ACCORD- Action for Community Organisation Rehabilitation and Development

ACCORD is a registered trust which has been working with the tribal communities of Gudalur for the past 30 years. It acts as the organizational back-up and support for Adivasi Munnetra Sangam, an association of the four major tribal groups in Gudalur with nearly 20,000 members. The focus and work of ACCORD has always been to ensure self-reliance among the Adivasi community and ensure that they meet and interact with the so-called mainstream society on equal terms. Towards this end, ACCORD has worked on ensuring land rights for the tribals, reclaiming more than a 1000 acres of lost land, implemented a host of livelihood projects including a landmark scheme to grow coffee and tea in reclaimed land, supported nutrition schemes that focus on communities growing their own food, formed associations to market precious forest produce such as honey and brought back the idea of community owned property through Madhuvana plantation. ACCORD, through AMS, has supported tribal rights to forest produce, provided legal support wherever necessary, and empowered the community in their fight to preserve their heritage and culture. ACCORD has done and continues to work in the fields of education as well as health care. The initiatives undertaken by ACCORD since its inception in these two fields eventually led to the establishment of Gudalur Adivasi Hospital under ASHWINI as well as Vidyodaya School under VBVT.