ANNUAL REPORT – 2016-17

Makkal Vilipunarvu Kalvi Sangam38, Santhaipettai Street,Srivilliputhur 626125

Virudhunagar DistrictTamil Nadu, INDIA

Phone: +91 4563 289191, Mobile:+91 94431 78773Email:mvks_sri@yahoo.in

Website: www.mvksindia.org.in

ANNUAL REPORT (2016-2017)

CONTENTS

S.NO PARTICULARS Page No

1 About Us 3

2 Mission & Vision 3

3 Our Objectives 4

4 Staff Capacity Training 4

5 MVKS Team & MVKS Staff Team 5

6 Member of the General Body of MVKS 5

7 Organization structure of MVKS 5

8 Participation of the national level Program 6

9 Program Reports 6

9.1 Human Right Protection 6

9.2 Evening School for Dropouts 6

9.3 HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme 7

10 Achieved results 8

11 Cultural Programmes 12

12 IECMaterials 12

13 Formation a Net work by HIV+ children 13

14 conclusion 13

1. ABOUT US

Until 1995, there was no voluntary organization in Srivilliputhur block of

Virudhunagar districts in Tamil Nadu. Only Madurai Multipurpose Social Service Society

(MMSSS), a Catholic Mission, had its presence that worked for the development of Dalits,

women and children working in the matchbox and firework industries. Dalit people

from time immemorial have been suffering social and economic oppression such as

‘untouchablity’, bonded labour practices, uncertain economic condition, indebtedness to

conventional money lenders, caste violence, and caste discrimination, child labour,

unemployment, sexual abuses in the industries, illiteracy and extreme poverty. Mr.

Anbarasan, social activist whose crusade against caste based discrimination has brought

changes in the lives of many Dalit women and children in the most backward yet

industrially exploitative labour area of Tamil Nadu. Inspired by the Dr. Ambedkars

principles and Gandhian way of approach to emancipation Dalits he began this

organization named Makkal Villipunarvu Kalvi Sangam (People’s Education Awareness

Society in the year 1996. As an NGO registered with Tamil Nadu Societies Registration

Act 1975, and recognized u/s 12 A (A) and 80G (v) of the income tax and also registered

with the Ministry of Home Affairs u/s. 6(1) (A) of Foreign contribution Regulation Act,

1976. Since its inception, it has been working among the people belonging to the poor

and marginalized, they are namely, Dalits and Tribal for their well-beings in the areas of

economic development, education and health.

2. MISSION & VISION

Our Vision

Promotion of sustainable environment and empowerment among women and childrenof Dalit, Tribal and marginalized families based on fraternal love, equality and justice.

Our Mission

Promotion of sustainable community and formation for hunger-free and disease-freecommunities and ecological environment among the community preferably amongwomen and children through group organization and capacity building in VirudhunagarDistrict, Tamil Nadu, India.

3. OUR OBJECTIVES

To promote empowerment among the women particularly the Dalit and Tribal

community through Self Help Groups; it includes community based

organization(CBO) initiate and encourage the rural women to learn and fight for

their rights and era dictate violence against them.

To promote skill training program and provide scholarship for poor people

To promote awareness and counselling to HIV/AIDS among the industrial

workers and the community.

Activities for improving socio economic cultural educational the status of Tribal.

To promote human/women right and educate this women regarding their rights

and duties.

To promote gender equality in all programs and projects

To making the people to participate in “Grama Saba” meeting.

To prevent and assist survivors of trafficking.

To promote organic farming.

Protect the environment from destruction.

