Karuna Trust, Karnataka - ZEF

Good and Bad Practices in MicroinsuranceKaruna Trust, India2. The Institution2.1 History of the InstitutionIn 1981, Dr. Sudarshan founded Vivekananda Girijan Kalyan Kendra (VGKK) to work withthe Soliba tribal population of BR Hills (see Box 2.1). Later, VGKK extended itsgeographical area of operation to Yelandur, Chamrajanagara, Kollegal (including MM Hills)and Nanjangud taluka 11 in Karnataka. In 1987, Dr. Sudarshan founded Karuna Trust(registered as a charity), which is dedicated to rural development and rural health. The trustoperates fifteen primary health centres and reaches at least 275,000 people. It is still affiliatedto VGKK and Dr. Sudarshan is still the driving force behind both organizations.Karuna Trust has four operational areas: 1) health programmes, e.g. ambulance, diet servicesand cancer awareness; 2) community development, which includes self-help groups andmicrofinance, as well as organic farming and vocational training; 3) education, e.g. schoolsare adopted to improve quality of teaching and community participation among other things;and 4) spiritual empowerment of the rural poor.Karuna Trust follows a holistic, democratic, decentralised and participatory approach to ruraldevelopment that takes into account cultural and regional differences and aims for theempowerment of every individual. Karuna provides essential knowledge and skills to lead ahealthy life. People are empowered to solve health problems of the community and the familyby themselves. Primary health centres focus on community-oriented preventive medicine,instead of a top-down approach.The organisation was founded during a time when Yelandur taluk was hyper endemic inleprosy. Initially, Karuna was operating exclusively to reduce leprosy infections. By the endof 1987, the trust concluded its limited Leprosy Eradication Programme successfully. In thefollowing year, the state government of Karnataka passed the responsibility of running theprogramme for the entire taluk to Karuna. For the first time, the trust took overresponsibilities from the state; many more co-operations followed. Karuna implementsactivities in lieu of the state and receives some financial support in return. In 1990, the mainaims of the leprosy programmes were reached and Karuna turned to other neglected areas inhealth. Henceforth, Karuna Trust’s health programmes were expanded:• In 1990, the trust focused on a control programme for epilepsy. Ninety-eight percent ofpatients can be effectively treated with two inexpensive drugs. Free treatment cantherefore be given to all registered patients in the taluk.• Tuberculosis control was started in 1992. After receiving the full treatment, more than85% of the patients were cured. Training for health workers, lab technicians and medicalofficers by the National Tuberculosis Institute supports high-quality treatment.• Karuna Trust follows a community-based approach for treatment of mental illness. Inrural areas, the lack of awareness as well as a lack of social welfare support worsens the11 A taluk (pl.: taluka) is an Indian local entity. A number of taluka make up a district.12