Tribal Community Development, Sandanapalaya

Background

The Sisters of the Good Shepherd arrived in Sandanapalaya in the year 2002 in response to the needs expressed by the late Bishop Dr. Roy. Since then, the sisters have had the opportunity to interact with the local community at Sandanapalaya and the neighbouring villages, particularly with people belonging to the tribes of Soliga and Lambani and the Scheduled Castes. On their arrival in the area, they conducted surveys in 25 villages, mainly inhabited by these tribal groups and the scheduled castes. The surveys were carried out by doing home visits and getting the people together in larger groups. 

The sisters met with the local people and shared with them the importance of gathering together on a regular basis and form Sanghas, which are Community Based Organization to help them in planning initiatives towards social and economic development and empowerment to ensure sustainability and independence. 

Problems

The results of the survey indicated several problem areas affecting the two groups.

• The isolation of the villages and the lack of infrastructures, like communication and transportation systems, which hinder local community development.
• Social inequality: Higher castes have easier access to the facilities offered by the local authorities known as Panchayats, but the marginalized castes and the tribal communities are ignored. Only 25% of the population own from a ½  to 2 or 3 acres of land, the rest is landless and live on a daily wage.
• Education and Skills Training Deprivation: To access these, the people would need to move to cities like Mysore, Bangalore or other cities located 80 to 220 km away.
• High Drop Out Rate: There is a high drop out rate among those who do commence  education/skills training.
• Lack of Job Opportunities Locally: This forces many people to migrate to other states and to the cities in search of jobs where they are forced to live in dehumanizing conditions.
• Lack of Health Care Services: This is most evident for its absence where the health needs of  the  HIV/AIDS patient is the focus.
• Young girls are forced to go to the bigger cities as domestic workers or as assistants in the tailoring business while others in these cities are exposed to and involved in human trafficking. 

Objectives

• Creating awareness among the Tribal and the Scheduled Castes communities on their basic human rights and on the local and national socio-economic and political situation;
• Ensuring quality education for the children of the villages;
• Raising awareness among children on their basic rights and the importance of democracy and good governance, inviting them to play a positive and active role in protecting and promoting their rights;
• Educating women and children on hygiene and disease prevention through the use of home remedies and herbal medicines available within the villages;
• Improving the overall economic condition of the communities by increasing the incomes of the families;
• Raising awareness on Government programs available for these communities;
• Creating awareness on Government policies through lobbying and advocacy;
• Improving people’s skills in agriculture and organic farming;
• PPreventing Human Trafficking and facilitating alternative employment possibilities for young tribal and scheduled castes girls. 

Activities

Quality Education Program

• 2,100 children, from Scheduled Tribes and Castes in 25 villages, are helped to continue their education. They are provided with coaching in all subjects, education on nutrition, healthcare and emergency needs.
• Through CCCI (Christian Child Care International – CHALICE) the sisters have started a Sponsorship Program that has helped 120 children so far.
• The sisters are in the process of offering pre-School facilities for children who are below 6 to prepare them for higher classes and minimize drop out rates.

Agriculture Programs

• Promotion of herbal medicines and cultivation of kitchen garden to have nutritious vegetables using organic manure.
• Training in organic farming

Animal husbandry

• 25 Women’s and 5 Men’s Groups will take part in the training of goats rearing. 10 goats will be purchased for each group. 300 families in total will benefit.
• Training in rearing milk animals and production of milk products. 30-50 families will benefit.

Micro Credit and Income Generating Programs

• 10 Training sessions on the basics of Micro entrepreneurship for the production and sale of handcrafted goods, Business planning & Management.
• Following the training sessions, the equipment and raw materials for the handcrafting of the traditional Bamboo furniture will be bought to support the women starting income generating programs. 100 families will be involved in this program.
• Women and widows in particular, who have business skills will be able to set up small stores to sell eatables, vegetables, and other consumable products.
• Construction of 4 weaving sheds and 1 skills training Centre. The land is being contributed by the local community.

Basic Human Communities

• Meetings take place regularly in Sandanapalaya – gatherings of 15 to 20 families from the neighbourhood.
• They can reflect, identify their problems, discuss Socio-Economic and Political issues and be informed about basic human, political and economic rights.
• Sometimes experts come to give input, advice, and information about human rights or health.

Children’s Parliaments

• In most villages, the children are grouped according to their respective neighborhoods. They can meet once a week and discuss about the situation of their education, their health and the needs of the surrounding villages.
• The whole concept is based on democratic principles and all the children are helped to take responsibility.

Results/Progress

• 8 women’s groups have received credit to start up small businesses for a total number of 160 women.
• 25 women so far have ventured into individual business.
• 25 women have been offered job opportunity throughout the year in weaving centres and 20 women and young girls in garment making.
• 85 people in 6 centres are currently involved in skill development and vocational trainings in tailoring and weaving.
• 30 people have found a job and are currently working.
• Training in Tailoring: we have begun two units in tailoring one in Sandanapalaya and one in Ponnachi. Nakundi is getting prepared for another unit.
• Pre-School Centers: Balwadi centers are started in Asthur and Nakundi as the existing ones are too far for the kids. Odakehalla too is getting prepared for the same.

Expectations for the Future

• Consolidate the 8 women’s groups formed in the previous year and increase the number of women involved by 10%.
• Maintain or Increase last years’ numbers  for creating individual businesses, getting a job and being involved in vocational training such as tailoring and weaving. 

Our expectation is that our projects enable people to become self reliant. To achieve this, we have to carry on several different activities enhancing people’s participation in planning, designing and decision making. 

The Good Shepherd Sisters give special thanks to the following donors for their generosity in helping to fund this project: Conferenza Episcopale Italiana (CEI), Caritas Switzerland International Cooperation (Switzerland), MIVA (Netherlands), St. Bede's Fairtrade Washington, Tyne and Wear (UK), The Kirwan Family (UK), St. Mary's, Forest Hall (UK), and all the many individual contributors.