4. STAFF CAPACITY TRAINING

All the programs of MVKS are implemented by our quailed staff. Every month

our staff members sit together for monthly review meetings, in which they decide the

work plan for the forthcoming month. The remuneration to project workers is a tool of

encouragement and all our staff members receive a relatively handsome pay. The

lowest salary is Rs. 3,000 /- a month and highest salary is Rs. 7500/- per month. There

is no wage discrimination between male and female staff. Among our 12 staffs only 2

members are male and 10 are female. The organization is headed by Mr. M. Anbarasan,

Director, who coordinates the project workers, who cooperate with him to carry out the

project works in an efficient and effective manner. Thanks to every stakeholder and well

wishers. MVKS is convinced about the need for the skill up gradation of its staff. Every

year it organizes capacity building training to its staff. This year the staffs were trained

on human and labour rights and prepared them to implement the Netherland Embassy

financed project in the Virudhunagar District. This training focused on skill building in

crucial areas like Data collection, Fact finding, case studies, legal procedures etc.

5. MVKS TEAM&MVKS STAFF TEAM

S.NO NAME SEX QUALIFICATION DESIGNATION1 M. Anbarasan Male B.com Project Director2 V. Ponnulakshmi Female B.sc Counsellor3 A. Amal Raj Male B.A Field Coordinator4 C. Bruno Ronald Male MBA Computer Staff5 I. Natarajan Male B.Com Accountant7 M. Rajendran Male MA, D.Psy. Documentation Officer

6. MEMBER OF THE GENERAL BODY OF MVKS

S.NO

NAME SEX AGE POST QUALIFICATION PROFESSION

1 S. Bala Subramaniyan Male 38 President MSW Consultant2 S. Santhi Female 44 Vice President Diploma Home Maker3 M. Anbarasan Male 40 Secretary B.Com. Social work

4 R. Madathi Female 35 JointSecretary

D.TED Social work

5 K. Annalakshmi Female 43 Treasurer B.Com Home Maker

6 A. Vijaya Mary Female 45 member SSLC Social work

7 A. Santhi Female 40 member +2 Social work

7. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF MVKS

8. PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL LEVEL PROGRAMMES

This year MVKS had the privilege of attending the following national level meetings andtrainings.

On 4th February 2016 the secretary Mr.Anbarasan attended a work shop onFCRA compliance held at Chennai.

And effective NGO leadership summit held at New Delhi on February 17-19. A seminar held at Chennai on 7, 8 February 2016 on child rights and women

Rights.

9. Embassy of the Netherlands supported programme

9.1 Human Right Protection

During the reporting period MVKS implemented the second pnose of the “Promotionand protection of Human Right in virudhunagar” project sanctioned by the Embassy ofthe Netherlands Newdelhi. This year our main focus was adolescent and young womenlabourers in various industries functioning in the virudhunagar district. 1500 Dalit andpoor women from 50 villages spread over the 7 Blocks of virudhunagar district werethe target people. MVKS observed that lot if women working in the fire work, matchWork and printing press industries are subject to various atrocities and sexualharassment in their work place. Various incidences of human rights violations also

were reported from these industrial units. Lack of consciousness about the HumanRight guaranteed by the constitution and in the UNDHR among the labourersthemselves and lack of will power among the rulers to implement and reinforce theprotection Acts brought out by the government are the main reasons which remain aska stumbling block to protection of Human rights in the district. Hence empowering thewomen\labour rights activists in the virudhunagar district and the very industriallabourers through trainings the main activity of this year’s programme under thisproject. Details of the training programs and the results achieved from are given in thefollowing table.

9.2 NGO NETWORK MEETING:

9.3 Training to Women Victims:

Purely Overseas Trust Supported Programme:

9.4 Evening School Children:

The number of dropouts is increasing among the poor and Dalit students even after theenforcement of the Right to Education Act. The main reason for this is the inability ofthe poor and Dalit children academic attainment. Most of the children enrolled inschool from the poorest and Dalits families are the first generation learners. Theydonors get any learning support in their home from their illiterate parents. So thestudents belonging the poor and Dalit category are backward in school subject likeEnglish, science and mathematics. Having difficulties in coping with these subjects thestudents are forced to drop out.

Concerned very much with this situation MVKS wanted to help the student weak inschool subjects by providing tuition and coaching facilities exclusively for the poor andDalit students. With a donation from purely overseas trust MVKS started Eveningschool for the dropouts and probable dropouts in 7 villages.

