Profile

PECUC empowers children, women, the elderly, young people and vulnerable communities to promote and protect their rights. Peoples’ Cultural Centre (PECUC) is a child rights-focused organisation founded in 1990. Since the last three decades, PECUC has been continuously working for children, their parents, grandparents, families, and communities to empower and enable them to lead a life of dignity. PECUC has implemented more than 135 projects and programmes in 30 districts of Odisha and 4 districts of Delhi and facilitated various campaigns at country level under different themes, such as Child Rights, Women's Empowerment, Livelihood, Health, Hygiene, and Sanitation, Rights of the Older Persons, Emergency Management & Climate Change Adaptation, Governance & Democracy, Youth Empowerment, and Persons with Disabilities, directly and in partnership with civil society organisations, communities, governments, and national and international organisations.

Vision

A world in which peace, justice and equality prevails, where people participate and have a say in their social and economic well-being by exercising their rights to a life of dignity, respecting cultural and natural diversity.

Mission

“Our mission is to empower and enable children, young people, women, the elderly, other vulnerable and marginalized communities to participate powerfully in their overall development and to create and strengthen peoples’ institutions that ensure, sustain and promote their wellbeing, security, inclusive development and a life of dignity.

Core Values

PECUC is committed to abide with the values in fulfillment of our mission - in all our programmes and in the organization. The values that inspire us and guide our actions are:

• Team Work
• Honesty
• Excellence
• Commitment
• Recognition
• Professionalism
• Personal development
• Responsive & Accountable
• Innovative
• Inclusiveness
• Openness & fairness
• Participation
• Gender equity
• Environmental sustainability
• Mutual Respect

Background & History

Peoples’ Cultural Centre (PECUC) is a non-profit voluntary organization formally registered during 1990, with the purpose to empower the weaker sections of the society. During last 3 decades PECUC worked with children, women, the aged, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other socio-economically backward and marginalized communities in the state of Odisha and Delhi.

It was in the late 1980s, a group of young people from various backgrounds, including social scientists , educationists, artists, development professionals and National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers; who have empathy for poor, concern for children and their education, and believe in change, came together for a debate on different issues and prevailing situations. People’s Cultural Centre, PECUC, as part of this movement, was formally registered in July 1990, and launched in a grand children's festival on 14th Nov, 1990, with more than 5000 child participants. PECUC has continued its onward journey towards its mission and vision since then.

In the first phase, during 1990 to 1999, PECUC focused on welfare of children, women and aged, massive plantation programme and cultural action to generate awareness and involving youths as change makers. After the super cyclone, the organisations priority again changed and disaster response and preparedness emerged as one of the priority areas of PECUC.

During disaster and post disaster being present in the affected areas we are supporting relief and rehabilitation of the affected peoples. To promote a healthy environment in the communities and educate community people on different health issues we are organizing health awareness camps in the villages followed by referral services. We have also developed and distributed different IEC materials on health education. Through street plays, Awareness meetings we are educating community people on different issues, Schemes and Programmes of Government etc. We have conducted trainings on different skills to support community people to enhance their skill and have livelihood options all time. Constructed water bodies in the remote tribal areas to reduce water scarcity and avail water source both for agriculture purpose and drinking water purpose.

From 2000 to 2010, strategic development activities were implemented with a focus on child rights, right to education, agro horticulture, child labour elimination, empowerment of socially deprived sections, promoting community-based organisation, and food security. The decade also witnessed professional growth and capacity enhancement as a development leader in the state with national and international level participation. In this phase, it became more structured and the organisation took a shift from welfare activities to development mode.

During 2011-2020, PECUC implemented its strategic plan i.e. Vision 2020 with continual focus on child rights primarily and also on the issues relating to women's empowerment, rights of senior citizens, health and sanitation, livelihood promotion, emergency management and climate change adaptation. Presently, PECUC has formulated its strategic plan from 2021 to 2030 with the participation of members, employees, volunteers, children, young people, and the community as a whole in its operational areas and other key stakeholders. PECUC has diversified its programmes and operations over the years in the state of Odisha as well as at the national level.

However, PECUC during last 3 decades of journey has focused on Child welfare including education for children, health, Emergency relief and rehabilitation, Women welfare and empowerment, Welfare of aged, Plantation &Environment protection, Promoting livelihood , agriculture development, capacity building of key stakeholders, welfare of schedule caste and schedule tribe communities and other marginalized sections of the society.

PECUC to implement its programmes and activities has developed a team of dedicated professionals who have taken the responsibilities of implementing the projects and programmes effectively. The staff and volunteers from diverse academic background and related development experience in areas of child rights, sustainable agriculture and alternative livelihoods, women empowerment,emergency management,age care, research and publication.

PECUC has been honoured & awarded by various Govt. & Non-Govt. organization for its sincerity, commitment & outstanding contribution in various fields.

PECUC also involved as a Member of different committees formed by different Departments of Govt of Odisha and the District Administration.

Vision 2030

PECUC VISION 2030 is our strategic plan for the period 2020 to 2030 and has been drawn based on the past experiences, lessons learnt, organizational visions, mission, values, strength, weakness, challenges and opportunities. The plan emphasizes right based sustainable development, a concept that visualizes greater capacities of social systems, structures, institutions and policies to utilize resources for achieving favorable levels of living standards with desirable value systems, better distribution of income, wealth and opportunities and above all ecological balance.

