Community Organisation for Oppressed and Depressed Upliftment (COODU – which in Tamil denotes “nest”), was initiated in 1995 by a group of Research Scholars in their early years of social work. The Organisation actually began as an answer to the thousands of street children and juvenile delinquents in the state’s rapidly growing cities. Studying their poor socio-economic conditions and providing insights to planners and policy makers through various forums, workshops and seminars paved the way for establishment of COODU. Gradually, the Organisation began to answer needs of all oppressed sections of society besides children. Women were the focus of several programmes, as they were marginalised, victimised and vulnerable to physical and economic exploitation. This ushered in the launch of large scale watershed projects aiming at improving the basic needs of the poor – food, clothing and shelter. Through the twenty five years of its vibrant existence, COODU has done pioneering work in the sectors of Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Environment, Health, Water and Sanitation, Public Health and HIV/AIDS care and support services......reaching out to more and more people, year on year.
Coodu’s focus is always on increase in agricultural production. It has been associating with the departments of agriculture, horticulture, agricultural engineering, animal husbandry and tnau and kvk, in reclaiming wasteland for agriculture, augmenting water resources, rain water harvesting, forming user groups.
Coodu is a pioneer in watershed development. It has facilitated in developing 292 watersheds under various schemes of central and state governments, nabard and capart. It has been developing 24 watersheds under itc- msk csr initiative. It has executed coconut development programme under marico csr initiative. It has carried out awareness campaigns, organised exposure visits, exhibitions, capacity building, field demonstrations and executed soil and moisture conservation measures, water resource development and afforestation.
Coodu has organised numerous health and medical camps since its genesis in 1995. It has organised training on health issues, hiv and aids for adolescents, students, young girls and women. It has campaigned against trafficking and hiv/aids. It has sensitised tribas on prevention and treatment of hiv/aids. It has established and managed community care centre for people living with hiv/aids.
Coodu has done pioneering work in creating awareness on water and sanitation since 1995, and also undertook construction of and maintenance of toilets, establishment of water quality testing laboratories. It has been organising awareness training on safe water, best sanitary practices, health and hygiene for officials, local body representatives, panchayat staff, shg leaders and volunteers.
II have known COODU for the past 7 years. COODU has worked in Coimbatore in the DPAP watersheds when I was Additional Collector (Development), DRDA, Coimbatore. They have been working on watershed development for the past five years in Coimbatore, Namakkal, Cuddalore, Dindigul and Theni districts. Their work is sincere and disciplined. They are always committed towards the work, and their primary activity is watershed development. They are very well versed and experienced in these activities.
I strongly recommend, COODU Ngo to take up such activities in this area because, they have been doing Watershed and other developmental projects successfully for the past five years in Coimbatore district and many other districts in Tamilnadu
COODU, Coimbatore is involved in the implementation of DPAP/IWDP projects in the district. They have done an excellent job in Community Organisation, Training and other activities under the project. COODU’s participation has made the project a success story in Coimbatore district.
“I have known the “COODU (Community Organisation for Oppressed and Depressed Upliftment) – a non-profit, non-governmental organisation with its headquarters in Coimbatore for the past 5 years. Having inspected as well as acquainted with many of their socio economic development programmes in the sectors of Agriculture, Environment and Health and also under the SGSY and SGRY, especially in watershed development, Sanitation and Plantation, etc. I am pleased to laud the sterling services being rendered by the organisation for the upliftment of the poor and disadvantaged sections of the society and Empowerment of Women. I wish them every success in all their endeavours.”
“Long been associated as I have with COODU organisation, Coimbatore, this affair has now been formalized and expanded the mutual relationship and extended my service reach, which I sincerely hope, would galvanize the mass movement for organic farming and a healthy way of living in Tamilnadu and beyond”