S.No Name of the Village Number of studentsMale Female Total

1 Maruthinagar 12 14 262 Ayan Nathampatty 15 13 283 Ayyanarpuram 11 16 274 Kunnur 14 17 315 Kalingapatty 10 19 296 Poovani 13 18 317 Rittenpatty 11 16 27

Total 86 113 199

The Evening schools are functioning from 6 P.M to 8 P.M the children are taught byqualified teachers following the joyful teaching and learning methodology. Thisprogramme created in the children a taste for learning and an interest for continuingeducation. All the students were enrolled in mainstream schools to continue educationin June 2017.

Mercy Phoenix Trust Supported Programme:

9.5 HIV/AIDS PREVENTION PROGRAMME

This year MVKS intervened in HIV/AIDS prevention program. Thanks to the financialsupport of Mercury Phoenix Trust, we could set our foot into the war against thedisastrous epidemic; Awareness generation was our thrust activity. We made thisthrough peer group approach. 50 peer educators were selected from our target villagesand through special trainings. They were made able and efficient educators onHIV/AIDS.

Formation a Net work by HIV+ children:

The 71 children identified an HIV positive were organised into groups and the groupsinto a network. This net work will take up the responsibility of ensuring the rights andneeds of the HIV+ people, in future

Our intervention was highly appreciated by the state HIV\AIDS control society andthe general public and are invited to organise the activities in other areas especially inremote areas.

Peace Trust Supported Programme:

9.6 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Under this program, MVKS organized a series of awareness programs to the effect thatthe people in the project area could enjoy a healthy environment. Grassroots levelmeetings were organized for SHG members to impart awareness education on eco-system development in the area. A mass awareness rally was organized for the SHGmembers to prop up public awareness on the need for environmental protection. Therally started from the office premises of the Block Development Officer at Srivilliputhurand ended at the Uzhavar Santhai (Farmers’ Market) via the heart of the town and RajajiStreet. Tree plantation programme was organized under this campaign in partnershipwith the village Panchayat and other local schools. The SHG members school childrenand village women were organized to clean the village ponds and also to plant plantaintrees around the ponds.

Climate Change and its impact on the livelihoodof the Marginalized Communities Meeting wasorganized by DPG. Our staff have participated in

the meeting and it was very useful to our staff.

We have focused the environmental and ecology aspects. We are proud to say that wehave involved many activities environmental and climate change with the support ofministry of environmental and forest government of India. We have organized aNational Environmental Awareness Campaign 2008-09 for Climate Change meeting on20.02.2010 at Gopalapuram village. Mr.K.S.I.Pasal Mohamed, Advertisement Officer,Forest Extension Centre has presided over this campaign. Mr. Raja SanjeeviCommissioner and Mr. Murugesen Block Development Officer (Programme) wereinvited as special guest. Their all delivered the special addresses about the climatechange and the responsibility of the public to involve in the environmentalsustainability. There were 179 participants such as students, teachers, SHGs membersand staff participated. Mr. K.S.I. Basaha Mohamed has plantain the neem tree plants. TheIEC materials on climate change were distributed to the participant.

During this year we have identified 50small and marginal farmers who haveinterest in organic farming from theSesapuram, Gopalapuram andMeenakshipuram villages. The resourcepersons from KVK conducted a seminar forthe farmers. They explained to theparticipants about the Organic Farmingmethods and the need for making atransition from chemical intensive Agrisystem to eco friendly and environmentally

sound organic ways of farming to make Agriculture sustainable in the long run. Thefarmers were given practical training in preparing bio fertilizers and bio pesticides.Vermicompost manufacturing was the main item. The farmers were encouraged to usevermi compost in their Home gardens to raise vegetables like Laddys finger, Brinjal andTomato. This training helped the farmers to know the need for eating healthy food andavoiding use of chemically grown fruits and vegetables.

