Projaect - RDT Trust, RDT Trust in Kellambakkam, RDT Trust in Egattur, RDT Trust in Hiranathini, RDT School for Telugu, RDT School in Andrapradesh, RDT Trust Camp, RDT Trust Project, Day Care Center in RDT

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Rural Development Trust started a free tuition centre for Telugu migrant children at Kalavakkam in 2006. By that time eight (8) salt workers children from 12 families (Dalit Community) were enrolled in the tuition centre and gained all the benefits. These salt workers families were form Muthaiyapuram Village, Athimarapatti Panchayat of Thoothukudi District. We have provided all the study materials, uniforms and refreshments in 2006.

During the academic year 2007 none of these children attended the Tuition Centre. In our enquiry these families were threatened by the contractors and some of them were beaten by the Goondas. On 13th July 2007 the contractors have beaten these salt workers families with the help of Goondas. Mrs. Karpaga Lakshimi got fracture in her left hand and others have got minor injury. To find legal remedy and to release the salt workers from the problem, RDT approached the advocates Mr. Umakanth and Mr. Venkatesan from Chengalpattu. On 19th July a team of advocates and RDT visited this area again and filed a case in the Thiruporur Police Station on behalf of the salt workers. The police officials called the contractors and enquired the case but nothing was happened.

On the next day 20th July, we met the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) (Mr. Muralidharan), Chengalpattu and filed a complaint about the salt workers problem. Immediately the RDO ordered the Thasildar and Deputy Thasildar of Chengalpattu Taluk, Revenue Inspector of Thiruporur and Village Administrative Officer of Thiruporur to undergo field visit and enquiry. The team visited the area on the next morning 21st July and conducted personal enquiry with all the families. The Salt workers witnessed the atrocities of the contractors and the sexual harassments with the women. As a result of the enquiry the Thasildar decided and declared them as Bonded Labourers. Immediately they arranged a Tempo Van and took the 12 families (31 members) to the RDO office, Chengalpattu. The RDO conducted second level enquiry with the family members personally and concluded the workers as Bonded Laborers and issued Release Certificate to all the 20 adults and 3 child laborers. The rest of the 8 are children.

Even though it was a tough task, RDT took this issue as a challenge and achieved to release the bonded salt workers. We adopted proper approach for legal remedy and financial support from the government for the affected poor migrant workers. At present they are living in their native village and the 11 children are attending formal school. RDT is doing follow-up activities for the sustainable development of the affected families.

Kattur and Arugundram village is covering in one of our target villages. There are 150 Dalith households are residing at kattur village. The second village namely Arugundram is a Irulla Tribal are residing here. While RDT team visits this two villages, that day care centre is functioning under the palm leaf hut with is in damaged condition. There are 75hildren have been studding this centre regularly. Due to non-availability of building facility, children have been suffering lot. During rainy season children unable to come to the centre.

In order to improve this bad situation. RDT have discussed with the local community and panchayat leader strongly pointed out if we construct the centre in both villages more than 75 childrens getting benefit at the same time children will have formal education atmosphere and protection. Also we can keep play materials, food materials, vessels are highly safe.

At the end of discussion a collective decision had been taken that, local people have decided to give 5 Cents of community land to be handover to RDT to develop formal building for Day Care Centre. Panchayat leaders were decided and assured, to provide Electricity and water facility and teacher support and supplementary food will be expect from Government of Tamilnadu. Finaly on 7th November 2008 the building inauguration was done by RDT and other volunteers. Now the construction is going up . The measurement is 30’.0”x15’.0”.we will be expect the completion of building will be finish in this month with the more Human resources Assistance.

It is a very painful thing to note that the government agencies here yet to start the Anganvadi Centre for the children who are below the age of 6 years. So the unhealthy living conditions of the children affecting them mentally and physically and leave no room for their good health and hygiene and even causing them to die without any proper care.
In the villages where the Anganvadi centers functioning with experienced and efficient teachers and their assistant are taking necessary care about the health of the children. In these centre nutritious food, medicines and treatments are provided to the children. Apart from this the parents of the children are well informed about their children’s conditions through counseling about the rights of their children and the necessary steps to keeping their residential environment neat and clean.
Taking in to account the pitiful situation of the above mentioned villages and as an important issue for immediate concern and to demand the government authorities to start Anganvadi centers, RDT approached them again and again in both ways directly and through memorandum. As a result of this in one of those 15 villages, namely Kattur village, an Anganvadi center has been started by the government. We are proudly saying that this is a result for our painful and continuous efforts.
The government only issued an order to start the centre. They said there are no financial provisions, so RDT and the villagers will take responsible to run this center. Based on their statement, the capital and day today expenses incurred for the building, necessary infrastructure, furniture and fittings, food and assistants (Child care worker, Cook and Helper) for the center still beard by both the people and RDT. After a timeless effort of RDT with the SHGs of that area a rent free building was obtained from the forest department of Kattur village. Utensils are provided by the local SHGs. Now we are demanding the government to provide and fulfill all the necessities of the center.
Due to the efforts taken by RDT now the center at Kattur village is functioning well with good environment. At present there are 40 children including 29 male and 11 female children are benefiting through this center.
Note (building new anganwadi at kattur village)

In Edargundram village, every year, we are providing school books and notes, school bags and other writing materials to the students of migrated family from the southern parts of Tamilnadu for employment in stone quarries.

In general, mostly the poor children are studying in the government schools. In most of the schools are not having sufficient infrastructures even enough building facilities, enough teachers and teaching materials. Due to these conditions the poor student’s education became very poor. In this situation, RDT gives an importance to the poor children’s education and for to improve the quality of education, we have appointed the skilled and experienced teachers in 4 government primary schools, Navalur, Ekattur, Edargundram and kazhipattur. These teachers were appointed on behalf of the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA). We are paying the salary for those teachers. Now they are giving special attention to each and every children to improve their education. We have done the art and paintings of the educational materials inside the school walls in three schools except Kazhipattur.

The trust started with an integrated development programme for the Irular tribes of the Thiruporur block of the Kanchipuram District. The Irular Tribes are basically snake catchers. They also make out living through hunting.
They were barred from such traditional activities by Govt. regulations. Therefore the project for a their welfare aimed at providing alternative employment through kitchen garden, fishing and thatch-roof housing. 75 households at Thiruporur block were identified and short listed for this programme.

The Trust also did liaison with the Government for procuring house patta, minimum wages and benefits for these tribal people. CEBEMO, Netherlands and 1% Development Fund, Geneva assisted the project through grants. The Trust continues to work in the matter of civic amenities, collective forming, ration cards, leadership training programme, literacy programmes, small savings, awareness on women’s and human rights as well as co-operative society formation. The Managing Trustee was awarded individual fellowship for his involvement in the welfare Irular Tribes.

The Irular Tribe integrated development project and the Saltpan workers welfare project were continued. 75 fishnets and 5 boats were distributed through the Irular Fishing cooperative Society. The GTZ, Germany and the UN based 1% development Fund provided necessary grants.