To empower those affected by poverty, oppression or gender to sustainable develop themselves: socially, economically, politically, environmentally and in health.


About Founder

John Dalton was born in England in 1949. He came to India first in 1974 as a 'traveler' and stayed for 18 months. He came back to India in 1976 and in 1977 worked with Dora Scarlet, the founder of Seva Nilayam. Becoming interested in Seva Nilayam's leprosy work he studied as a paramedical worker and gradually took responsibility for the leprosy work. In 1982 Seva Nilayam was divided and the leprosy work was taken over by the new organization based at Aundipatty - Arogya Agam. John Dalton is the founder Secretary of Arogya Agam and works their full time.

About us

Originally set up to do leprosy work Arogya Agam now undertakes a variety of medical and social programmes. In 1984 there were 3000 active leprosy cases, this was brought down to around 100 and the programme handed over to the PHCs. Arogya Agam still assists the government services in leprosy work and also in Tuberculosis.

Community health and women's development work was started in 1988 and the work has been expanded. Village health guides assist the PHCs in mother and child and Tuberculosis work. Around 200 women's self help groups with 4000 mainly Dalit members have come together as an independent federation - Then Sudar Pengal Iyyekam (TSPI). TSPI is taking over Arogya Agam's role in managing the self-help groups, mobilizing credit from banks etc. and is strong on advocacy. Advocacy and activist issues include campaigns against untouchability, sexual and domestic violence, infanticide and untouchability.

Arogya Agam was the first NGO in the area to take up Aids prevention activities in 1993. The organization now leads a district level programme of Aids prevention and care. It has and assisted in the formation of Theni District Network People Positive (TDNP+), a network of HIV positive people, which is now independent. Arogya Agam also runs a district programme for Aids prevention and advocacy among women in prostitution and has taken on the UNICEF school Aids programme in 5 districts of Tamil Nadu. For the last 5 years Arogya Agam has trained and supported around 50 other NGOs in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala to taker on Aids related work.

Recent initiatives have focused on assisting other rights based organizations - of women in prostitution, Arivanis (transgendered people), Adivasis and Arunthidiyars who are the 'Dalits within the Dalits.

To summarise - although Arogya Agam still runs medical programmes it is concentrating more on rights based work with the most marginalized communities and believes in building up independent people's organizations.

Arogya Agam had an annual budget (2003/4) of around Rs. 2.2 Crore of which Rs. 88 La. was given as grants to other NGOs. Arogya Agam has banked with KVB since its formation and thanks the Aundipatty Branch for its unfailing good service.