ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY TRAINING - ACT

Mugaiyur, Villupuram - 605 755, Tamil Nadu, India.

ORIGIN ACT was blossomed in the year 1981 by a

body of like minded people who have thirst to serve the society, quench to render social justice and to create equalitarian society under the leader ship of Mr.S. Arulandu.

ACT has crossed 33 years in the social work field.

Vision In search of God in man formation of a new way

of being to a new society. To break the chains of society and to create new social order.

Mission Through the process of multi facetted initiatives

empowerment protect fundamental rights of the poor and the marginalized and fight against discrimination on the basis of caste, color, gender language, religion and restore human dignity to the down trodden

Working Area

ACT has been working in over 110 villages of Mugaiyur constituency, Villupuram district, and now it has extended it’s coverage to all 22 blocks of Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Target Group

Unorganised labours, Women, Children, Youth, Dalit and Environment Aspects

LEGAL STATUS

Registered under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act

Registered under Foreign Contribution

Regulation Act

ACT INTERVENTIONS IN THE PAST

1. Non - Formal Education (1983-1988)

In order to improve the learning capacity of dalit school going children, Non-formal educational centre were promoted in the villages of Mugaiyur block. Locally functioning Women SHGs are entrusted the work of monitoring education centres. Locally identified volunteers are engaged in this Non - formal Education centres. The subjects which are felt by the students as hard were taught to the children in simple methods. Apart from the regular syllabus extra curricular activities were also promoted in this

2. Forming and Strengthening of Women Self Help groups(1989-1991)

Special efforts were taken to strengthen the women’s self groups resulting in an increase in membership from 2067 to 3057

ACT INTERVENTIONS CONT…..

3. Youth Integrated Development Programme (1992–1994)

4000 young boys and girls from40 villages (100 each from 40 villages) were given Capacity Building and Leadership Trainings and made them to be proactive to the social justice and democracy.

4. Rain water harvesting

In order to improve the ground water level, rain water harvesting structures and roof catchment systems were constructed in 20villages. 20 small and marginal farmers unit was set up and trained on the set out topics related to rain water harvesting.

ACT INTERVENTIONS CONT…..

5. Community Rally on “Dalit Rights”

1000 women self help group members were gathered and a massive rally was organized from Gandhi Statue -Thirukovilur to RDO office, Thirukovilur, demanding for Dalit Rights(land title, Proper electricity collection, Graveyard, Two dumbler system etc.,).

6. Condensed Course Program (V – X Standard)

(1998 – 2002)

Girls who have discontinued their education in elementary itself will be identified. These girls have given the education in a different setup upto their 10th Std.

ACT INTERVENTIONS CONT…..

7. Leadership and educational camp for rural poor dalit students(1991 – 2014)

Each year in summer holidays leadership and educational camp for rural poor dalit students were organised. Apart from the regular curriculum extra curricular activities like singing, dance, sports, drawing were promoted among the students in these days.

special care will be given to these students to improve their learning capacity. This is organized to the children those who are studying 10th std.

8. Literacy India Trust Program (1998-2005)

In collaboration with Literacy India Trust’s adult literacy centers in 10 target villages were established. Each centre covered 25-30 senior citizen aged 55-65 years. This programme played a vital role as it focused to teach the aged and middle aged with functional literacy and to promote the skill to read and write.

ACT INTERVENTIONS CONT…..9. Awareness Education

98 cultural programmes were organized among the community to educate the community on productive health, education, dalit & women rights, and environment.

10. Income Generation Program (2008)

50 windows from 14 villages were provided with Milch animals and goat in order to ensure the stable income in their future.

11. Mother and Child health programme

In partnership with Govt Tamil Nadu and Central Govt health education programmes were organized in 36 villages. Communities were educated on Reproductive and child health care, ANC and PNC care, vegina & breast cancer and illegal abortion. 12600 people were covered by this programme.

ACT INTERVENTIONS CONT…..12. Extending contribution against Global warming

100 small and Marginal farmers (hidden leader) were motivated on Bio – Based agro’ activities like vermin compost, Bio – Pest control, Goat rearing, Pounding, Leveling, cultivation of minor millets , water management through Rain water harvesting, drop – let water irrigational method on assertiveness of a weak program. The program was conducted by Low external Input sustainable agricultural scientist Dr. Nammazhvar.

