EVOLUTION OF A VILLAGE KNOWLEDGE CENTRE UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CONDITIONS: Case Study Of Tsunami Affected Akkaraipettai Village Process Document Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy (NVA) M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation MSSRF/MG/10/31 M S Swaminathan Research Foundation Third Cross Street, Institutional Area, Taramani, Chennai 600 113 Tel +91 44 22541698, 22542791 Fax +91 44 22541319
[email protected] www.mssrf.org; www.mssrfnva.in Photo Credits: Nagapattinam VRC & Mr Suchit Nanda Designed & Printed: Canara Traders & Printers Pvt. Ltd., Chennai -41 Contents Author’s Note Acknowledgement 1. Introduction 1 2. Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy (NVA) 1 3. Genesis of VRC and VKC Programme in Nagapattinam, a Background 3 4. Evolution of a VKC at Akkaraipettai 9 5. Relocation of VKC from the Rented House to a Portion of Sastra Building 35 6. Shifting of VKC from the Sastra Building to TATA Community Hall 59 7. A Note on the Community’s Perceptions and Impact 68 8. Comparing the VKC and other NGOs in Akkaraipettai-People’s Observations 105 9. Concluding Remarks 107 Author’s Note Over the last few years I have been closely following the development of Village Resource Centres (VRCs) and Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs) established by the Foundation. The experiences associated with the establishment of VKC in Akkaraipettai are distinctly different from other experiences of MSSRF. It is different because it was established under extraordinary conditions in the post Tsunami period without adopting the usual pre- establishment phase procedures. A detailed study of Akkaraipettai VKC has provided us with some signifi cant insights and lessons.