Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Collaborators Issue 58 ...dmiindia.org/images/Publications/Light to life files/LTL-2013-2015/LTL... · Issue 58 March - 2014 Idhayam, Marumalarchi

Issue 58 March - 2014 Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Collaborators

Issue 58 March - 2014

World Autism Day

Accompanying Autistics towards Sustainable Future

April 2, 2014 is World Autism Day. Autism as readers may well aware

of is a neurological disorder that sets in within the first three years of

life and impacts normal brain development in the areas of social

interaction and communication skills. According to the statistics of

2012 by Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) India is

home for 100 million people with autism. There are myths and

misconceptions in the Indian society regarding disability; therefore, it

is necessary that we create awareness on the condition through various forms of mass media. The

purpose of this editorial is to create awareness in the minds of the readers regarding upheavals the

autistics face while transitioning from teenage to adulthood (educational system to service system).

Month of June is a time for high school graduation, a time for students to celebrate their

achievements and move on to the next phase of their lives. Some move on to higher education and some

to jobs. But for teenagers with autism and their parents it is daunting time because of they lack

continual supports and services system that would foster an easy transition process and gaining access

to appropriate adult services. In this regard the government and the NGOs should develop a

“transition tool kit” an extensive guide with skills, job sampling, post-secondary educational

opportunities, employment, recreational and social opportunities.

Employment is a critical component for the adults with autism to build fare and productive lives

and therefore they deserve the opportunity to contribute as productive workers in an appropriate

employment setting. The factual reason for high unemployment of people with autism is less to do with

their ability and actual skills but more to do with lack of social and soft skills necessary at work place.

Therefore, the government, the service providers and employers should develop appropriate

employment tool kit that would help them with the strategies to find and maintain a job.

Though India is one of the first signatories to the UN Convention on Rehabilitation of Persons

with Disability but due to lack of awareness and ongoing support services it has failed to mainstream

the people with autism. The society needs to recognize their potential and try mainstream it for the

welfare of the national development. People suffering from autism may be slow learners but as Albert

Einstein has proven they do have brilliant minds. People with autism may have differences of

preferences, strengths and weaknesses but all of them have just one goal: “to lead a happy, healthy and

fulfilling life as independently as possible”. Accepting them and their ability is a great challenge to us

and an opportunity to them.

DMI Development Mission


Mungilpallam (Moongilpallam) a remote village situated at

1,080 metres (3,540 ft), at the headwaters of the Tenar and surrounded by Kumbaar stream on the north. The village

consists of 28 houses and they are the remnants of migrants

from Manjampatti around 200 years ago. Their elders lived in

caves and survived on roots, maize, honey, wild flower and plants. They were basically farmers and main source of

income was from bamboo and lemon grass oil. Barter sys-

tem was back-bone of their marketing pattern. As a result of deforestation the wild animals especially the elephants invaded their village and people took plight to what is now known as

Mungilpallam.

The people worship their God known by Aatkonda Thirumahal but majority of them are still

pantheist. There is little place set apart which is meant for common worship and that place is sacred for the village. The villagers occasionally gather to celebrate Pongal (harvest feast) and

Mari (rain feast) during which they offer animal sacrifice (goats). Disease and death are

attributed to punishment by God.

Access to health facility is far away dream of the people. In case of medical emergency witch

doctors are called upon to try their trick on the patients. If after the assessment the doctor

forecasts death of the patient, then people would isolate the patients and withdraw food and

medicine until death. In 2005, more than 50% of the children here suffered from severe chronic malnutrition with no medical support.

Another major challenge the villagers face is scarcity of water both for drinking and for

farming. Wild animal menace is a serious matter for the villagers. Recently a SHG member was killed by a bear. There is lot to be done in the area of health care, sanitation and also normal

education. In 1998 a kindergarten was started but closed down due to lack of support and

supervision. The only educated of the village is

Veerammal who has completed teacher’s training

and now she also moved out of the village.

DMI social organization is assisting the villagers to get identity cards and ration cards from the Revenue Department and Civil Supplies Department. The Forest Department helped the villagers lay stones on the tortuous way to the village and corrugated steel sheets for home roofing. They also erected two solar lamps. In spite of inaccessibility and long distance the DMI is in constant touch with the villagers and making every effort to ease the situation of the villagers. - Mr.Daniel Raj DMI Programme Officer


The international women’s day - conference on the theme Veargalai Theadi Vizhudugalai

Nadi”(Reaching the roots) was organized in all 15 districts of DMI, where the key leaders were

specially invited and encouraged by the thematic talk delivered by the resource person from

DMI Development Desk, for the betterment of the future Federation. Around 5000 SHG key

leaders benefited from the Women’s Day conference in all the DMI- working Districts.

