Project Summary
This project aims to eradicate child labor, increase enrollment, retention and quality of education of children and empower the community to create a recipe for sustained community success.
| Implementing NGO | : | Rural Development Service Society (RDSS) |
| Start Year // End Year | : | 2008 // TBD |
| Location | : | Poondi Block, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu |
| Target Area | : | 21 villages |
| Target Area Population | : | 91,322 (2001 Census) |
| # of Beneficiaries (Current Year) | : | 933 (Children) [2011/12] |
| Funding Plan (Current Year) | : | $7,065 [2011/12] |
| Past Funding (Total) | : | $23,356 |
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Region Demographics
Tiruvallur District is one of the northern districts of Tamil Nadu, India, with 26% of population being backward communities. The caste structure is very prominent and un-touchability is still in practice. United Nations Development program (UNDP) identified Tiruvallur District as one of the backward inter-state border districts and also notified this district for bonded labor and child labor problems. IRCDS concentrates on two communities, Irular (a tribal community) and Arunthathiar (a scheduled caste community). Irular community members work as bonded laborers in rice mills and brick factories. When the project was started in 2008, malnourishment was very common in their children. Arunthathiyar community members are cobblers by profession but are forced into inhuman practices like burial of animal carcasses and Mathamma Practice in which young girls are dedicated to Goddesses and exploited sexually. In both communities, children were not attending schools regularly, and many also dropped out of school as parents were not interested in their education. Those children continuing in school had to walk up to 2-½ miles to reach their middle/high schools. Girls and Boys get married when they are as young as 13 and 15 years old respectively. Many schools lacked basic infrastructure. Teacher-Student ratio is inadequate. Most of the primary schools have 2 or 3 teachers for 5 classes. Most of the Parent–Teachers Associations / Village Education Committees (VECs) were also inactive. Representatives of tribal communities were not playing any role in the VECs.
Action Plan [2011/12]
- Re-enroll out of school children.
- Supply notebooks, uniforms to children from poor families and encourage them to enroll/stay in school.
- Improve reading and writing skills of the children.
- Conduct evening tuitions for children in remote and needy villages.
- Conduct Learning level Assessments and give special attention in school / evening classes to low performance children.
- Organize school level competitions and other cultural events to promote interaction of children from different communities, and encourage children to expose their talents.
- Increase the enrolment and retention rates in Anganwadis (pre-schools) by increasing awareness in the community.
- Improve the life/functional skills of children in 8th to 10th classes through exposure visits to banks, railway stations, traffic police etc.
- Create School Alumni Associations and motivate children by inviting prominent old students.
Accomplishments
- 85 Children were provided with learning materials.
- 92% attendance was achieved in teh schools.
- New Anganwadi centers were started in 2 colonies.
- Inter-School competitions were organized in 13 schools.
- As a result of efforts in previous years, community started actively participating in the education affairs of their children.
- As a result of efforts in previous years, attendance in the Village Education Committee (VEC) meetings reached 85%.
- 21 Child Rights Clubs were formed in 21 villages.
- On the demands made by the Child Rights Club leaders to the Government officials, drinking water supply, a school boundary wall, a water tank etc. were obtained in some of the villages.
- 59 out of 98 out of school children were re-enrolled into schools.
- 210 children were given learning materials and uniforms.
- 7 evening tuition centers were started in 7 villages. 95-98% of attendance was registered.
- 9 tribal youth were given skills training in driving, tailoring, computer skills and making bags.
Success Stories
To be updated soon...
Partner NGO
- IRCDS was started by Mr. Titus in 1986 and has been working in the Tiruvallur district for the past 10 years.
- IRCDS is a member of district level committees such as Child Labor Rehabilitation Society, SSA- 20 point program.
- In 2002, Mr. Titus received best social worker Bharath Gaurav Award from International Friendship society, New Delhi.
- IRCDS was honored by State Bank of India, Chennai circle WITH “Star Performance Award” in 2005.
- Chennai Friends Cultural Academy presented “Gold star Millennium Award” to Mr. Titus for the Outstanding contribution for National Integration in the year May 2008.