1. St. Joseph’s Technical Institute Introduction:  St. John Bosco, a humble priest of Northern Italy, who lived from 1815 to 1888, dedicated his entire life to the welfare of poor youth. The Salesian society is named after St. Francis de sales, who is the model of kindness, love and patience. Today the salesians work in over 120 countries and the society ranks third in size of all religious orders and second as a foreign missionary society.

 St. Joseph’s Technical Institute was  established in 1950 . This place is located in the midst of a large slum pockets whose inhabitants are settlers from rural Tamil Nadu and from the neighbouring states and who had come in search of employment. They took up any odd jobs that they could find. However they could not find enough return for all what they did for sustaining themselves and their families with 6 to 8 members on an average.

It is against this background that the Salesians began to work in Pulianthope, the largest and the worst slum of the northern part of the city of Chennai.

A BRIEF HISTORY   The following is the story of an elusive land, hemmed in by most proletarian surrounding, which was chalked out by St. JOSEPH'S to become the Salesian Technical Institute of Chennai.The story begins, in the year 1928, when Mgr. Mathias came for the consecration of Mgr. Mederlet as Archbishop of Madras, and both went round Madras looking for a suitable place for a technical school. They set their eyes upon an extensive plot of land near Basin Bridge called the "Harness and Saddle Factory". Mgr.Mathias advised the Salesians of Madras to try to secure that land for their industrial school.

  Apparently nothing much was done. In the year 1935 when Mgr.Mathias was appointed to the Archdiocese of Madras, again an effort was made with the purpose of securing that site. The provincial, Fr. E. Cinato, approached the Army enquiring about that land. The land in the Harness and Saddle Factory had already been plotted out previous to our offer and, by a queer coincidence the central portion comprising several buildings and bound by four roads was found.  

  Immediately an adaptation of the building was started which should provide accommodation for a carpentry shop and a mechanical workshop, as well as for the sections of art and printing. A compound wall was erected and the Provincial Office was installed there. The Aspirant Coadjutors who had remained for about two years in Tirupattur came over to Basin Bridge with their staff A Boarding was started along with the Technical School in 1950. Art and Printing Press was started in 1952. The Printing Press had grown to such an extent, that the need was felt to shift it elsewhere. In 1968 it was shifted to Kilpauk now called as SIGA Press.  The Central Government recognized our Technical School as I.T.I. in 1973 . The School was hence called  St. Joseph’s Technical Institute and the courses offered were Machinist, Turner and Fitter. Eventually the Welding department was shifted to St. Joseph’s, Katpadi. Two more courses namely Draughtsman and Electrician were added in 1981. In 1987 Electronics was started. Besides the ITI courses I.S.C. pattern for the School drop-outs, was introduced in 1981. Also non-formal part time courses in Electronics, Wiring, and other trades were offered.  

  

   Sunday Oratory was conducted under one brother in 1951, and later on it became a Daily Oratory.  In 1978 the new Oratory building was constructed. In 1953, the Parish was established, but the canonical erection of the church took place only in 1968, with the building of the new Parish Church. In 1973 Environmental Improvement Programme was begun as an activity of Don Bosco Youth Centre which became an independent society, known as ‘Don Bosco Social service Society’. It felt the need of helping our immediate neighbours and took up a Pilot project for 1124 families of the area.  

  Besides these, the community extended its service in Chaplaincy to Stanley Hospital and the nearby sisters and in the Community Health Centre. A Commercial school, night Study Centre, pre-schools, noon-meals scheme, adult education centres, employment centres were started for the benefit of all residing within five kilometers from our Institute. Lay collaboration was also sought as well as the help from the Salesian Sisters and F.M.M. Sisters. A Hostel in the Youth Centre building was opened for a small group of employed out station youth. Thus within the past 55 years,  St. Joseph’s Technical Institute has grown from a tiny seed into a large mighty tree.   Technical School  The sole aim of the institute is to impart technical training to the exploited youth, get them qualified and educate them for a decent, dignified and sustainable livelihood. The Institute is also making serious efforts to influence the industrial neighbours to get jobs for those trained in the institute. Both Formal and Non-formal trades are being taught in the institute. When a trainee completes the course, he/she sits for the All India Trade Test.  The successful students are awarded National Trade Certificate . The Non-formal trainees are given the Institute certificates after completion of their training. A certificate from a recognized technical institute definitely carries weight when they are in search of employment  The following are the trades in the Institute:  

a. Formal trades:   