WOMEN’S DAY

Salem

Dindugal

Thiruvallur Kancheepuram

Sivagangai

Danapur


This time the local Church of Kalladithidal village of

Sivagangai district attracted the attention of our PLF

leaders. A task force consisting of 84 women swung the

brooms into action clearing off the accumulated waste

around the church campus. Their collective timely

effort has made the local church now brimming over

with freshness and elegance and winding path tidy and

beautiful. Work is Worship.

It was a long standing struggle and dream of the

people Vellikatti village in Sivagangai District to get

transportation facility to their village. The PLF

members of Vellikatti pursued the matter with

persistence by contacting and lodging petition to

Mr.Palanisamy MLA. Their collaborative effort

with local leaders has seen now the dream come

true. A bus now is playing at scheduled time every

day and connecting the local people to various other

places for various purposes.

EXPERIENCE SHARING REVIEW MEETING

Experience sharing and review of each districts was organized on 30th March’14, where 10 DMI

districts (including Kuppam) DCOs and BCOs participated and shared their respective districts

for the 1stquarter of the year. Each coordinator was given the feedback for their effectiveness

in their work.

Face lift to the Church

Access to transportation


Idhayam, Marumalarchi and Selvamuthmariamman SHGs of Vettivayal and Nagadi Pan-

chayat have made an incredible effort to earn their livelihood by putting into use their simple

entrepreneurs-skills. The women now produce Baskets, Candles and Phenol and market them

in their local village and towns. The economical wrinkles on their face now are getting smooth-

ened by the monthly income of Rs. 2,800

The Sivagangai District Team organized a training program on Right to Food in DMI office at

Kodikottai. They were around 52 members attended the training. Information and discussion

were held on the following:

Public Distribution System. Antyodaya Anna Yojana. Annapurna Scheme. Midday Meal Scheme. Integrated Child Development Scheme. JananiSurakshaYojana Scheme. Old Age Pension. Family Benefit. Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Redressal Mechanisms through RTF.


Value education is an integral part of formation of

the children into responsible citizen of the nation.

This formation is facilitated in one’s home, school,

college and in social organization. The DMI social

organization operative at Mettupalayam in

Perumballur District, initiated a process of

transmitting a set of values to children studying in

Government school on 17th March 2014. Children

took extraordinary liking to the lessons as these

values are something to do with their daily life.

Free Cancer Awareness program was organized in Peramballur, Kancheepuram and Sivagangai

from 17th to 19th February 2014. Mrs. Elilarasi from Primary Health Centre at Valikandapuram

explained in simple terms about this silent killer and alerted the people towards early symptoms

and asked the people to contact the doctors at the earliest.

Free Eye Camp was organized at Tirusulam on 8th March in collaboration with MSW students

of Loyola college. The camp was inaugurated by Mrs. Saraswathy, the president of the

Panchayat in Tirusulam. A group of eye specialists from Dr. Agarwal eye hospital offered their

free to the poor people.


Land, forest and cattle are almost sacred for the

farmers all over the world. Losing any one of them from

their lives is almost death to the farming family. In

recent months there was an onslaught of cattle disease

in most part of Tamil Nadu. In such an emergency

situation in Kalvarayan Hills where number of cattle

were dying. In response to the situation the Gram Sabha

initiated important meeting on 26th February 2014. As a

result, a doctor was called to explain the phenomenon

and suggest the preventive measures.

The DMIs from Chennai District attended Sensitization program on Disability Management for

Entrepreneurs conducted by The Spastics Society of Tamilnadu (SPASTN) non-profit

voluntary organization on 13th March 2014, more than 45 SHG Women from K.K.Nagar

participated. The group felt that it was worthwhile input to understand and cater to the needs

of the disabled of their own and of the society.


India is put on red alert regarding the prevalence

of Tuberculosis. The Indian population of 1.2

billion is forced to breathe densely contaminated

air every day. The DMI team in Thiruvallur

district organized World TB day with a

awareness program on 24th to sensitize people

towards the cause and effect of the killer disease.

