SIHARAM – A new presence at Thiruvanamalai
History
On 24th of May 2003, Fr. Edwin Vasanthan was asked by the Provincial to work out the possibilities to begin a new presence in Thiruvannamalai, which is the headquarters of the Thiruvannamalai district, in view of coordinating the activities specifically focused on the welfare and empowerment of the marginalized people, namely the SCs and the STs of this region. Having good CBO (Community building organization) bases at Polur, Veeralur and Jawadhi hills, this new presence would be a place of animation and advocacy for the integral development of the marginalized sections of the society. Simultaneously a need arose to start a sub-center of Vazhikaatti at Thiruvannamalai. Thus on 5th June 2003, the Vazhikaatti sub-center was started in a rented house in Thendral Nagar, blessed and inaugurated by Rev. Fr. Bellarmine SDB, the then Provincial of Chennai, and Fr. Edwin Vasanthan was appointed as the director of this new sub-center, attached to the canonically erected community of Polur ITI. During the Provincial Chapter 2004, SIHARAM was given the mandate to coordinate the activities of a social nature for the entire Province.
After the tsunami of 26th December 2004, SIHARAM took up the relief and rehabilitation activities. At this new work demanded more time and commitment, the project works envisaged for SIHARAM had to be kept in abeyance for nearly one year. On 22nd February 2005 the land the for the new mission (3.87 acres) was purchased at Adaiyur – Thiruvannamalai and registered in the name of the Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Swamikannu, the provincial of Chennai representing the South India Salesian Society. In the month of April 2005 another plot of 2.01 acres was purchased adjacent to the same plot and registered in the same name. The site is 4 kms away from Thiruvannamalai on the way to Kanchi. However because of complications, a lot of technical difficulties arose and today the case is still in court pending an amicable settlement. On 24th of May 2005, Fr. Pappu Raj SDB was appointed assistant director of SIHARAM. As Fr. Pappu Raj has completed his studies in Law, he would initiate new programmes like legal aid, legal cell etc., in view of the social empowerment of the target group in this region.
Meanwhile, with the permission of the Provincial Council, a project was submitted to Don Bosco Missions – BONN for the integral development of the youth and the general public of this region: awareness creation, skill development, Vazhikaatti activities, advocacy for human rights promotion and animation for the Self-Help groups. One of the main objectives of the project was to get financial assistance for the infra-structure for the new presence. This project was approved on 24th November 2005 and began to be implemented. The blessing of the foundation stone was held on the 24th January 2006 in the presence of Msgr. Joe Lourdusamy, the Administrator of the diocese of Vellore. At the moment construction is underway.
Types of Apostolate and Services offered by the Community
Sl.No Strategies Activities Expected outcome
1 Education 1) Competitive coaching from preprimary to professional education
2) Mentoring
3) Facilitating Financial Assistance and loans • Competitive academic skills
• Professionally qualified poor placed in mainstream occupations
2 Training 1) Career guidance
2) Soft skills
3) Income generating Trades
4) Managerial skills
5) Life coping skills
6) Health and Nutrition • Increased aspirations
• Balanced personality
• Alternative occupational skills and source of income
• Health seeking habits
3 Organizing 1) Self Help groups, federations, govt. assistance
2) Local and regional people formations and movements for rights issues • Savings habit
• Additional income
• Collective bargaining
• Distributive justice
4 Advocacy 1) Lobbying and networking for rights issues
2) Seminars, workshops, public hearing, press conferences
3) Consultations, Discussions, Policy reviews
4) Arbitrations
5) Media, legal and legislative advocacy
• Collective bargaining
• Distributive justice
5 Research 1) Social research
2) Action research
3) Documentation • Data base to support advocacy
Vazhikaatti
More than 61 seminars were conducted for schools with the participation of more than 9700 students, while 58 exhibitions on leadership and career guidance were also organized, and more than 8600 students benefited. Job placement is being done very systematically and more than a 100 youngsters have already been employed, while the number of those registering is on the increase.
Self Help Groups – More than a 140 members form part of the 10 Self Help Groups from 10 different villages, with a small savings scheme.
Skill Development Programmes – Regular training programmes in greeting card making, herbal plantation, velvet painting, garland making and wire bag making were conducted for more than 200 participants.
Youth Groups - Eighteen youth groups have been formed in 18 villages for about 150 youngsters, who meet regularly and are given special leadership training skills and life orientation talks.
Evening Study Centres – Nineteen evening study centres in 17 villages, with more than 1000 children attending regularly, assisted by 19 teachers.
SIHARAM – Vazhikaatti Office
Tendral Nagar, Vengikkal
TIRUVANNAMALAI – 606 604
Cell – 94431 05399