Achieved results:

INPUT OBJECTIVES FORMULATED AT THE

START

RESULT ACHIEVED

1) Orientationtraining to staff

To educate the projectstaff to about theobjectives and activitiesof the project andmotivate them to achieve

Staff got clear knowledge about the HumanRights/Labour rights. They are prepared towork for the achievement of the projectobjective. They prepared an activity planand work accordingly. The staffs are

the organisationsobjective by motivatingthem.

involving actively in the projectimplementation.ProgrammeDate

No.ofparticipants

venue

01,02.6.17 30 Krishnankoil20.6.17 30 Srivilliputtur

2) Training toDalit Women

MVKS planned to providetraining to the Dalitwomen. For improvingthe understand over therights of Dalit women,Empowerment of Dalitwomen. Genderperspectives and castediscrimination in thesociety. Panchayat rajtraining for the politicalempowerment of Dalitwomen Advocacy andLobby strategies.

ProgrammeDate

No.ofparticipants

venue

12.6.17 50 Srivilliputtur15.6.17 50 Aruppukottai18.6.17 50 Srivilliputtur21.6.17 50 Sivakasi22.6.17 50 Sivakasi26.6.17 50 Sivakasi

3) Training onDomestic Bill2005 Act.

Rescue the Dalit fromslavery and servitude bymaking them aware aboutthe legal protectionsavailable in the country.

The participants started demanding equalrights, end to sexual harassment, andexploitation and social status. As a resultparticipation of men in domestic work isincreasing. Exploiting women through longworking hours is decreasing. Theprogrammes have paved way for freeingDomestic workers from all kinds ofexploitation, harassment anddiscrimination.ProgrammeDate

No.ofparticipants

venue

05.5.1727.5.17

5045

Sivakasikrishnankoil

13.6.1723.6.1627.6.17

505050

KrishnankoilAruppukottaiSrivilliputtur

4) Training onRTI

Right to information act2005 Training have toDalit women, by MVKS.250 women wereparticipated, how toreceive the informationfrom different official.And how to apply toreceive the details from

ProgrammeDate

No.ofparticipants

venue

20.6.17 50 Srivilliputtur21.6.17 50 Sivakasi22.6.17 50 Virudhunagar27.6.17 50 Sivakasi

concerned official, theyhave well known aboutRTI act 2005 and howimplement and get thestatistics through this act.

5) Training toWomen Victims

MVKS have given thiswomen victims trainingto 600 women, they havewell known aboutwomen victims in publicplaces, society , inworking places, And howto solve through womenSHGS and the federationwith the concernedGovernment Official,(legal and policedepartment).

ProgrammeDate

No.ofparticipants

venue

20,21.4.17 50 Srivilliputtur04.5.17 50 Krishnankoil11.5.17 50 Srivilliputtur03.6.17 50 Sivakasi04.6.17 50 Virudhunagar06.6.17 50 Srivilliputtur08.6.17 50 Sivakasi

6) Training toDistrict federation

To create rightsconsciousness among theBlock and district levelfederations of SHGS toensure their participationin respecting, protectingand fulfilling humanrights.

Beyond the starting objective this trainingemphasised the need for struggle forclaiming rights. The notion of struggle isimplicit in claiming and promoting rights.The federation members decided to startchallenging oppressive power structuresthat perpetuate patriarchy, casteism andpoverty.ProgrammeDate

No.ofparticipants

venue

25.5.1726.5.1717.6.1724.6.17

50505050

VirudhunagarVirudhunagarVirudhunagarSivakasi

7) Workshop toLawyers Forum

To enhance the capacityof the lawyers to respect,protect and fulfil thehuman rights.

