VST News :: Autumn 2007

Dalits defiant

- A Dalit land rights rally at the collector’s office,
ironically itself built on Dalit-allotted land
They were once called Untouchables. Mahatma Gandhi renamed them Harijans - children of god. Recently they have become known as Dalits, literally 'broken people'. But today perhaps, a new name is needed. For the Dalit communities are far from broken. Across India Dalits are voting, rallying and campaigning for their human rights. In the south, where VST works, two activist groups have sprung up representing the Arunthidiyar people, the most oppressed of the Dalit communities. Even among the Dalits there is a ladder, and the Arunthidiyars are on the bottom rung. Through its partner organisations in India and with funding support from the UK Department for International Development VST has begun working with these Arunthidiyar activists in fighting discrimination, abuse and poverty.

Campaign for the Dalits of the Dalits’ is launched

Women and Dalits are priorities for VST. In February the Department for International Development agreed to fund work with the most oppressed among the Dalit population in Tamil Nadu - the Arunthidiyar.

India's treatment of Dalits has been likened to South Africa's apartheid. Dalits are considered to be below and outside India's caste hierarchy and face severe discrimination. In Tamil Nadu there are three main sub-groups of Dalits. Arunthidiyar (formerly Shakkiliar) are the ‘lowest’ group and are often called the ‘Dalits of the Dalits’.

VST will be working with groups in Theni, Erode and Coimbatore. In these districts discrimination is stark. Almost all manual scavenging work is done by Arunthidiyar. Arunthidiyar make up the majority of those illegally 'bonded' to their employers. They are the victims in more than 80 per cent of instances of untouchability being practised. Almost all are landless and Arunthidiyar women are the most affected by sexual exploitation from caste men. They receive less than 10 per cent of the jobs and education places reserved for Dalits, while they make up 45 per cent of the Dalit population. They are not represented on committees concerned with Dalit welfare and rights and are under represented in local government (even when elected they are dominated by others so that Arunthidiyar wards/areas of the village miss out on benefits.) And, out of 45 state assembly seats reserved for Dalits only three are held by Arunthidiyars (there should be at least 20). Despite the evidence that Arunthidiyars are poorer and more oppressed than other Dalits, government reservations do not distinguish between Dalit groups nor do Dalit movements or trade unions give them priority.

The goal of this new programme is to reduce the vulnerability of the Arunthidiyar community to social oppression, poverty and atrocity and to increase their political participation. We will be working with Arunthidiyar activist people 's organisation s - Arunthidiyar Membattu Iyakkam (AMI) in Theni and Vizhuthagal in Coimbatore and Erode - to change the policy and practices of district government and non-government service providers and locally elected bodies so that they allocate more resources and benefits to Arunthidiyars and take action around atrocities. The programme aims to increase the ability of women to participate at all levels and to build the capacity of Arunthidiyar activist organisations (comprising men and women) to take the lead in addressing their own problems.

- The chair of DACT, VST’s chief partner, Jothi Ramalingam, speaks at a recent Tamil Nadu conference on Dalit rights
AMI and Vizhuthagal are the only people's organisations in Tamil Nadu engaged in rights-based activity for this particular community in rural areas.

This is dangerous work. Intimidationand atrocity is all too common Arunthidiyars. Two successful candidates in the local elections of
2006 were murdered this year for challenging their upper caste
'masters'. The project will bring communities together to exert
pressure on the authorities to act when such crimes are committed and bring those responsible to justice.

Activists in people's associations and mandrams (activist groups) will receive training in lobbying and motivating government officials, elected local representatives and the Grama Sabha (village meetings) to ensure Arunthidiyars secure their rightful allocation of government schemes, services and reservations, and to uphold Arunthidiyar rights.

Groups will be encouraged to campaign and organise fact-finding teams and public hearings around specific Arunthidiyar issues and cases of atrocity. They will also motivate and support Arunthidiyar victims of abuse in lodging complaints and taking them forward.

