Abject poverty, insecurity and various forms of discrimination are the problems faced by the Dalits. Moved by their plight, the Diocese of Kottar has initiated certain measures to uplift their socio-economic status. In the initial phase of eight years, Dalit Development Programmes were mainly undertaken by the Dalit Commission of KSSS assisted by a few voluntary workers. In the year 1992 the Dalit Development Programme (DDP) came into existence as a unit of KSSS.
Target People
The target people of the Unit belong to mainly three communities viz. Barbers, Dhobis, and Sambavars including Seramars. Besides, the Unit is trying to organize the Kaani community people (tribals) living in the hilly areas of Kanyakumari District. Most of these community people depend on their traditional labour work viz. agriculture, hair dressing and cloth washing
Objectives
- To organize and federate the Dalits
- To promote dalit leadership
- To inculcate the habit of thrift and small savings
- To provide easy access to credit facilities
- To accelerate their socio-economic progress
Core Activities
- Organizing the target people at village level into groups
- Federating the groups at the block level
- Awareness education and joint action
- Organizing training programmes for trainers, leaders and members
- Promotion of thrift and savings
- Promoting a youth wing of the target people
- Facilitating the target group to avail benefits under Government schemes
- Providing easy access to credit facilities
- Providing financial assistance for pursuing basic and higher education by the children of dalits
Problems to be addressed
Bringing the scattered Dalits together is really a big task. The Dalit Development Programme has just started its efforts in organizing these Dalits into sanghams and to work for their development. We see a bright future for strengthening the federation and to work for the sustainable development of the uncared for Dalits of our district.