This program was an opportunity to the SHG

members to get to know about the disease and

make collective effort to reduce the causes.

Malaria is most prominent disease in India due to

lack of proper drainage system and inadequate san-

itation. People living in remote areas are unaware

that they could easily prevent this disease by keeping

their surroundings clean and medicated. The DMI

organization committed to rural health organized anti

-malaria program at Nemam panchayat in

Thiruvallur District on 4th. A doctor from local

hospital explained to the people about the disease and

methods to prevent the disease. They were lot of

villagers and SHG members present for the program.


Leadership Development Training was organized

inThiruvallur district in which 282 key leaders from

various blocks participated. Srs. Catherine,

Arputham, Devi and Arul Mary encouraged the

leaders to apply “LEAD BY EXAMPLE” model of

leadership in the services and responsibility that

each to play in the DMI programs.The leaders were

felt renewed and refreshed by this training program.

“Lead By Example” had been since then the catch

word of the participants of the training program.

Marriages are held in Heaven but they are registered

on earth. Most often simple people forget the importance of registering their marriages in the

Registrar Office due to which they face mammoth

problem later on and even forced to pay bribe to get

the paper work done for various schemes and developmental benefits. To this effect the PLF of

Nerinjikudi in Pudukottai district initiated a drive to

help the newly married couple to register their marriages.

MARRIAGE REGISTRATION - Pudukottai District

Both Nerinjikudi and Kilikudi in Pudukottai

district were running out of drinking water

and drowning in dark for many years now.

The PLF made a collective effort to process a

petition to the panchayat president because of

which now the village has enough water and

sufficient light on the street.

WATER AND LIGHT-Pudukottai District


Humanity would not be destroyed because of poverty and

not even by war but environmental depletion planned

and perpetuated by the men for their self-interest would

one day wipe off the whole earth. Due to deforestation

water is becoming expensive commodity in the market

and due to industrialization air is getting contaminated

and related disease is rapidly wiping off the human from

the earth. In order to drive this fact into the minds of the

common people the DMI had launched one day

Awareness programme on “Friendly Environment” at

Athippattu on 25th February 2014. Around 120 children,

teachers, project team and adults participated in the

program. The rally was very fruitful and educative to the

common people.

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

Awareness workshop on looming water scarcity

on the hill area was organized at Vattakanal in

Dindugal District on 22nd March 2014.

Mr. Michael from Voice NGO was the resource

person who shared about the vital importance of

water for the survival of the earth and the

scarcity of the same due to man’s mishandling of

the resource of the mother earth. The workshop

was well attended by 14 representatives.

WORKSHOP ON LOOMING WATER SCARCITY


With the blessing and guidance of father founder J.E. Arul Raj , a training on perspective build-

ing was conducted by Mr.Micheal for 22 MMI deacons from 17/02/14 to 21/03/14 which includes

20 days of field exposure (experience). The resource persons were Fr. Jebamalai S.J. and Sara-

vanan PUCL. The training was successfully completed with the support of Development Desk.

MMI DEACONS TRAINING


The 57th issue carries the life message and the women's message.

8th March being the International day for women. It endows them with a sense of honour,

dignity and self respect for being the person that they are. This day marks a celebration of

the economic, social, cultural and political achievements made by women over the years.

If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman was

experimented during your rally.

Congrats to development Desk.

L. @rul $eeli dmi

Dear Sr.M.Baby congratulations for all the

good works done DMI India keep it up

Thank you With regards

J.Antony - Songea

Respected Sister & Staff women's day rally demanding for right to

health care was excellent . We appreciate all DMI Development desk for their hard work. All the best for all your programs

By Sr.Sumathi DMI

Chennai Dist

Dear Sr. Baby and her team,

prayerful wishes from Sr. Selvi. I appreciate and congratulate for your hard work and the kind service to the poor. As Psalm 82:3 says, "give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute" it is being fulfilled in your given mission. I always eagerly wait to receive your magazine LIGHT TO LIFE, because it gives me varieties of information on women development done by you. May God bless you and remain with you always. Sr.Selvi -Rome

CONGRATS We appreciate all the readers who take time out to read

our little efforts that we put together every month, for writing to us your feedback and for your participation

in this section of the magazine. The answer for the

previous puzzle is Devaki Jain

The readers who got the answer right are: Sr.L.Arul Seeli –Amala Bhavan , Sr.J.Antony - Songea,

Sr.A.Sahayam - Valikandapuram,

Sr.Philo - Shenbaganur, Sr.Selvi -Rome

Issue 58 March - 2014 WHO IS SHE?