Work began in April to undertake surveys of the demography of the Arunthidiy ar community and the discrimination and abuse they suffer. The people's orga nisations have started to develop communication material s for advocacy and for educating the public and activists. Plans are in place to develop the skills of activists and to support Arunthidiyar people's organisations and Arunthidiyar candidates elected in the 2006 local elections (particularly women). Arunthidiyar voters will be encouraged and supported to attend Grama Sabhas and make their voices heard in the wider community.

Ruth Whitbread,
VST programmes manager

Worlds apart

Angela Russ, VST's former programmes manager, has spent the last two years working in Ghana. Here she compares the differing responses she found among Indian and African women

Working on women's empowerment in Ghana as a woman is a bit like being given the task of improving the interior design of prison cells and living on the job. It's not like working on tuberculosis or sanitation, development themes that Northern NGO employees do not necessarily have to experience first hand. Of course I experience a dilute form of discrimination as an English 'lady' with relatively high status but it is there all the same.

I have just returned from nearly two years running another UK NGO's fairly new Ghana programme. Like Village Service Trust they fund HIV and Aids and women's empowerment projects, though not on such an impressive scale.

It was much harder to get my head round women's position in Ghana relative to India. In India it is pretty straightforward. Poor rural women are oppressed in every way from the moment they are born. Apart from the well-documented forms this oppression takes what really shocked me was the way women's physical and emotional expression is controlled and contained. By contrast Ghanaian women are loud and strong, free to laugh uproariously, and dance and drink.

It is deceptive. One evening I was playing cards with the two night guards when the office cleaner came in. She is a lovely boisterous woman. Knowing she was illiterate I asked her whether she could recognise the suits and numbers on the cards. She said she could and I asked her to join us. She sheepishly shook her head. Surprised, I asked why and was answered by one of the guards: 'Women don't like to play cards.' To which I responded, 'you mean men don't like women playing cards' which was met by laughter by all. I found it rather depressing. So things aren't so different in Ghana after all.

The problem is, unlike in India, local NGOs are not well developed and communities are not ready for change. I'm sure there are a myriad of reasons behind this, not least because Ghana is at a different stage of development to India. It makes implementing any project a major challenge.

Of course there are lots of people in India who are happy with the status quo but I was always impressed by how women's groups or the people living with HIV/Aids association or the Arundithiyar (Dalit) group would spring into action given a little encouragement and confidence.

This does not happen in Ghana. People are so preoccupied with meeting very basic needs, apart from those living in a few choice regions in the south, and so lacking in faith that things can improve that it is a huge struggle to inspire a passion for change in anyone.

I did not come across any work anywhere near the quality of what VST's partners are doing in India.

Having developed an integrated women's empowerment programme with the largest of the Ghanaian partners I am now putting them in touch with 'old' India contacts. I am hoping they will share their valuable experience and expertise built up over the last 25 years and give their Ghanaian counterparts some much needed conviction. If money were not involved I would love rural Ghanaian and Indian women to meet so that Indian women could absorb the wonderfully assured way that Ghanaians move and talk - something the English could benefit from too!

My VST

- ‘I’ve seen huge changes for the better in 15 years’
Vijayrani tells of her pride at the changes she has helped bring about in her work as programme associate at VST partner Vasandham

I entered the development field and
Vasandham in 1992 immediately after graduating in agriculture at Tamil Nadu Agriculture University. Really it was a turning point for me. The very remote, no-infrastructure, zero education status among women in several villages, women as slaves, violent nature of people and poorest in the clutches of moneylenders were shocking to me. I decided to work with these people to create change in their life and not to go for research with plants.

Another thing that struck me was the simplicity, genuineness, not interfering nature in my freedom of work and frankness of Mr Gunasekaran the founder and director of Vasandham. Ms Carol, the first VST person I met, and Mr John Dalton, the secretary of Arogya Agam are encouragers and I was impressed by their dedicated nature.