400 Lawyers attended the training. TheIndian context of the Human Rights, and itsplace in the constitution of India and theDeclaration of Human Right by the UN andthe challenges for demanding their rights bythe marginalized and minorities werediscussed. The 4 trajectories of humanrights within civil society namely civil andpolitical rights. Rights of the marginalized,economic, social and cultural rights, right to

transparent and Accountable governancewere studied in depth. The alwaysunderstood Human Rights and their role inrealising the Rights.ProgrammeDate

No.ofparticipants

venue

04.4.1706.5.1711.5.17

505050

SivakasiSrivilliputturSrivilliputtur

8) Training toNGO’SParticipation oflikeminded NGOSin necessary for thesuccessfulimplementation ofa programme. Toimprove thecapacity of NGOS toparticipate in theHuman Rightfulfilment a trainingprogramme wasconducted atvirudhunagar 0n16.8.16 in which 50membersparticipated.

If Human Rights are tohave real meaning, theymust be linked to publicparticipation. For this thepublic must beempowered to asserttheir rights and voicesand demand justice. NGOShave a duty to empowerthe people to demandtheir rights. To improvethe NGOS capacity wasthe starting aim of thisprogramme.

50 NGOS participated in this training. Theylearned that oppressive power structuresthat perpetuate patriarchy, casteism, andpoverty challenge the Human rights. Thistraining helped the NGOS to understandpeople centred advocacy possible linkbetween rights and participation.

The NGOS decided to launch peoplecentred advocacy to prepare people toassert their rights in private and publicsphere.ProgrammeDate

No.ofparticipants

venue

13.5.17 100 Srivilliputtur07.6.17 50 virudhunagar05.6.17 50 virudhunagar

9)Media reporters MVKS- conducted thepress meet to bring therighted based issues andlively good activities ofthe Dalit women. Thereare 10 Medias wereparticipated in the PressMeet ( Daily thanthi, Dinamalar, and Malaimalaretc.). The trainees werehappy to spread out ourissues to the public andGovernment officials.

ProgrammeDate

No.ofparticipants

venue

20.5.17 50 Virudhunagar28.6.17 50 Virudhunagar

10)District wiseLobbying &Advocacy withGovernmentOfficials Act

This training given byMVKS regarding Lobbyand Advocacy with theDistrict Collectors, PoliceDepartment and RelevantGovernment Officials.Their duties towardsproduction womenviolation. Thesebureaucrats are thecompetent authority andduly to product andpromote the rights ofDalit women in theirrespect to jurisdiction.

ProgrammeDate

No.ofparticipants

Venue

08.5.17 50 Virudhunagar24.6.17 50 Sivakasi

11) ResourcePerson

To enable the mediapersons to involveactively in promoting andprotecting labour rightsin the district.

50 persons News paper media attended thetraining. The Human Rights of thedisadvantaged section of the people wasstressed in the training. The role of media inpromoting and protecting Human Right wasdiscussed and the media persons weremade ready to report all right violationstaking place in industries.

12) StaffOrientationTraining

Staff orientation trainingare given by MVKS to 11qualified staffs. What isthe Project title, whichactivity to be doneaccording to the project.What are the role andresponsibilities of thestaff regarding thisproject. It is alsoequipped them with skillsneeded for the efficientconducting meeting andtraining.

10. CULTURAL PROGRAMS:

27 cultrual programes were staged by MVKS to make the people aware aboutHIV\AIDS epidemic. 3662 people attended

11. IEC MATERIALS:

A booklet on HIV\AIDS in Tamil was distributed to 5000 persons.

12. STRENGTHENING THE SHG’s:This year MVKS took interest in strengthening the SHGS through establishing Bank

linkages with the following banks.

1. State Bank of India

2. Indian Bank

3. Pandian Grama Bank.

4. Union Bank.

5. Village Cooperative Bank

6. Indian Overseas Bank

The time has changed. Now every bank has come forward to link SHGs under SHG-Bank

linkage scheme. MVKS therefore facilitated 100 SHGs get bank linkage.

