All three federations conducted anti violence campaigns to commemorate International Women’s Day in March. The District Police Superintendent flagged off the march and the District Collector spoke, there was good media coverage. TSPI has joined in a national campaign for women’s reservations in parliament and state assemblies.   In the south zone campaign they were responsible for conducting the cultural programmes.

Economic uplift remains a prime focus area for the federations. During the year 206 received major credit from the federation and 267 from banks.  Since 1998, 1278 have been benefitted in this way. The major source of credit however is the WSHGs who loaned 3.6m in the 14 months up to June 2010. The state government attempts to bring the WSHGs into the government network based on Panchayat federations rather than wider level groupings. So far Arogya Agam has resisted this, when TSPI is fully registered it remains to be seen if they adopt the same practice. Despite this, linkages are maintained and  some 60 WSHGs received revolving fund grants totalling 400,000. There is a feeling that micro enterprise efforts do not really come up to the mark, partly due to failure to engage suitably capable staff.

Of the federations in Theni district TSPI comes second place in terms of independent functioning (first place when only Dalit majority federations are considered). During the year there was a democratic election process spread over two months where a new and dynamic leadership was elected. Already TPI pays five of the eight group organisers and manages staff review and interview process independently. TSPI earned 273,000 as charges for visiting groups, donations and fees. Service charges on the interest earned from the 3.2m revolving fund was only 1.25m against a potential of 3m, this should be corrected in the coming year with the working of the fund having bee re-organised.  There is internal and external audit and the external auditors complimented TSPI on its accounting system. TSPI is ready for registration and Arogya Agam is committed to assist them to do this by December 2010 once the Trust deed is modified to incorporate the new income tax rules.

The women’s development work is supported by Christian Aid (although this grant has now stopped) and VST-DACT through two grants with British Lotteries as the back donor. The programme has close linkages with work with Arunthathiyar, children and Palliars.

Work with Panchayats

The women’s groups were active in the very first Panchayat elections in 1996 but without much support. During the 2001 and 2006 cycles Arogya Agam and other NGOs were able to provide training and support. Currently, in Theni district Arogya Agam supports 28 out of the 87 Panchayats supported by VST-DACT partner NGOs in the district.

This work is closely related to Women’s federations. In each of the Panchayats there is a support group which assists and lobbies. These committees perform many functions supposed to be performed by official standing committees, but these only function well in eight Panchatats. Sixteen of the support committees have been accorded some sort of recognition in their Panchayats.

The Gramma Sabha, the electors meet, has been used increasingly although there were no specific resolutions on untouchability or domestic violence. Some facilities could be shifted to Dalit wards and in three Panchayats 45 Arunthathiyar families were brought back into the BPL list.  Large numbers were assisted to avail, pensions, marriage assistance, PDS card, electricity connections and housing through the Panchayats. Arogya Agam assisted Panchayats have the best record of delivering benefits to Dalits.

Unlike most NGO work in Panchayats this project  trains and supports ward member in addition to Presidents. Out of 264 ward members 149 were facilitated to function well and independently. Among the Presidents, nine are women with five being active and independent. Nearly all the 11 Dalit men Presidents are active and independent, including one of the two Arunthathiyar Presidents. Work is on to assist existing good elected members to stand again in the 2011 election and to facilitate and support federation approved candidates to stand.   

In Adukkam Panchayat (Kodaikanal) there is a Palliar (Tribal) ward member. The Palliar families were guided to apply for land at a special Gramma Sabha and most families each were given some forest land from which they were allowed to remove the undergrowth and plant crops like coffee and limes.

Ramakrishnapuram – best Panchayat
 
The President, Mr. Balakrishnan from the BC community works well with the people and the support group, they identify real needs upon which to spend their funds. The beneficiaries are selected in the Gram Sabha and Arunthathiyars are benefitted, the Gramma Sabha has a quorum and  is held in different wards. NREGS is functioning well and there is a high level of participation in WSHGs. The President supports Arogya Agam's Arunthathiyar children’s programme, even so there is some caste feeling among the children which needs attention. Apart form temple entry there seem to be few untouchability issues in the Panchayat.

The work with Panchayats under the existing VST-DACT grant (back donor British Lotteries) will probably be extended up to early 2012. Beyond that Arogya Agam needs funds for further work with priority to the Panchayats in Aundipatty Taluk.

This work started five years ago when Arogya Agam took over the work of a defunct NGO working with woman’s groups. Currently the project works in 14 Palliar hamlets scattered among  four Panchayats in  Kodaikanal Taluk. Following a ground breaking march of Palliars and public meeting  in June 2009 there was some progress on obtaining house plots, pattas, ration cards and community certificates. Most of the work is done by Arogya Agam staff since the CBO – PANNK has not really taken off. There are plans to reform it as an co-opted group rather than as a CBO.

Savarikadu: In 2008  seven families at were burned out of their huts by a person wanting to encroach their land. After the activism staff were investigated instead! With great difficulty a case was registered against the main culprit under PA Act. Recently there is some progress  with Government releasing 23 house plots, 26 community certificates and a number of other benefits.

