Community And Rural Development Society (CARDS)

CARDS is committed to educational empowerment. Bala Bata Schools target Dalit children aged 5 to 10, bridging educational gaps and promoting hygiene and kitchen gardening. Christian Women's and Father Heyer Degree Colleges prepare Dalits for public service roles. The Rural Christian Junior College offers intermediate courses. Bala Vikas Kendras address the lack of pre-primary and primary education facilities for Dalit children. The Education Centre for Rural Development focuses on rational thinking and humanitarian attitudes. "Pragathi Schools" serve as regular and non-formal education centres. Kindergarten schools and Balwadi Kendras combat child labour and foster a love for education among Dalit children.

CARDS is dedicated to empowering differently-abled children in the remote forest area of Bollapalli Mandal, Guntur District. Many tribal children in this region face physical disabilities, primarily due to polio and other causes. CARDS' mission is to provide rehabilitation through education and employment, instilling hope in the lives of these disabled children. Its activities include running a special school for the physically disabled, identifying those in need, educating families about sending their children to school, providing essential healthcare and medical assistance, offering non-formal education to over-aged children, and implementing a two-year bridge course to prepare them for mainstream education. Additionally, CARDS strives to equip each child with means of transportation, such as wheelchairs and tricycles, to enhance their mobility and independence.

CARDS empowers Dalits through various initiatives, including international cultural exchange, an association for Dalit intelligentsia, and a women's forum. It also engages in global advocacy and runs an open university for Dalit education. The Dalit Writers' Forum promotes Dalit themes in literature, while the Dalit Kala Parishad revives traditional arts. Additionally, Dalit Sevadals mobilize communities with a focus on food, health, awareness, and services, all guided by CARDS to uplift and empower Dalits.

CARDS operates a Social Empowerment Programme to include marginalized tribal communities in the Dalit Movement, raising awareness and advocating for their rights. It established the All India Indigenous Youth Forum to create international recognition and educate tribal people about their constitutional rights and Government welfare schemes. CARDS also addresses the water supply issues in Guntur slums, aiming to provide safe drinking water, and manages an Urban Health Centre for slum dwellers. Its efforts include healthcare services, maternal care, and health awareness initiatives. Additionally, it is engaged in rehabilitating child labourers in areas impacted by limestone mining, with measures such as education and training for liberated children.

CARDS focuses on women's empowerment by addressing economic dependence and gender-related issues. It established Women’s Self Help Groups and implemented a Micro-Credit Programme to provide loans for income-generating activities in various districts. This initiative has positively impacted the economic well-being of Dalit women, leading to better opportunities for education and healthcare while improving their status in their families and communities. Furthermore, CARDS operates the Women Education Development Sadan, which plans and coordinates women's education programmes, promoting awareness of sociological issues and facilitating access to higher education for Dalit girls through a Christian Women’s Degree College in Guntur after completing their intermediate education.