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AASHA
 Aasha
- an alliance for the mentally ill was founded by Dr. Sarada
Menon in 1989. The first of its kind in the country, to serve
the cause of Schizophrenics and their families, Aasha is
an associate member of the World Schizophrenia Fellowship, Canada.
Aasha runs a day care centre at Chromepet. Occupational
therapy, vocational training and recreational activities are conducted
for the patients. Aasha also conducts regular campaigns to
eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness. It focuses
on giving support, advice and counselling to the families of the
patients.
Donations in cash or kind are accepted. Donations to Aasha
are exempt from Income Tax under 80G Income Tax act.
Address: Aasha, G-1,
Pankaj Nivas, 25, Third Street, State Bank Colony, Nanganallur,
Chennai - 600 061.
Phone: 232 2643
Day care Centre: Aasha, # 2, Works Road, Chromepet,
Chennai - 600 044
NALAMDANA
 Packing
together all the ingredients needed to hold audience attention,
Nalamdana, a community theatre group, presents street shows,
most often to create awareness on health issues. This organisation,
involved in IEC (Information, Education and Communication) for social
development, was formed in 1993.
Nalamdana believes that one-hour dramas ending with positive messages,
serve as effective communication tools. At the end of the play,
the organisation arranges for workshops and discussions for youth,
to explain in detail the message of the play. An evaluation survey
conducted after the show enables the staff to answer queries and
clear doubts. Testing cards are distributed on demand, with information
on local, authorised health centres.
The issue on which Nalamdana has done most of its intervention
programmes is HIV/AIDS. Their educational intervention addresses
the aspects of high-risk sexual behaviour, treatment for curable
STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and the use of condoms.
 The
other issues addressed are immunisation, general hygiene, cancer
screening, alcoholism, drug abuse, women empowerment, industrial
safety, female infanticide and suicide prevention.
Nalamdana also creates communication material for distribution,
arranges education scholarships for aspiring students and conducts
workshops and programmes to educate them on career opportunities.
Functioning on sponsorship, the members of the organisation are
college youth whose inter-personal skills and education make them
effective communicators. There are six full-time and eight part-time
staff members who have performed over 300 shows in urban and rural
areas.
Address: Nalamdana, # 20, LIC Colony, Dr.Radhakrishnan
Nagar,
Chennai - 600 041
Phone: 491 6347
Fax: 235 2375
E-mail: nalam@vsnl.com
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