Project Duration: October 2009 to September 2012.
Operational Area: Thirteen unions of Thanjavur, Ariyalur and Thiruvarur Districts.
Goal of the Project: As part of social transformation, to build and enhance the action of oppressed communities’ organization.
Mission: The oppressed people should take personal responsibility to improve their capacity: hence formulation of policies and utilization of the Government schemes to their advantage and growth; Preservation of their community characteristics, security, opportunity, sustainability, future and integration and lobbying and lobby with Government and commercial organizations for social agreement.
Objectives:
? To capacitate and augment skills of the Diocesan Social Service Societies Directors and Staff.
? To formulate people’s livelihood and right based groups (CBOs).
? To establish experts committee for right based and increase livelihood resource support organization.
? To develop documentation skills among CBOs.
? To establish networking with like minded organization.
? To strengthen right based and livelihood community based organization.
? To work with government officials towards finding solutions to problems.
? To extend coordination among peoples organizations.
? To enable the existing leaders of CBOs to emerge as state level trainers.
? To facilitate the capacities of CBOs as to foster right based common solutions.
Union level CBOs:
The existing CBOs of Thiruppanandhal, Thiruvaiyaru and Andimadam Unions were strengthened and during the period of reporting, the new CBOs were formed in Thiruvidaimarudur, Papanasam, T.Palur Unions and engaged in actions.
Village level Training for CBOs:
In 27 villages 1143 persons were given training on “New Thrust” Programmes.
Union level Trainings:
For five representatives of executive group members, 20 members of People’s right and 20 sustainability group members were trained in their own settings on human rights and laws, consumers protection act, violence, human rights, basic needs, livelihood requirements, leadership characteristics and qualities, social analysis, health, gender equality and Panchayatraj Training was organized in all 13 unions.
Resource support organization meeting (RSO):
Resource support organization (RSO) is functioning in the KMSSS as the technical expert group to facilitate the New Thrust project activities and programmes, in which the Secretary and Assistant Secretary, Field Staff representatives, TASOSS Chief Coordinator, Peoples representatives, Lawyers and other NGOs Secretaries are the members. During the reporting period three meetings were held on April 15, June 28, and November 10. In these sittings peoples right, livelihood issues were discussed and according to the suggestions training programmes were conducted. RSO group member, Lawyer Jayapaul gave special address on 14.11.2009 in Andimadam union meeting and on 20.11.2009 in Thiruppanandhal Union meeting.
Evaluation:
Under New Thrust Scheme of IVth Phase, first year progress of achievements were assessed on 02.08.2008 by Thirumathi Gayathri. It has been identified and appreciated that KMSSS stands in the first rank organization list and a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- was awarded as a sign of encouragement.
Field observation programme:
A team of 28 persons of people federation leaders and field staff visited on 16.09.2009, ‘Peoples Watch’ organization, Madurai
Special meetings and Rallies:
On 17.08.2009, in Kumbakonam ‘Swine Flu’ awareness rally was organized. More than 2000 persons from Kumbakonam zonal Peoples organization, Littler Flower Higher Secondary School, St. Mary’s On 14.09.2009 in Kumbakonam, an awareness rally on “Global Warming” was conducted in which people of Kumbakonam Zonal Federation Members, other NGOs representatives and KMSSS Staff about more than 2500 persons took interest and participated. A similar programme of awareness rally cum meeting on 25.09.2009 was organized in Thiruvaiyaru on the same theme of “Global Warming”. With active participation of people’s federation, members of Andimadam, demanding essential “Basic Needs”, went on a procession 29.09.2009 to create attention of the rulers and officials, in which more than 500 members participated and submitted a Memorandum to the Government Officials and it has a positive effect in favour of people.District Federation Meeting:
The District level federation meetings of Thanjavur and Ariyalur were held at Kumbakoanm and Jayankondam on January 19th and 23rd, 2010 respectively. In Thanjavur, from seven unions, 24 members and from 5 unions of Ariyalur 19 members participated.
Other Programmes:
| No. | Subject/Topic | No. of Participants | Resource Person | Place & Date |
| 1. | Human Rights Laws | 78 persons | Advocate Fr. Roch Alexander | Kumbakonam 26.10.2009 |
| 2. | Human Rights day – seminar | 80 persons | ” | Andimadam 15.03.2010 |
| 3. | Independence day celebration | 50 groups 550 persons | Tendered the application the celebrated | - |
| 4. | Samathuva Pongal | 11 villages | Celebrated | - |
| 5. | Tree Seedlings planting | 756 planted | - | - |
In the meetings and programmes KMSSS staff participated with people’s representatives.
Women’s Day:
In the World Women’s Day Celebration held at Pondicherry
| No. | Unions | Date & Place | Topic/Subject | No. of Persons |
| 1. | Kumbakonam Thiruvidaimarudur Thiruppanandhal Valangaiman | 13.03.2010 Kumbakonam | · Women’s Right Seminar, · Welfare Schemes, · Self Protection. | 41 |
| ” | 14.03.2010 | · Quiz, · Elocution, · Songs, · Competition & Prize distribution | 98 | |
| ” | 15.03.2010 | · Blood donation, · Rally & Meeting | 2500 | |
| 2. | Thiruvaiyaru, Budhalur, Papanasam, Ammapettai | 9-11.03.2010 | ” | 871 |
| 3. | Jayankondam, Ariyalur, T.Palur, Thirumanur, Andimadam | 21.03.2010 | · Rally · 170 seedlings distributed | 1000 |
Diocesan Perspective Plan:
The Diocesan perspective plan was held with the guidance of the Caritas India, Regional representative, Mr. John Arokiyaraj on 11th & 12th June, 2009 in KMSSS in which Fathers, Sisters, People’s representative leaders, KMSSS Secretary, Asst. Secretary and staff participated. Issues and problems, objectives, services, Community Based Programmes, networks and sustainability were elaborately discussed.
? Further, the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats and the area specific issues and problems were identified and listed and prioritized as given beneath and five year perspective plan was drawn.
1. Agriculture
2. Health and Sanitation
3. Untouchability
4. Gender
5. Traditional beliefs and rituals