The Planning Stage : March 1986 - October 1989

March 1986	:	Caritas India (Fr. P. Remegius) takes the initiative. Fr. Sebastian Ousepparampil is elected as the convenor of the NEDSF.
July 1986	:	The first development training programme is organised at Diphu.
March 1988	:	Bishop Joseph Mittathany is elected President & Bishop Mathai Kochuparampil as Vice President of the Forum. & Fr. Jacob Aluckal is elected as Assistant Convenor and Secretary Archbishop Hubert Rosario of Shillong pledges 6 bighas of land at Kharghuli, Guwahati for NEDSF for a nominal payment.
June 1989	:	NEDSF is registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 on 7.6.1989.
The Paradigm Search Stage : Nov 1989 - Feb 1994
Nov 1989	:	The temporary office of NEDSF commences functioning in the Bishop's House, Dimapur.
	:	The first Animator (Ms Myrtle Fernandez) was appointed
March 1990	:	The first programme of Social Analysis of the North East was conducted by Caritas Indira (Fr. Yvonne Ambrose) for the Diocesan Directors and their team members.
April 1992	:	The personnel increased to one Honorary Convenor, 2 animators, 2 office staff.
	:	The second animator appointed was Sr. Rose Kayathinkara.
	:	Construction of the NEDSF Centre financially supported by CORDAID.
May 1992 onwards	:	Animation programme conducted by Caritas India of 3 days duration in each of the 8 dioceses.
	:	One follow up seminar. each of 2 days duration held in 8 Dioceses.
	:	Priests, sisters and women leaders sent to undergo training in Development Dynamic Courses organised by Caritas in Diphu, Benaras and Delhi.
	:	Two "Women Awake" seminars held.
The Forum's Task Trial Stage : March 1994 - Feb 1999
March 1994	-	The Forum's Centre was inaugurated on 23.3.1994 by the then Chief Minister of Assam, Mr. Hiteswar Saikia.
	-	Fr. Jacob Aluckal assumes charge as Director of NEDSF.
April 1994 onwards	-	The formation of the Diocesan Resource Team in each Diocese was energised. This could be considered as an outcome which would promote self sustainability.
	-	At the Forum level 8 Governing Body Meetings and 16 Monitoring and
	-	Evaluation Meetings with the field level Animators and other staff were held. Animators and legal awareness were the main thrusts of these meetings conducted till 1998 end.
June 1994	-	The NEDSF Newsletter planned for twice a year was launched.
Dec 1996	-	The Staff Quarters of the Forum added to the Forum complex were inaugurated by Archbishop Joseph Mittathany and Fr. Jacob Aluckal, Director.
	-	Staff consists of Director, 2 monitors, 2 Office Staff, 1 Driver and 2 Supporting Staff.
Scientific Evaluation and Planning Stage : 1999 - 2003
March 1990	-	Fr. J. Pallikunnel takes charge as the new Director of the Forum.
	-	Sr. Mary Alex MMS appointed as the Regional Women Coordinator.
	-	Ongoing Animation, Awareness Building and Capacity Building Programmes in the Dioceses continue.
	-	Self Evaluation, Animation and Networking thrust supported by CORDAID is launched while Women Empowerment Programmes supported by Caritas India was continued
July 1999	-	Regional Perspective Plan through a 5 day planning exercise and facilitated by External Experts undertaken to facilitate planning process through intense brain storming with its partners and to give shape to a Regional Perspective Plan (RPP) for the North East. The Workshop drafted a Vision and Mission Statement as well.
Feb - Sept 2000	-	Diocesan Perspective Planning was conducted 2/3 days duration in each of the 10 Dioceses following the Regional Perspective Planning both in content and pattern.
2000-2001	-	Regional Women Coordinator and 10 Diocesan Women Coordinators give proper thrust to development initiatives aimed at promoting empowerment of women.
2001-2002	-	2 programmes of 5 days duration in each Diocese were conducted to build up capacities of Adivasi women groups towards empowerment of Adivasi community who are an acutely deprived community in Assam.
	-	A Regional Assmebly of NGOs in the North East - NEDSF, DSSS, other church NGOs, Bishop's Commissions, Regional secular NGOs, Caritas India representatives, all the Regional Bishops, Social activities, writers and journalists - was held in March 2002 in Guwahati to assess, evaluate and plan future development strategies.
	-	The staff of the Forum now consisted of Director, 2 Coordinators and other supporting Staff. The DSSS had 20 Animators, supported and monitored by the Forum.
Feb-April 2002	-	An Indepth Evaluation Study was done facilitated by External Experts and the work of the Forum from 1986 to 2002 was evaluated professionally.
Nov 2002- June 2003	-	As recommended by the Evaluation Study, all the eleven Dioceses undertook Strategic Planning to prioritise interventions and strategies consider with redefined vision, mission and goal to undertake resource mapping and planning (both personnel and financial) and to prepare Plans of Action.
March 2003	-	Fr. Santiago took charge as the Assistant Director of the Forum.
	-	The Forum organised its Strategic Planning Workshop from 24th to 27th March 2003 and formulated its three year Action Plan to commence from July 2003.
July 2003- June 2004	-	Follow up Action of the Strategic Plan commenced from August 2003 in good earnest.
	-	The new Office Complex and the Lecture cum Conference Hall were blessed and inaugurated by Archbishop Mittathany.

Foundation laid by	:	Late Hubert D'Rosario Archbishop of Shillong
	:	Late Hiteswar Saikia Chief Minister of Assam
Inaugurated by	:	Most Rev. Joseph Mittathany Archbishop of Imphal
First Convenor	:	Fr. Sebastian Ouseppormpil (1989 - 92)
First Director	:	Fr. Jacob Allukal (1992 - 99)

OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS

The objectives of the Registered Forum were enuciated as:
	Promoting sharing and learning from each others experience and to unite to face problems, and to find solutions as one entity.
	Providing united platform to project the collective voice of many peoples in their endeavors to create a just society.
The primary function of the Forum was identified as:
	Playing the role of a facilitator at different levels of programme planning, management and evaluation.
	Contributing to capacity building by introducing the Diocesan Directors and their partners to the emerging trends and successful development models.
Seven Key Areas of NEDSF's Training/ Action Programmes
The roles of teh different Coordinators of NEDSF were identified by the Strategic Plan in the following seven key areas of empowerment of people, as follows:
	Animation and Development
	Gender and Development
	Peace Building
	Advocacy and Lobbying
	Natural Resource Management
	Micro Credit and Entrepreneurship Development
	Disaster Management

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