In my 15 years at Varusanadu I have seen huge improvements in attitudes towards women, gender, dalits, people living with HIV/Ai s and a remarkable reduction of female infanticide. I gained lots of things as well: development concepts, knowledge, skills, confidence,
creativity and running pilot/model development projects and I developed as a good trainer and a team leader. The children's, especially girls', education status increased up to 8th standard. Some 2,100 marginalised women became organised as Vaigai Women Federation (VWF) and they came out of their homes, their mobility increased, they contacted with banks and government departments, women participated in village meetings and local decision making bodies - which is unusual. Nearly 50 per cent of women started their own self employment rather than being a coolie (daily wage work). This proved women are credit worthy and the status of women within the family increased and violence started to reduce.

The sustainable development of VWFand its remarkable achievement in the local panchayat raj election and water reservoir makes my stay at Varusanadu meaningful. The oppressed women and dalits (some 25-30) contested elections in 2001 and 2006 for the first time without binami (proxy representatives) and also in unreserved areas. Many of them were elected as ward members, vice presidents and presidents in panchayats. More than 50 years old public water reservoir at Varusanadu was recovered to public from a Mr Jothiramalingam and Ms Vanaja (chair and director of VST's chief artner DACT) extended their guidance and solidarity always. The friendly approach and practicality of Ms Angela, Mr Bryan, and Ms Ruth from VST encouraged me a lot. All these successes were possible with the help of VST. Thanks a lot. I am continuing happily and proudly in this field by seeing the smiling faces of women and children. We are preparing ourselves to face the present challenges creating gender equity/equality, solidarity among Dalit and non Dalit, migration, reduce violence, political empowerment of women/marginalised, rights over land and water and others. Changes are possible by people.

Compassion that touched many lives

Ruth Dalton, VST chair for three decades, died in March. Her daughter Jill remembers her

Ruth was an only child, born in Wallasy in 1920 at five minutes to midnight in a thunderstorm! They moved to the house in Southport 80 years ago when her father came to open a branch of Lloyds bank. She had a very happy childhood with her parents whom she adored.

She trained at the Central School for Speech and Drama which was evacuated from London to Exeter because of the war, and it was there that she met Frank whom she married in 1943. She became Licentiate of the College of Speech Therapy, plus the London University Diploma of Speech and Drama. Although Ruth had great fun at Central School she decided that she was not cut out to be an actor and so became a speech therapist.

Her daughter Jill was born in 1945 and her son John in 1949.

Ruth Dalton Ruth helped Frank with his business which he set up after having come out of the army, whilst at the same time working as an adjudicator for the English Speaking Board. She visited many schools around the country and had a gift for 'drawing out the best' in the people she examined. She felt that her work with special needs students was the most rewarding.

She had a great affinity with France, and would often joke about her ancestor born at the Palais de Versaille - Louis Noailles Le Pan, her great great grandfather, who escaped from the French revolution in 1793. She spent many happy holidays with the family camping in France.

Ruth spoke French well having stayed in Strasbourg with friends for four
months when she was 16.

Ruth felt that apart from her work with special needs students, her most worthwhile work was supporting Village Service Trust serving those on the margins of society in southern India. Ruth made many visits to India
and was very much respected and loved by all. On the day of her funeral in Southport, there was a celebration of her life in India which took place at Arogya Agam, where her son works as secretary. There were Christian, Muslim and Hindu prayers.

Ruth on her visits made speeches in Tamil and was known to many hose lives were touched by her compassion.

Ruth had a great love of poetry and a passion for languages and the origin of words. She was invited to be a member of a poetry club which she very much enjoyed and althoughshe produced some wonderful poetry, she felt the others were more gifted than she.

Ruth was a very supportive person who saw good in others. She had a
great sense of fun and humour as well as a wise commonsense and a marvellous enthusiasm and energy. She worked tirelessly fundraising for
VST and made many friends through her communications with donors.

She was very proud of her daughter Jill who lives in France, and of John and the work he was doing in India. She was also extremely interested in her granddaughters and their achievements, Elisabeth the eldest who teaches English in a Lycee, and Emile who is an actress. They feel their grandmother has inspired them through her own interest in these arts.