PECUC would continue to focus primarily on children's rights during 2021–2030. While working at the community level, PECUC has learnt that the realisation of child rights and the well-being of children cannot be thought of in isolation and that their parents, grandparents, families and communities need to be protected and strengthened. Hence, PECUC has prioritised to focus on the issues relating to child rights, women's empowerment, health, hygiene & sanitation, emergency management & climate change mitigation & adaptation, livelihood, governance & democracy, youth empowerment, persons with disability & rights of the older persons these years.  

Legal Status  

PECUC is registered under the rules and provisions of the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 ,Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 1976 by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi and under Section 12 AA & 80 G (5) (vi) of Income Tax Act 1961.

Governance

PECUC is being formed, managed, administered, governed & functioning by its own written constitution approved by its General Body & registered with Registrar of the Societies. General Body is the highest policymaking Body which meets annually to frame the overall policies. General Body has 11 members Board of Management which has been authorized by the general body to aid and advise the workforce functioning under the leadership of Secretary. Board of Management meets on quarterly basis to review the over all functioning of the organisation while rendering service to the society at large. Annual General Body is the final authority for approval of annual budget and passing of the statutory audit report of the organisation. Chairman is the head of the Board& Secretary, the Chief functionary acts as Executive head responsible on behalf of Board of Management..

Networks & Alliances

Hosting the State Secretariat of Odisha Alliance for Child rights [OACR],an alliance of civil society organizations working for children’s rights in Odisha.

Secretary PECUC is the Chairperson of National Action & Coordination Group for ending violence against children [NACG EVAC] India, a country level civil society platform of SAIEVAC –South Asia Initiative to End violence Against Children, an Inter Governmental Apex Body of SAARC & Presently PECUC is the National Secretariat of NACG EVAC India.

State core Team Member of Destination Known Children on Move –DUCOM campaign

PECUC was hosting National Secretariat of Campaign Against Child Labour(CACL) –A Network of more than 6000 child rights / anti child labour groups from 2003-2007 & Presently the National Executive Committee Member .

Life Member of Orissa Voluntary Health Association. Secretary is presently Member of Governing Body of Orissa Voluntary Health Association

Advisory committee Member of WE CAN-END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Life Member of National Alliance of women organisations

Life Member of Indian Alliance for Child Rights.

Active Member of Odisha Election Watch the state Chapter of National Election Watch.

Member of Campaign Against child trafficking

PECUC was granted Special Consultative Status by United Nations Economic & Social Council [ECOSOC] in the year 2019

PECUC IS ALSO A MEMBER OF GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN.

Staff Members

PECUC to implement its programmes and activities has developed a team of dedicated professionals who have taken the responsibilities of implementing the projects and programmes effectively. The staff and volunteers from diverse academic background and related development experience in areas of child rights, sustainable agriculture and alternative livelihoods, women empowerment,emergency management,age care, research and publication.

Awards and Honors

PECUC has been honoured & awarded by various Govt. & Non-Govt. organization for its sincerity, commitment & outstanding contribution in various fields. Some are as follows.

• National CSO Award 2014, for the Campaign on Voter’s Education & awareness by Odisha Election Watch for carrying out “ Mera Vote Mera Des “ campaign to promote ethical & informed voting conferred by Election Commission of India, New Delhi

• Best School Safety plan, 2011-12 Awarded by National Institute for Disaster Management [NIDM], Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India

• National Youth Festival 1995 -: 2nd Best performance Awardfor presenting a Hindi one Act plays on Drug Abuse prevention in the National Youth Festival at Bhopal representing Orissa Dept. Of Sports & Youth Services, by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India.

• Literacy movement Honour 1991-92: Honoured with a special memento for outstanding performance of street theatre for promotion of Literacy, By- India Adult Education Association, New Delhi.

• INSPIRE AWARD 2019: for its leadership and vision - Its outstanding contribution in the category of women and child welfare by Parivartan and BWW (Britt World Wide).

• PRAKRUTI MITRA AWARD – 1993-94: For Environmental protection, by Dept. Of Forest & Environment, Govt. of Orissa.

• State Youth Award-1994-95: For outstanding contribution in the field of youth development & involving youths in promoting literacy, plantation and social development activities, by State Youth Welfare Board Orissa, Dept. of Sports and Youth Services, Govt. of Orissa

• “Fani” Warrior Honour 2019 – Certificate of appreciation for commendable efforts & unmatched velour, contribution to Fani relief, to rebuild Odisha & rising as Unsung Heroes by Xavier University, Bhubaneswar.

• Best contingency Plan– 2001: The contingency plan of Benupur Village, Balianta block adjudged the best for the year 2001 facilitated by PECUC By Orissa state Disaster Mitigation Authority [OSDMA]

• Joy of Giving - felicitated PECUC for outstanding services to the community as embodied in the Joy of Giving week 2010.

• Special Memento in appreciation of PECUC’S contribution for GO-NGO Coordination - during Cyclone “Fani” Response 2019, By IAG,UNICEF & Dist Administration Khordha

• “Certificate of Honour” in 2010 for outstanding Achievement in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction, by Panchayat Samiti, Bhograi, Balasore.

• Corona Warrior 2020 - Certificate of Appreciationfor outstanding service during COVID19 Pandemic, by Panchayat Samiti, Balianta, Khordha.

Our Partners

PECUC is working with different Individuals,Agencies of local,National and International level including Government of India & Government of Odisha,UN agencies, INGOS, Networks and alliances,corporate and commercial establishment,Banks and NBFCs etc.

Board of Management