20-07-2025
NGO lauded for work in violence prevention, education, financial inclusion and interfaith dialogue
An event marking 30 years of the Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA) was organised which brought together several volunteers, partners, staff, and well-wishers from across the country.
The Reflections on Association with COVA@30 event saw video messages from collaborators across India highlighted COVA's wide-ranging engagement on over 30 issues ,from grassroot works in slums of Hyderabad to policy advocacy with multilateral institutions. A documentary produced by Maulana Azad National Urdu University's Mass Communication Department traced the organisation's evolution and reach in the area of social activism.
A book, Chronicle of COVA@30: Service Through Social Transformations, featuring reflections from 150 individuals, that include partners, associates, and volunteers, was also released.
Speakers deeply appreciated COVA's notable work in violence prevention, education, financial inclusion and interfaith dialogue. The organisation's Compassionate Citizenship Programme, now part of Telangana's school curriculum, was praised as a model for moral and civic education.
According to a media release, its research on financial inclusion, commissioned ahead of the 2013 G20 Summit in Russia, resulted in nine of its twelve recommendations being adopted by India's Finance Ministry, five of which were integrated into the eMUDRA Scheme.
Participants recalled how COVA's community initiatives had helped prevent communal violence in Hyderabad since 2012, describing the group's work as vital to peacebuilding and social harmony.
