Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu · A public charitable trust since 1986
We live for others
Founded 1986
Changing lives, one rural family at a time.
The Activists for Social Alternatives is a non-profit registered as a public charitable trust, working on a people-centric model for women's empowerment, poverty eradication, community development and the social welfare of people below the poverty line.
840
children at Vidiyal school, L.K.G to Class XII
Started with 26 students in 2000
2010
ASA celebrated its Silver Jubilee in April
Who we are
Poverty is alleviated by socially uplifting rural women
To help women sustain on financial grounds, ASA promoted income-generating self-employment in rural sectors. As a base to this development, focus was directed to the health and education of the rural poor, so as to ease social awareness and empowerment.
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Reach, as reported in 2025
Reported figures for the year 2025.
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Child labour eradication
Forty of fifty children went back to regular school
ASA's child labour eradication programme was established in 1996 with the support of the state government under the Child Remediation Act. The first child labour school was started in Trichy, and later expanded to four schools.
Out of fifty students, ASA helped forty children continue their education through regular schools. Many are continuing their graduation and a few have completed their education in colleges. Students are also trained in extracurricular activities like tailoring, arts and sports.
More storiesOur major programmes
What the trust runs
Vidiyal school
A quality centre of education for rural children
Vidiyal Matriculation Higher Secondary School was started in 2000 at Valandau Kaikatti. The journey began with a mere twenty-six students. ASA offers quality education to rural children with subsidised tuition fees, an indoor and outdoor stadium, a meditation hall, modern transport, free noon meals and hostel facilities.
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Free noon meals, every school day
Questions
The trust, in short
The essentials, in brief.