IGSSS

About

Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) is a non-profit organisation working with the mandate for a humane social order based on truth, justice, freedom and equity. Established in 1960, IGSSS works for development, capacity building and enlightenment of the vulnerable communities across the country for their effective participation in development.

With its presence in 25 states and one Union Territory of India, IGSSS has set its thematic focus on promoting sustainable livelihood, energising the youth as change makers, protecting lives, livelihood and assets from the impact of hazards, advocating for the rights of CityMakers (Homeless Residents) and developing cadre of leaders from the community and civil society organisations. Gender and Youth are underlining theme across all its interventions.

Vision

Help establish a humane social order based on equity, freedom and justice in which human rights and the dignity of every individual is upheld.

Mission

To implement and support quality development programs across India to empower individuals and communities belonging to the poor, marginalized & vulnerable sections of the society with special focus on women and children.

THE BEGINNING
1950-1970

1959

Catholic Bishops of the then West Germany launched MISEREOR campaign against Hunger and Disease in the World

1961

The Indo-German Social Service Society (IGSSS) was registered on May 09 under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860

1961-64

Worked as a financial exchange: received and disbursed funds according to the directions given by MISEREOR

1965

Became the de jure donor of the grants sanctioned for projects in India

1968

The Indo-German Bilateral Agreement was signed in New Delhi on July 24, 1968 under which MISEREOR, through BEGECA, became an approved donor organization and IGSSS an approved recipient agency

AUTONOMY INITIATED
1971-1980

1973

The constitution of IGSSS was amended to give it more autonomy

1974

“The Great Concern” a 12 page quarterly development news bulletin was published

1975

“Great Concern for Development” – a Fifteen Year Commemorative Brochure 1960-1975 was brought out

1978

Undertook rural reconstruction work and gave support to projects that provided relief and rehabilitation, and also granted scholarships

1979

Assisted Dioceses and other Church-related agencies in India

1980

On March 29, the new office building of IGSSS at 28 Lodi Road Institutional Area was blessed and the office shifted to the new premises subsequently

TOWARDS NEW POSSIBILITIES
1981-1990

1981

Projects in the areas of food production, health care and education, vocational training, employment, rural development, small industry and community development were included within the IGSSS purview

1985

The SMILE (Student Mobilization Initiative for Learning) programme was launched

1986

Awareness, Training and Motivation for Action (ATMA) was conceptualized for self-determination of the poor. During the Silver Jubilee Year an in-house organizational analysis was conducted to critically analyze performance and suggest measures to improve functional activities

1990

The Trusteeship function hitherto being carried out on behalf of MISEREOR was discontinued.

A STEP FORWARD
1991-2000

1992

Five Regional Offices, North, South, West, East and Northeast, were proposed with a view to regionalize and decentralize functions

1997

The completion report for the residual projects was forwarded to MISEREOR and with this, the pending work of IGSSS as Trustee of MISEREOR finally ended in June 1997.

A NEW LEAF
2001-2010

2002-03

National Integrated Empowerment Programme (NIEP) was crystallized and operational by integrating NSPs, DSF and new Lump sum Scholarship Programme. IGSSS by now had started moving towards a rights-based approach in all its programmes.

2004-05

Changes in the organizational structure and there was a revision of Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of the Society. IGSSS changed its name to Indo-Global Social Service Society recognizing the relationship with other global donors along with the partnership with MISEREOR. Empowerment being the focus IGSSS started working on Five Core Issues – Sustainable Livelihood, Human Rights, Governance, Health and Disaster Mitigation…

2006

IGSSS won the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for Philanthropy in Emerging Economies

2008

Took up networking initiatives with Government Officials, NGOs, institutions and individuals to address the growing problems of the urban poor. PEARL-People’s Empowerment for Accessing Rights to Livelihood was launched which supported 52 non-government organizations in 15 states of India, reaching out to 1, 00,000 poor and marginalized families and 10,000 youth.

2010

A memorandum listing a charter of demands was submitted to the Chief Minister of Delhi, President of the Congress party and the Minister of Urban Poverty. This served as a build up for the CityMakers winter campaign in 2010. IGSSS’ Urban Poverty initiative achieved success when the Honorable Supreme Court of India used an IGSSS study on the homeless in Delhi and ordered for night shelters in all states, on the criteria of one shelter per one lakh population (as stated in the Master Plan of Delhi, 2021).