13. National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) (2003 – 2008)

With the support extended by C.P. Ramaswamy Iyyer Foundation, Nodel agencies for National Environment and Rural afforestration, ACT implemented multi phase programmes under the title water management, waste management, solid waste management in 20 villages of Mugaiyur block through the use of massive student’s Rally, undertaking tree plantation, cleaning water bodies , Reverse march by school students, promotion of Kitchen garden and so on.

ACT INTERVENTIONS CONT…..

14. Empowerment of widows (Learn while I earn) (1996-1997)

120 vulnerable widows were extended socio, economic support through building their capacities to generate income from collective activity such as candle making, Mushroom cultivation. Toys making, Jewel making and Goat rearing. Crèche facilities also were provided to accommodate their children.

15. Joint Action of Sustainable Livelihood (JASUL Net work)

In an effort of special way and in order to promote rural environment and to keep clean bio – mass, JASUL Net Work – a 15 member NGO’s collectively had worked categorically in their target region to maintain clean and green environment like cleaning drive water bodies removing encroachments, under taking tree plantation deepening water wells, Rain water harvest structures etc.

ACT INTERVENTIONS CONT…..

16. Tamil Nadu Un Organized Manual Workers welfare board

It is an innovative initiatives of ACT, started in the year 2003. A total of 527233 workers who are working in various level of un organized sectors like construction, Manual workers, Laundering, Tailoring, handloom etc., were registered themselves in to trade union. They are all provided identify card with photos and enrolled with ministry of labour and welfare, Govt of India. They are provided with marriage, maternity,education assistance to their children,, accident relief, support for the victims of natural calamities and man made calamities, old age and family pension. So far a total of 15000 members of trade union are benefitted the ministry labour and welfare. They are also taught on Right to information ACT to achieve their rights.

ACT INTERVENTIONS CONT…..17. Independent Income Earning Opportunities

26 women consist of widows and destitute were supported by this programmes by making them a income earners by training and supporting them in Goat rearing, Push cart, puffed rice, fried corn and mushroom cultivation.

18. Sustainable Agricultural Practice and water Management (2008-2009)

Open wells in 7 villages were deepened in to further 20 feet and restored irrigational water. 3 rain water harvesting were established in Mugaiyur, Kodungal and sennakunam villages.

19. Coastal Community Development program (Relief, Rehabilitation and Livelihood) (2005)

1750 fisher community people were provided with 3 type’s fishing net and 13,430 children and adults were provided counseling support to relieve them from their trauma.

ONGOING PROGRAMMES

Organizing the unorganized workers into Trade

Union

Facilitation of Women SHG Activities

Students Summer Camps

Water management Programme

Sustainable agriculture programme

WAY FORWARD

ACT focuses its future programmes on the following aspects Elimination of Child Labour Promotion of Quality Education to the Rural Poor

Children from unorganised workers family and Dalit Community.

Providing Technical education to the rural poor students focusing on the employment

Promotion of sustainable environment Waste Management Promoting income generation activities to the

disadvantaged women. Creation of Ecological Farm Development as a

demonstrative plant of Villupuram district.

STRATEGIES WE FOLLOW….. Creating good rapport with the Target population

It is achieved through Frequent interactions with the people, community leaders. Providing counseling support of the individual and community

problems Taking part in their family and social functions.

Awareness creation

Awareness is generated among the community through distribution of IEC materials (hand outs, notices & Banners) and organizing campaigns

Assessment of Problems and Needs

Using PRA tool problems and the needs of the community are identified and the way to overcome the identified problems and needs are educated to the community

Building Capacity of the Target groups

According to the need various capacity programmes will be imported to target population, so that the community on its own manages their development process.

PRINCIPLES OF ACT

Building capacity of the people

Motivating the community to participate fully Networking with other Institutions(Govt,

Private & NGOs)

Ensuring Sustainability of the programme

Cross Cutting Issues of Environmental aspect.

OUR STRENGTH….

InfrastuctureHead Office 1 Branch Offices 2Training hall 1

Own Land 3.5 acres

ManpowerAdministrative staffs 5Field Staffs 22Office Staffs 3

Thank You…..