After its registration in 1993, BIRDS has started working in Midthur mandal, a remote and backward mandal in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. The first programme of BIRDS was supported by Literacy India Trust (LIT). This was an adult literacy programme implemented in 15 villages of the mandal, during 1993-95. Total outlay of this program was about one lakh rupees.

Indo German Social Service Society (IGSSS) has extended financial support to BIRDS for administration and institutional development in Midthur mandal during the period 1995-96. Financial outlay of the project was two lakh rupees. United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) supported similar programme in all the villages of Midthur mandal, during 1996-99. Total financial support for this programme was about six lakh rupees. Action Aid India extended financial assistance for similar initiative in Kolimigundla and Owk mandals of Kurnool district during 1996-99. Total financial assistance amounted to about 18 lakh rupees.

CAPART (Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technologies, a government of India enterprise) has funded BIRDS for a low-cost housing programme for poor and destitute women in Midthur mandal of Kurnool district during 1996-97. The total project cost was 3.5 lakh rupees.

An independent and individual donor from Germany had contributed for establishing the BIRDS administrative office with a cost of three lakh during the year 1998. The same donor is also supporting BIRDS in establishing Organic Agriculture Farm cum Training Center in eight hectares.

BIRDS had implemented watershed activities as Project Implement Agency (PIA) in Midthur to the tune of Rs.20 lakh with financial support under Drought Prone Area Programme of the GOAP.

The Dutch-funded APWELL project has been an important funding partner for BIRDS, since 1996. The focus of the project was on providing groundwater based irrigation facilities to the small and marginal farmers, who are deprived of benefits of economic development. After 1999, the new thinking in the project culminated in successful pilot testing of the concept of participatory Hydrological Monitoring (PHM).

Donors

Friends of Women World Banking ((India)

German Technical Cooperation (GTZ)

Action Aid India

Presbyterian Hunger Program, USA

First Presbyterian Church, USA

Royal Netherlands Embassy in India

Catholic Relief Service, USA

Initiative Eine Welt e.v., (Eva Peter Meier), Germany

Srisailam Right Bank Canal Project, Irrigation Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh

World Education

FAO – UN ( APFAMGS )

FAO – AP Water Vision Task Force

United Presbyterian Church – Albany ( UPC )

Mr. Bill Codington

David .W.Savege

Dr. George .W.Feldman

MS.Doris & Others

St. Mark Presbyterian Church – Portland  (SMPC)

Muthyalaoadu Farm