Machinist  

Draughtsman  

Computer  

Turner  

Fitter  

Electrician  

Electronics  

AC Mechanic & Refrigeration   

b. Non-Formal Trades   

              Carpentry  

 Machine Shop Operator  C .Short Term Courses These courses were started in 2004 for the poor youth who do not have much of educational background and who want to work to earn a living . These courses are decided every year according to the need of the boys and the demand in the labour market.  At present there are three hundred Boys and Girls who are attending these courses. The cost of the course for one year for one student amounts to Rs. 15,000 ($300). All these courses are of two-years duration, but the short term courses are of three , four, six and ten months of duration depending on the nature of the trade.   The direct beneficiaries will be the youth who are willing to take their training in a very systematic and progressive manner and who are prepared to apply their minds to intellectual and physical works. Priority and preference in admission to training, whether in formal courses or in non-formal courses, are for the socially disadvantaged youth groups, such as Dalits, Backward and Most Backward classes and to the marginalised youth of our society. This training would have an indirect impact on the families of the trainees as it could improve their living standard.

Boarding for Poor Youth  At present, we are having 60 youth from the villages and from the city who are orphans, semi-orphans or economically below the poverty line. It costs Rs.7,000 ($150)per year for their food and lodging.. In the beginning Poor boys from the city and the villages who were doing different trades in the ITI were kept in the boarding , later Non-formal students who had not passed high School were also admitted. Some Young people who were working in the carpentry, Machine shop and welding section were also staying in the boarding. These boys are not in a position to pay for the boarding since they come from a very depressed economic background.  

Youth Centre  The Don Bosco Youth Centre was  started in 1952.  In the beginning it was running as a daily oratory and many boys benefited from it. At the beginning stages games like foot ball and Square ball were played, later volleyball and basketball were also introduced. Many members get Job Opportunities through games and sports. Eventually it began to be called Don Bosco Youth Centre(DBYC).  

This Youth Centre is for the urban poor to develop their talents and to place them in the society. At present we have 500 Boys and Girls who attend this centre every day from 4.00 to 8.00 p.m. We are providing all the facilities to develop their talents in sports, games, music, scouts and guides and other social upliftment works. We need financial resources for continuation of this work for the youth.During the Silver Jubilee Year 1976, the Auditorium was built as the Silver Jubilee memorial.

Table Tennis, Carroms, Gymnastics, Scouting and Typing  were introduced into the DBYC. Training courses in wiring, Radio, TV Repairs were also conducted. Leadership Seminars are conducted to bring out good leaders. Poor boys are helped to continue their education. A night study centre is conducted in order to help poor children (Boys & Girls) to do well in their studies and also to prevent school dropouts phenomenon.  

The Youth Centre has a powerful impact on the locality since we have a good number of the local youth in our Centre. Most of them come from poor slum areas. Since their parents are not educated, the education of the Children is not given much importance. Majority of the members are non-Christians The aim of our youth centre is to transform the vagrant youth into good and honest citizens who would otherwise be roaming the streets. To achieve this, moral, intellectual, religious and cultural formation is given. The campus thrives with activity with boys and girls playing football, basketball, throw ball, volleyball, table-tennis, caroms and other games. Some of the boys get employment in companies because of their excellent performance in games. Many of our boys have even won state, Junior and sub-Junior titles in table-tennis.    Night Study Centres  These night study centres are conducted for the children of the poor slum dwellers who have no facility to study at home due to lack of light and space. Currently there are 300 children who are attending these centres and are given the facility for supervised study and tuition. For this work we need funds to pay the teachers, to provide snacks and to meet their school fees , uniform, note books and books.  