She was born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan, located in the country's Swat Valley. For the first few years of her life, her hometown remained a popular tourist spot that was known for its summer festivals. However, the area began to change as the Tal-iban tried to take control.

She attended a school that her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, had founded. After the Taliban began attacking girls' schools in Swat, she gave a speech in Peshawar, Pakistan, in September 2008. The title of her talk was, "How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?". In early 2009, she began

blogging for the BBC about living under the Taliban's threats to deny her an education. In order to hide her identity, she used the name Gul Makai. However, she was revealed to be the BBC blogger in December of that year. With a growing public platform, she continued to speak out about her right, and the right of all women, to an education. Her activism resulted in a nomination for the International Children's Peace Prize in 2011. That same year, she was awarded Pakistan's National Youth Peace Prize.

When she was 14, she and her family learned that the Taliban had issued a death threat against her. Though she was frightened for the safety of her father -an anti-Taliban activist -she and her family

initially felt that the fundamentalist group would not actually harm a child. On October 9, 2012, on her way home from school, a man boarded the bus that she was riding in and demanded to know which girl was she. When her friends looked at her, her location was given away. The gunman fired at her, hitting her in the left side of her head; the bullet then traveled down her neck. Two other girls were also injured in the attack.

The shooting left her in critical condition, so she was flown to a military hospital in Peshawar. A portion of her skull was removed to treat her swelling brain resulted in coma. To receive further care, she was transferred to Birmingham, England. Though she would require multiple surgeries -including repair of

a facial nerve to fix the paralyzed left side of her face -she had suffered no major brain damage. In March 2013, she was able to begin attending school in Birmingham.

The shooting resulted in a massive outpouring of support for her, which continued during her recovery. She gave a speech at the United Nations on her 16th birthday, in 2013. She has also written an auto biography, I Am Yousafzai: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, which was released in October 2013. Unfortunately, the Taliban still considers her a target.

Our question to ‘Light to Life’ readers is to identify the name of the person in the above picture

and send it to [email protected], your answer will be expected on or before the 20th of April, 2014.


DATE EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY

02.04.2014 World Autism Awareness Day Autism is a developmental disability related to Neurological Disorder. This condition affects the brain's functions. The first signs usually appear before a child is three years old. This Day aims to increase people's awareness on Autism. The day often features educational events for teachers, health care workers and parents, as well as exhibitions showcasing work created by children with autism.

07.04.2014 World Health Day World Health Day is being celebrated this year under the theme of “vector-borne diseases”. The intention of this year’s campaign is

to: raise awareness of hypertension and promote behavioral change with respect to primary prevention, improve the chances of early detection and promote effective management of the effects.

18.04.2014 World Heritage Day World Heritage is the shared wealth, dignity and pride of Nationals. Protecting and preserving these valuable assets demand the collective efforts of the international community. This special day offers an opportunity to raise the public's awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability.

22.04.2014 International Earth Day The global theme for Earth Day 2013 is "Green Cities". As the world’s population migrates to cities, and as the bleak reality of

climate change becomes increasingly clear, the need to create sustainable communities is more important than ever. With smart investments in sustainable technology, forward-thinking public policy, and an educated and active public, we can transform our cities and forge a sustainable future. Nothing is more powerful than the collective action of a billion people.

23.04.2014 World Books Day This day is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of reading. In fact, it’s the biggest

celebration of its kind, designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world.

25.04.2014 World Malaria Day The day was established to provide "education and understanding of malaria" and spread information on "year-long intensified implementation of national malaria-control strategies, including community-based activities for malaria prevention and treatment in endemic areas." It recognizes global efforts to control malaria.

29.04.2014 World Dance Day This day is annually observed so as to increase awareness on the importance of dance among the general public. Its goal is also to persuade governments all over the world to provide a proper place for dance in all systems of education. Every year a message from a well known dance personality is circulated throughout the world.

Published by, DMI Development Mission

Amala Bhavan, Rudra Road, St.Thomas Mount, Chennai 600016

Important Days in April -2014

Documents

Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Collaborators Issue 58 ...dmiindia.org/images/Publications/Light to life files/LTL-2013-2015/LTL... · Issue 58 March - 2014 Idhayam, Marumalarchi