More than US $1 million (Rs. 6 crores) have been raised for the Relief and Rehabilitation fund following Tsunami by volunteers of Association 
for India's Development (AID, www.aidindia.org) within 5 days of the disaster. Volunteers from Chennai and Bangalore chapters swung into relief and rehabilitation efforts within hours of the calamity, while other chapters across the world started raising funds and provide material support.

Tsunami relief activities were an important part of the agenda at the 
7th AID India conference in Bhubaneswar (from December 31 2004 to 
January 1 2005), where volunteers from different AID chapters had gathered. 
AID started as a student organization in the University of Maryland at 
College Park in 1991. Today AID has 40 chapters in the US, 7 in India and also in Canada, UK and Australia.

AID has worked on development related projects in more than 18 states 
in the past 14 years. With more than 100 active projects addressing 
interconnected problems with integrated solutions, AID has firmly 
established itself as a significant development organization. In fact, the idea of generating power through a micro-hydel project in the recent Bollywood offering "Swades" was inspired by an AID supported project in Bilgaon, Maharashtra, which director Ashutosh Gowarikar visited while scripting the movie.

In keeping with the AID philosophy of sustainable development through 
Sangharsh, Nirman and Sewa, the conference focused on several issues 
ranging from the peoples' movement in Kashipur against bauxite mining to appropriate technology. AID Orissa displayed the interlocking building blocks and a ferro-cement boat developed in the past year. These technologies can be used with some customization in rehabilitation in coastal India. The boat is sturdier and about 30% cheaper than the traditional timber boat.

Discussions to create a producer-consumer network to enable sustainable 
livelihood generating projects that AID undertakes in different parts 
of the country were also held at the conference.

Award winning documentaries on peoples' movements and environment 
issues were screened during the conference such as "The Fire Within" and "Kis ki raksha" (In whose defense), both by noted filmmaker Sri Prakash. While the participants were sensitized to the issues, equal focus was on finding alternatives and solutions.

The special attraction of the conference was the handicrafts designed 
and created by artisans with AID-India collaborations like Pingalakshi 
Public Welfare Organization (PPWO), GRASS. As part of the conference, 
the volunteers also visited Akshara Open School - a school for 
underprivileged children started by AID Orissa in Bhubaneswar.

The NGO partners of AID shared problems and prospects they are experiencing and together they identified good practices and models that can be replicated.

The conference took place at CYSD and was inaugurated by Sri Jagadananda - Secretary of CYSD who discussed governance and advocacy issues. The conference concluded with a street theatre performance by a local group of artists from Chetabani of Puri.