The Sahayamatha Elementary School in the Parish of Mary Help of Christians, Basin Bridge, and other schools run by private and government are providing education to the children of the slums. In the school, particular and personal attention is not possible. Those who have the attitude and aptitude will be able to improve their intelligence. To such children, that we are running this evening study centre in our Institute. These children are supervised by six young and energetic youth, who are remunerated on monthly basis. In order to encourage them to attend the school regularly, they are provided uniforms, stationery, books and notebooks. Educational tours are also arranged to increase their general knowledge. Children from economically below the poverty line, living in slums will be the direct beneficiaries of this project     

Commercial Institute  This institute was started for the benefit of the slum children who cannot afford to attend any typing institute in the city because of the cost involved. About 50 youth are coming every day to learn typing and do the appropriate examinations in order to enter the work market.  

Sahayamatha Elementary School  This school was started for the poor children of the locality. Sahayamatha Elementary School had its humble beginnings in the year 1991, when Rev. Fr. K. C. Anthony was the Parish Priest of Mary Help of Christians church, Basin Bridge. The people of the parish and the Parish council felt the necessity of having good catholic school in the parish, for the Corporation schools in the vicinity are of poor standard and the catholic schools were far away  The school at present has six classes from J.K.G. to Fifth standard and 300 children are on the roll.  Annually more children seek admission in this school. The Sahayamatha Elementary School got the temporary recognition for one year only in 1994 and every three years this recognition has to be renewed.   As per the rules and regulations of the government, only those teachers who are trained and passed DTE (Diploma in Teacher Education) could teach in the school.Such teachers are paid decently in the government run schools. But the parish cannot afford to pay the same scale. Hence many trained teachers do not stay with the school management for longer period. As and when the teachers get better opportunity, they leave. So, the management now appoints only untrained, but graduate teachers. At Present there are six teachers and three non-teaching staff. They are dedicated and get involved themselves in the betterment of the school     

Mary Help of Christians Parish  Fr. Paul Bazgier sdb was the first parish priest. He held the office from 1953-1965. he died on August 7th at Basin Bridge. In 1952 (1-12-1952) our parish got separated from the Choolai, St. Andrews Church. Fr. Jacob Karimbil sdb took charge in 1965. In 1966 a small chapel of St. Anthony was built at V.O.C. Nagar. On the 18th March 1967 a site for the new church was chosen and the building work started. It took one year to finish the construction. On the 19th March 1968 the new church was inaugurated.  To-day the Parish is a small Community of 750 Catholic families  and continues valiantly to bear witness among a very vast crowd of non-catholics. Mostly as poor as they were 55 years ago. Here is a clear case of poor becoming poorer and the rich becoming richer.The Mary Help Of Christians Parish at Basin Bridge Caters to the slum catholic population of the locality. We have to maintain the parish and its activities, distribute Bibles and catechism books and sponsor children for their studies.     

Hostel for low-income working boys  A Hostel in the Youth Centre building was opened in 1999 for a small group of employed outstation youth ..This hostel  is meant for the past pupils of our ITI  in our campus. Primarily it was started for the working boys who are in the low income category. The capacity of this hotel is 25 boys.    DON BOSCO SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIETY (DBSSS)  Don Bosco Social Service Society (DBSSS) is a non-commercial charitable Institution run by the salesians of Don Bosco with the collaboration of the Sisters of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM). The development programmes at this center are for the benefit of women, men, youth and children in Pulianthope area of Chennai which is the biggest Slum in the city.  

