Women development in Rural Area
The MMSSS has been working in Kodaikanal hill region since 1982.
In 1999 an environmental project was started in Melmalai. Under this project well
drilling, organic manure, irrigation and tree plantation were given focus. In 2002,
the project gave importance to small farmers in Keelmalai. Three credit unions were
started. Each credit union consisted of ten villages. The thatched houses were
changed into tin sheet houses with the contribution from the credit union, MMSSS and
the local people. The credit union is functioning in Batlagundu and Theni as well.
Kolping
Kolping program supports the poor and marginalized women and men by providing necessary skills for enhancing the economic status through initiation of Savings/Credit programs and income generation programs. There are 42 such groups across the four districts. The program also provides hostel facilities for working women from target areas. The program also provides opportunity for learning Computer Skills through Kolping Computer Center.
Madurai Kolping India was established in 1988 and it is functioning in six vicariates of Madurai Archdiocese. At present we have 40 kolping families with 745 active members. 17 Kolping Trusts are functioning and economically progressing well.
Our Kolping Computer Center was inaugurated on 26-01-06 by Mr.Hubert Tintilott, General Secretary of the International Kolping Society, Germany. Most Rev.Dr.Peter Fernando, Archbishop of Madurai blessed the Centre. It is a boon to our Diocesan youth and benefits them to get trained for employment.
It also trains the target group people (Beneficiaries) and equip them to face the world confidently. The Centre has Trained 530 students out of which 184 male, 320 female and 26 children and its tireless knowledge dissemination continues. Out of the total 320 women candidates 46 were beneficiaries of Mahalir Thittam project.
Activities of the Kolping Families
- House visits to all its members’ families
- Providing spiritual assistance and encouragement to the kolping families.
- Attending all the functions of the members of the kolping families
- Providing assistance in the form of food and other articles to Orphanages and Old age Homes
- Arranging for observance of special prayers in the churches on the memorial day of Adolph Kolping.
- Identifying the issues of the localities (such as road, hand pumps, toilets) and addressing the same to appropriate authorities.
Income Generating Activities
31 kolping families have been assisted under IGP to the tune of Rs.6,92,000/- and they carry out economic activities such as Petty shops, Firewood Shops, Foot wear Units, Phenyl making, Rice selling, Textiles, Sewing machines, Readymade dress making, Covering rings making, Beads Garland making, Vegetable vending, Flour making, Idly shop, Tea shop etc.
Milch Animal Loan
For the year 2006, 12 Kolping members have been assisted for purchase of Milch Animals. They all have paid back their loans. They are getting good return from their occupations.
Housing Scheme
“Home for Homeless” is the aim of this program. With the generous support of our Augusberg Kolping Brothers and Sisters, we have
received a sum of Rs.2,80,000/- for 28 houses in the year 2005 .
Vocational Training Program
Rehabilitation and Social Integration & Children Reception Home
The Child Laborers without family supports, the Children of broken families, the child committed crimes and the abandoned and run away children are being rescued and nurtured at the Reception cum Observation Home run by Madurai Multipurpose Social Service Society (MMSSS) in Gandhi Nagar in Virudhunagar since 1999. Children in the age of 7 to 18 are admitted in this Home. It is financially supported by the Social Children Welfare Committee.
The Children’s Reception Home was originally started as an Observation Home for abandoned and runaway children, children in conflict and children in vulnerable conditions aging from 7 to 18 and now serving as Reception Home providing friendly and safety environment for the vulnerable children and they are referred to other care homes or reinstated with their family considering their family environment. This project is implemented with the assistance from Social Defense Department under Juvenile Justice Act, 2000. Every year at least 250 children benefit from this program.
Employment of hired workers by private households
The program supports destitute women, widows, single women and women in conflicts from very poor and vulnerable backgrounds by providing consolation, comfort, and nurturing alternate employment opportunities and skills that assure safety and security. There are 450 such members now organized under ‘Manushi’ a trade union for domestic workers.
Protection of rights of all children
CHILDLINE works for the protection of rights of all children aged from 0 to 18. Their special focus is on all children in need of care and protection, especially the more vulnerable sections, that includes
- Victims of child sexual abuse. Street children and youth living alone on the streets.
- Child laborers working in the unorganized and organized sectors.
- Domestic help, especially girl domestics.
- Children affected by physical / sexual / emotional abuse in family, schools or institutions.
- Children who need emotional support and guidance.
- Run away children.
- Differently-abled children.
- Children in institutions.
- Children who are victims of substance abuse.
- Children in conflict with the law.
- Mentally challenged children.ETC.
It also helps children who are in need of care and protection. Childline number is – 1098. Childline receives an average a million calls a month and CHILDLINE rescues about 30000 children annually. India as per 2011 census of India has over 4.35 million working children between of age of five to 18 years.
CHILDLINE works for the protection of rights of all children aged from 0 to 18. Their special focus is on all children in need of care and protection, especially the more vulnerable sections, that includes. Victims of child sexual abuse. Street children and youth living alone on the streets.
Financial schemes in rural areas
The society has a unit which promotes small savings scheme and this of the people, by the people and for the people and hence known as Multipurpose Association for People’s Savings (MAPS). Totally 11.318 members subscribed the amount of Rs.4,78,266.00 and lending and repayment within the group members running successfully. 20 credit unions have been formed for the economical development of federations.
Enabling dropout unemployed youth both men and women
Don Bosco Tech Society – DB Tech, enabling dropout unemployed youth both men and women who are in the age group of 18 -35 and completed 10th
standard and train them to be equipped to get an descent Job in the industry. Trained them in Sales and Marketing and Domestic Data Entry Operator – DDEO and
getting trained in, spoken English is an added advantage.
This is a three month training with 2months class room training and one month On Job Training at the end of the training Successful candidates are given Government
approved certificate and them training centre finds suitable Job for every Trainee.
HIV/AIDS CARE & SUPPORT
MMSSS has been working with the People Living with HIV/AIDS by enhancing their quality of life and creating awareness among the General Community to reduce Stigma and Discrimination.
CHILD RIGHTS AND CHILD EDUCATION CENTRES
Child Rights Program by MMSSS has been a pioneering effort in Virudhunagar District since 1988 through its eradication of Child Labor program and Promotion of Child Rights program with strategic community based approaches. The Child Labor Special Schools formerly known as NCLP and now as INDUS Special Schools have been mainstreaming hundreds of Child Laborers from vulnerable situations to avail the rights for education.
These centers pay attention to children’s education and make them aware of the child rights. The children were also given opportunities to bring out their talents and were motivated to take up the habit of savings. The children in the child rights and child education centers were formed into several sub-committees, in view of training their physical and mental capacities to make future leaders. Functioning in groups has helped them develop their knowledge and skills. The dedicated volunteers trained by MMSSS have also affected remarkable changes in the attitude of the children on issue of child labour. The children were rightly motivated and they were taken for exposure to various historical and tourist centres by the volunteers and the staff. The volunteers are also committed in educating the drop-outs and child labour for long hours. The performance of the volunteers was appreciated very much by the local panchayat and village leaders.
