Contact: V.T.Irudaya Mary
E-Mail: act_mugaiyur@rediffmail.com
Mailing Address: Mugaiyur-605755, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu INDIA
Phone: 04153-237203, 237260

ACT's PRESENT AND PAST ACTIVITIES

Association for community Training Shortly known as ACT was founded in 1981 by an energetic, Dalith men to address the Dalith human rights and remove them from their exploitative circumstances, with the set out objectives. ACT has been working in Mugaiyur block Villupuram Dist, Tamilnadu. Lobbying and advocacy of Uninformed Dalith people is strategy. Thus, we work for their socio, economic, political liberation for 21 years of its long run.

Our Committment to Equal Opportunities:

We are committed to equality and will not discriminate against any one on the grounds of gender race, color, ethnic origin, disability, Sexuality, religious belief political opinion, age, Marital status, economical status or social background.

To root out the above said social problems, Initially we ran a total of 30 Night schools in 30 Dalith Villages with the support extended by educated Residential community volunteers they in turn had been worked for the basic amenities of their own village through the age of petitioning and collective response with the support extended by Mr. S. Martin, social activist, the teachers of Night school were paid honorarium for successful 2 years of Programme.

Later, on 5.9.1983 ACT was formerly registered under registration act of 1976 Government of Tamilnadu. During this period ACT felt that education is an essential way of reducing poverty in the long term because it gives people new skill and develop the capacities they need to sustain their livelihoods. Non formal and primary education is particularly important as it can reach children, young people, and illiterate basic skill and be a basis for future. We had in touch with ASW - Germany and with the support of ASW, Germany we have extended existing 30 Villages night school in to further 30 villages of villupuram District.

As a result of out tireless work with Dalith we achieved the follows during 1981-2000 (in 30 Dalith Villages), Mugaiyur block, Vllupuram District:

-- Village link road, Free Patta land for burial ground/cremation Ground, Fair price shops. Water facilities, in dalith Group houses.

They are connected with one light hut services whereby we made their huts bright from darkness. Small and marginal Farmers sangha 30 in numbers have been operating by our smooth facilitation.

A massive rally was observed and petitioned to Govt of TN requesting their human rights on 1 may 2000. (May Day)

After ASW Germany one years support for conducting Night School and in course of time our work was widely recognized by general public and opinion leaders which made us known to Holland Cebemo, who was in support of our Night school Programme One Lakhs each for five project years. It was really a boost and great support for ACT to go ahead with the programme deeply.

Improved human rights for the Children at risk : (Student Summer Camp)

Under this priority we wished to focus specially on educational opportunities of children at risk at various phenomenons.

Poor Dalith parents are often unaware of their civil and political rights denied these rights where legislator does not exist or is insufficient to prevent unfair practices. They often have limited access to educational opportunities. To wipe out this sorry plight of innocent people we conducted.

-- Summer camp for poor school going,

-- Preparatory campaign for social awareness

-- Happy tour to enrich their knowledge into historical importance and natural beauty.

With the support extended by Ecomwel Chennai during 1992-1995 we imparted in depth healthy knowledge among adolescent boys on social analysis through the use of street drama. (Cultural programs) Thus, programme covered about 30 target Villages.

During 1996-1997 PHP, USA was in our support, we brought 2 acre and 50 cents which was giving income generation support to abandoned, disadvantaged poor women sustainable agricultural was the means IGP, It was dropped in half way due to a hectic drought and water scarcity. We made several initiatives to continue the same programme and sought similar funding agency but everything ended in Vain.

Under such severe economical constraints, by Grace of time, LIT-INDIA,
Swallows in Denmark were in our support with which we extended the ongoing NF Classes into some new Villages. Follows by Tamilnadu social welfare board was kind enough and supported 20 Dalith poor women with milk cow and goat rearing through the co-ordination and facilitation of ACT.