Don Bosco Social Service Society takes its name from Saint John Bosco, a humble priest of northern Italy who dedicated his entire life to the welfare of poor youth. The Salesian Society is named after Saint Francis de Sales who is the model of kindness, love and patience. Today the Salesians work in over 120 countries and the society ranks third in size of all religious orders and second as a Foreign Missionary Society. We the Salesians at Don Bosco Social Service Society, with the collaboration of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) sisters are proud to carry on the wonderful heritage given to us by our father and founder, Don Bosco  

The DBSSS has a number of development programmes for the Children, Women and Slum peoples.  Ever since its inception in June 1973 it has catered to several thousands of needy people. It is situated in North Madras, which is infested with Slums. Most of the poor people of the city of Madras live in this area. The programmes in the center aim at improving the lives of these poor people. Our programme includes all age groups, from the cradle to the grave. Help is given to every one irrespective of caste, creed or religion. This center is sustained solely by the contributions of generous people and the government   Brief History  In the beginning DBSSS existed as a part of the Don Bosco Youth Centre (DBYC),Basin Bridge . This center had engaged itself in rendering valuable formative and educative services to the youth from the slums of Pulianthope, North Chennai.  Ever since its establishment in 1951 as Dominic Savio Oratory, Don Bosco Youth Centre has been serving the youth from the urban slum pockets of Pulianthope. Initially, the Society engaged itself in helping the poor of the locality during natural calamities like floods and fire accidents. Special attention was given to relief works. Between 1976 and 1980 DBSSS imported skimmed milk powder, baby food, clothes and medicines for free distribution to the local poor. DBSSS was then known as ‘Kamadenu’. In 1973 Environmental improvement programme was begun as the activity of Don Bosco Youth Centre which became an independent Society, known as “Don Bosco Social Service Society”. It felt the need of helping our immediate neighbours and took up a Pilot Project for 1124 families of the area.  

 In the midst of all these the Society had a very clear vision of its mission and of its role and commitment in the cause of the upliftment and development of the marginalized and the socially deprived people of the locality. The physical works began in 1980 under the chairmanship of Rev. Fr. John Joseph who remained as the Chairman of DBSSS for eleven years, from 1980 to 1991. The activities of DBSSS were carried out from  St. Joseph’s Technical Institute premises until the new building at Dr. Ambedkhar Nagar was inaugurated. Archbishop Arulappa blessed and inaugurated the building on April 14,1985. Thiru T.V Anthony, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu presided over the function. DBSSS continued to be a part of the  St. Joseph’s technical Institute community for a period of six years, from 1986 to 1992, and then it began to function as a separate institution in 1993.    

Activities of the centre   1. Transit School for the destitute, orphans and Child labourers  It was started in 1998. The slum clearance board sanctioned two transit schools for D.B.S.S.S. In these schools children between 8 years to 14 years are given regular coaching for one year. They are then incorporated into formal schools. Admission to the different standards depends on their age, knowledge and intellectual ability. At present this programme is carried out with the collaboration of the corporation of Chennai (National Child Labour Programme – NCLP). Under this programme every year, 50 child labourers are chosen to come to get education in our centre. These schools mainly thrive on tender love and care. Through students interaction and involvement, group dynamics, talent development programme and other modern methods, the knowledge is imparted. The classes are made lively and interesting in order to make them feel at home.     

2. SHG (Self Help Groups for women)  The Self Help Group for women though started in 1970’s the real working of it commenced only in 1998. This programme consist in linking the women with the Banks and Women’s Development Corporation so that they can improve their quality of life. The purpose for which it was started was to free the women from the clutches of money lenders who extracted exorbitant amount of interest for the loans given to them. Now the women get the loans from the Bank and start a small business of their own (in groups as well as individually). At present we have 75 Groups consisting of 1000 women in this programme. Together with the financial support they are given Awareness programmes, counselling, referral services and animation programmes.    

Women’s federation:  This was started in 2005 to improve the economic condition of the SHG members. As such it promotes the unity of the members and brings about the cultural change in the society. This in turn uplifts the status of women. It is an extension project of the SHG and caste, creed or religion is no bar to be the member of this federation In short it is an empowerment of women. Through this Federation of Self Help Group, the Whole Sale Rice enterprise is on the move. This augments their monthly income for their family. Formation of the Federation: Two members from each group of SHG are chosen and each group contributes Rs.50 every month. This amount is deposited in the bank .After six months they decide to start a business on their own. The corporation gives a subsidy and the bank gives the loan. Hence it is a joint venture of the Corporation and the Bank The profit from the business is divided among themselves equally. At present there are 400 members. Among these a president, secretary and a treasurer are elected . Environment improvement: This is a part of the SHG and was started from the beginning of the DBSSS. Its aim is to give awareness to people to keep their environment clean. They approach different governmental departments to set right the basic facility of the people of the area. Adult Literacy Programme: This project was started ten years ago in order to improve the literacy state of the women It is carried out with the help of Arivoli Iyyakam of the Corporation. Awareness programme and competitions are part of its function. At present there are 100 members who are benefiting from this project.    