The banks provide loans to groups after successful functioning of six months from thedate of opening of bank account. The Bankers have enabled disbursement of Rs.96,28,042/-up to March 2016 for 100 groups. The SHGs are graded based on thefunctioning of the groups in conducting meetings, punctuality, group discipline, amountof savings, repayment practices followed with regard to internal lending etc. Based onthe grades obtained by the self help group, banks provide credit linkages. Credit linkedgroups become eligible for Revolving Fund provided they obtain 60% marks in a specialrating procedure adapted by the District Rural Development Agency.

The banks provide loans to groups after successful functioning of six months from thedate of opening of bank account. MVKS takes efforts to rate the groups with Bankofficials based on the functioning of the groups in conducting meetings, punctuality,group discipline, amount of savings, repayment practices followed with regard tointernal lending etc. Based on the grades obtained by the self-help group, banks providecredit linkages. Credit linked groups become eligible for Revolving Fund (RF) providedthey obtain 60% marks in a special rating procedure adapted by the District Rural

Development Agency. MVKS enabled 1 SHG receive Bank loan, 3 group receive RF 5.Total amount of loan, and RF is Rs. 515,000/-.

Moreover social inequalities due to gender, age, religion, cultural or caste affiliation, loweducation or income, unemployment, diseases, disabilities, migration, or geographiclocation have been slowly disappearing among the members of the groups.

13. APEX BODY CBOMANAGEMENT

Apex Body is functioning in line with the guidelines drawn up from MVKS. Themeetings are attended regularly by the members and its proceedings are dischargeddemocratically. The number of activities completed by the apex body is given below:

Social Services

- The right to free and compulsory education act has been implemented with theeffort of the committee by creating awareness about the same among the SHGs

- Efforts were taken to execute the Village Education Committees in local schools- Committee resolved that the children among the target community should

achieve 100% school enrolment.- The Panchayat schemes were monitored by the federation members and ensured

its proper implementation.- Supported transgender and differently abed people to get income generation

activities under relevant schemes of the government

The following activities were done

a) In every executive meeting, the Income and Expenditure account is placed and itis verified and accepted by all the members unanimously. It is also resolves toaudit the accounts every 6 months.

b) Every month the loan applications were placed and scrutinized for sanction anddisbursement of eligible loan amount to appropriate beneficiaries

c) The repayment of loan during every month was verified and defaulters wereidentified and taken necessary steps for recovery.

d) The salary and stationery expenses were met by the Apex Body from the incomeearned as interest and contribution received from MVKS.

e) The training programmes such as gender sensitization programmes and skilltraining programmes were organized in appropriate villages to benefit themaximum beneficiaries.

14. PARTNERS & NETWORKSTNERS AND NETWORKS3PARTNERS

Embassy of Netherland-Netherlands Mercy Phoenix Trust,-Switzerland MANOS UNIDAS – Spain. Shamdasani Foundation-Singappore Ministry of environment.-New Delhi

NETWORK ANDMEMBERSHIPS

Dalits Rights Collective, Virudhunagar. Credibility Alliance. Guide Star, Mumbai. National Alliance of Grassroots NGOs for Protection of Children‘s Rights (NAGN),

New Delhi. Voluntary Action Network India (VANI), New Delhi. World Toilet Organization, Singapore. Help Your NGO, Mumbai. Ketto foundation, Mumbai. Sustainable agro alliance(SAAL), Madurai.

OVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Department of Rural Development and Agriculture – DRDA. Forest Department. Local Nationalized Bank

15. CONCLUSION:

The passing year was a year of satisfactory achievements. We have successfullycompleted three projects with the financial support from funding agencies. A greaterawareness was created among the general public about the Dalit women rights andlabour rights violations.

An Apex Body by name federation of Dalit women labour right protection is alsoformed for the sustainability of the Human right protection programme. A cadre of1500 Human rights activists was also put into action.

This year we are privileged to start and Register a Net work by name JADE a JointAction forum of 12 NGOs committed to promote Dalit women’s right.

The credit for the success of the projects and programmes of the year goes to ourstaffs, our funding Agencies and Donors and the public that participated actively andenthusiastically. Thanks to one and all.

THANK YOU