Katalamanparai: Palliars had moved down from the hills decades ago since they were deprived of their tradition of living from the forest produce. They are in a form of bonded labour, almost outside the cash economy, terrorised by exploiters. They were living in grass huts in a barren place in sight of the famous Palani Temple. They had not accessed their rights and entitlements for they had no documents at all, it was as if they didn’t exist. Repeated efforts to advocate on their behalf fell on deaf ears until a media campaign was launched. This attracted the attention of the government authorities in Chennai who demanded action. Seventy two officials descended, including the Collector and Police Superintendant. Welfare and documents were handed out, promises made, and the man who had beaten a women over a 400 rupee loan was arrested. Subsequently Arogya Agam brought representatives of all the 14 Palliar hamlets to meet the Collector and benefits were handed out in a few other villages. Unfortunately the villagers who were left out sat in the road for some hours and again Arogya Agam is under suspicion. The challenge now is to follow up with the district administration who are willing to deliver benefits.

The work with Palliars is drawn from the PRI project and Christian Aid, both projects are due to end. Despite the release of a film made by Arogya Agam on the plight of the Palliars no new funds have been raised. The current plan is to use part of the child rights grant from KNH for child focussed community development in one cluster of four hamlets.

Work with Aravanis (as they then preferred to be called) started in 2001  and South India Rights and Welfare (SARAW) was formed in 2004. It now has 130 members. There is no doubt that Arogya Agam's assistance has helped SARAW to make the community visible in Theni District and SARAW has also been active in state level advocacy which has put the community on the map. With the cooperation of the Police discrimination and harassment has reduced. For some years now Thirunangaigal have managed to attract the attention of the District administration and there have been a number of meetings. Ration cards, ID cards, pattas, pensions, bank loans and revolving funds for SHGs have been released or promised. As usual with government departments follow up is essential.

This year witnessed a memorable event. Housing is one of the community’s main problems and after intense advocacy the district administration granted 72 free house plots. The documents were handed over by the Collector in person at a function in Theni. An event such as this would have been unimaginable even two years ago.

Some funding for this work comes from TAI and Christian Aid – both grants will end next year and so sustainability is a factor to be considered.

Work with Arunthathiyars

In 2004 it  was decided to work separately with Arunthathiyars since they had missed out on Government and NGO schemes and most of the Dalit atrocity and discrimination was directed at them, even by other Dalits. Arunthathiyars comprise around 30% of the Dalits in Theni District. A CBO called  Arunthathiyar Mukkal Munnetra Iyekkam (AMMI) formed as a movement. In 2008 a DFID funded  project started in Theni, Coimbatore, Erode and Thirupur  Districts, the latter districts under the control of Vizhudugal, a well established Arunthathiyar movement. Recently there was a comprehensive evaluation by KKID which has brought out the need for better documentation and has suggested methodologies for doing this. The following is the extract from the 2010 report.

The most important thing the project is doing:
Arunthathiyars are increasingly joining the mainstream, at least among other Dalit communities. Arunthathiyars have become a known entity and have increased self-confidence and self-respect.  The community at large have started to realise that Arunthathiyars can no longer be abused with impunity.  Arunthathiyar  people now suffer from fewer human rights abuses including the practice of untouchability, violence, sexual violence and caste based verbal abuse. The younger generation are starting to realise that long established repressive and demeaning customs and traditions accepted by their elders no longer need to be adhered to. Arunthathiyar people have increased their access to government benefits, jobs, education, and village facilities. People have been heard to say “..there are no longer Sakkiliars (abusive term) only Arunthathiyars”.

Achievements
Arunthathiyars have become much more visible and willing to speak out through a growing movement - thus obtaining benefits and redress when atrocities are committed against them.
Untouchability practices have been reduced in 1,415 villages. There is a steady increase in women in higher education and women are more willing to complain in cases of violence or harassment resulting in reduced violence. There has been a big increase in cases booked by the police when atrocities are committed and Arunthathiyars are now less likely to bow to pressure and threats to withdraw the complaints.

The project in partnership with other groups successfully advocated for a separate reservation of government jobs and college places for Arunthathiyars. This was followed up by a campaign to fill up the reservations, and now many more Arunthathiyars are in government jobs and higher education and children are staying in school longer.

Women’s and other groups have accessed large amounts of credit and have created income generating assets. There has been a good success in regaining common property in terms of land, burial grounds and house plots. Arunthathiyar have become vocal on locally elected bodies through which they have new access to clean water, drainage, housing and other facilities.

In Theni District the main features of the year are a good increase in numbers of functioning village groups called Mandrams and increased access to credit. A high profile campaign mobilised 3000 Arunthathiyars to advocate for housing and to apply for houses under a new scheme.  There has been a big increase in the number of cases registered under PA Act, and AMMI does not go for compromise in these cases. On the other hand it is a matter of concern that when Arunthathiyars complain about atrocity there is a trend for the perpetrators to make counter complaints and force the police to register false cases. This trend is being addressed with the help of People’s Watch and CHRM, human rights groups.