3. Pre School for the slum children  It was started on 4th June 1998 for the purpose of preventing child labour in addition to help the working mothers. This school is meant for the children of 2 ½ to 5 years. Play way method of study is inculcated in them and the children are encouraged to take various extra curricular activities. They display variety of entertainments on special occasions. Every fortnight parents’ meetings and awareness programmes are arranged.    

 4. Tailoring for young slum women.  It was started in 1984 for the educated and uneducated girls of the slums. This course is functioning in groups as 1 year, 6 months and 3 months courses according to their ability and interest for their self-empowerment. Value education and awareness programme are also included in this training. They are prepared to get employment in garment manufacturing units and to be self employed. After the Diploma Course the Economically poor, the widows and the handicapped avail themselves of Tailoring Machine from the government through Social Welfare Board.

5. Counselling for all.  This programme aims at helping alcoholics, people with suicidal tendencies, depressed people etc., Family counseling and group counselling are encouraged. Regular counselling sessions are arranged for the people depending on the gravity of the problem. In this project special attention is given to women.     

6. Night study centres.  It was started in August 1992 for the children of the slums. The people in the slums do not have proper space and lighting and this has necessitated, the starting of the night study centers where the children are given a room with proper lighting and teachers to coach the weaker students. Special coaching is given to the past Transit School pupils as well. Parents are contacted in order to motivate the children to study and to improve the quality of education. This facility is appreciated by the people since their children do not drop out of school.    

7. EDP for Women – Entrepreneurial development programme  It was started on 13th December 2001. The Tamil Nadu Government has started this project and has given to the Slum Clearance Board and Women’s Development Corporation. Besides EDP Programme 7 days training is given for making Simple Chemicals like surf, phenyl, soap powder, Sabina powder, stain remover and ointments etc., They are also given various exposures for marketing skills. The programme aims at improving the status of women in the society. This also envisages economic independence of women.    

8.Youth Activity  The working youth spend their leisure time in recreational activities of indoor nature. The centre is taking effort to find suitable employment for the unemployed youth. Some youth are also helped to attend the job oriented training Programme. The young girls are referred for various training programme and employment.    

9. Weekly medical camps for poor senior citizens.  This programme was started in 1999 and it is carried out with the collaboration of Help Age India. Every Friday the Help Age India sends a mobile clinic for the old people who are above 60 years of age. The senior citizens of the slums welcome this programme because most of them are not in the position to go to the hospitals. Periodic check up and follow up is done.    

1  0. TAHDCO ( Tamil Nadu Adhidravida Housing and Development Corporation )  This was started in 2001 for the purpose of uplifting the Scavenger community. This occupation is handed over from one generation to the next and they all remained scavengers all their lives. This has caused illiteracy, poverty and sub human treatment by the society. Now through this they are formed into 6groups of 12 members each and they are given loan by the TAHDCO department of the government to start small business. This is to improve their status in the society.     

Conclusion   The DBSSS initially started as a relief work and eventually shifted to developmental work and then to empowering slum people. Thus we are shifting our functioning according to the signs of the time. We hope to do more for the marginalized people of this locality with your cooperation, encouragement and financial support.     

Director/Chairman  Don Bosco Social Service Society

D’ Castor Road,

Post Box No. 977,

Chennai - 600 012, INDIA

Tel : 0091-44-26671365 Tel (Per) and FAX : 0091-44-26671280

E-Mail : donbosco_sss@yahoo.co.in