. Together with the networks and voluntary organizations in the states, YODESS has initiated discussions on issues such as self-regulation and organizational discipline; it has also brought in a greater amount of rigour in its work with the government on important issues that affect partnerships. We hope to strengthen these efforts and invite the government to take advantage of YODESS’s understanding and experience in making the partnership process more effective and meaningful and directly beneficial to the poor for whom we are working. With several up & downs experiences have strengthened and given it the confidence and the staying power. It has demonstrated its utility and proven its relevance in the development environment. I am confident that the team will be able to respond effectively to demands and set the tone for partnerships’.

As members of YODESS and of this significant framework that allows interaction and exchange of expertise, we hope to keep up communication and networks with our current and potential partners in order to realize all the set goals. We ultimately aim at achieving reform and modernization through mobilizing all capacities, as well as establishing economic reform that provides us with a true role in the national economic arena.