Ruth was told that she had cancer of the colon two years ago. With her typical positive attitude she bravely tackled the complications that this illness involves. She never suffered physical pain, and remained optimistic until the end.

John and Jill were with her for her last two months, and during that time she was able to enjoy some quality times and good laughs with her family. Two hours before her death she was able to take in some poetry that was read to her - 'The Road Less Travelled' - and when asked, 'John took that road didn't he?' she gave the faintest of nods. Frank held her hand to the end. She died peacefully in her own beloved home.

John adds: In life Ruth had a strong belief in making the best of any situation. Her maxim that 'when one door closes another opens' was carried over into her strong spiritual faith that 'there was something beyond and a life after death'. At the same time she described herself as one of the 'heretics group' in the local church and had the strength to tell the vicar about certain aspects: 'Sorry but I can't believe that...!

Frank, Jill and John would like to thank all who gave generous donations in her memory.

As we read through the dozens of cards and letters expressing sympathy, we were reminded of Ruth's commitment to her friends, family and to the work for the most vulnerable in south India

Some of her last words to John were: "You have done great work there in India and you must carry on." We think that the same applies to Arogya Agam, VST and of course our supporters.

We all now must 'carry on'. Our heartfelt thanks from the three of us.


Willing Partners

Organisations throughout the world are strange creatures with their own distinct personalities and ways of working. VST's five partner organisations in Theni District are no different. What they have in common is a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to improving the lives of poor and marginalised people.

Arogya Agam

Arogya Agam (meaning 'place of health') was originally concerned with eradicating leprosy in the area around Aundipatti. Its campus includes a clinic, small ward, offices, canteen, training rooms and guest rooms for staff, volunteers and visitors.

Since virtually wiping out leprosy in its zone in the 1980s, Arogya Agam, led by John Dalton, who is also VST's field officer, has pioneered work in Aids, tuberculosis control, and women's development. It has helped establish the focus of activities on Dalits, in particular the deprived Arunthidiyar communities. Arogya Agam has helped establish a strong federation of women's self help groups.

Mahalir Munnetra Sangam (Women's Development Union)

In 1998, MMS's director, Parwathi, took over from her sister, K Supputhai, when she died of throat cancer at the age of 44. K Supputhai was an early pioneer of women's groups and the project built up a good deal of expertise that it was able to bring to the Network Theni partnership when it began in 1999.

MMS has had much success in reducing female infanticide. Vulnerable second girl babies are monitored closely by members of self-help groups and village health nurses to ensure that they get the care they need in the early months.

Vasandham

One of VST's early partners, Vasantham (or Springtime) is situated in Varasanadu, the remotest part of Theni District.

Gunasekaran, the director, began work there three decades ago, quickly developing a reputation in health, in particular in treating tuberculosis. Recruitment of skilled staff is a perennial problem in such an outlying area with few prospects and facilities. Vasandham has long taken up environmental issues and is currently trying to restore kanmai (community watersheds) to local people.

Vasandham's women's groups are very strong. The federation, Vaigai, is as close to functioning independently as any in Theni District. They have just opened a building to store silk cotton and other crops they have grown to sell when the price is right.

Maitri

Maitri ('friend' in Hindi), was started by husband and wife medical doctors, Deena and Shobana. The campus has laboratory facilities for sputum testing for tuberculosis and a clinic which fills some of the gaps in government services.

Maitri has a very young team of enthusiastic workers but like many in Theni has problems in recruiting and keeping experienced qualified staff. The priority for Maitri is to develop their existing staff and find ways to retain them.

Society for Rural and Environment Development

SRED is the youngest and smallest of the Theni partners.
It is tucked away outside a village a few miles from Aundipatti. The office is a one-roomed concrete building crammed with four desks and numerous sweaty, plastic chairs. A gazebo-like structure outside is used for meetings. SRED works on all aspects of VST's programme and, would like to do more. Alagar Swami, the director, has his sights set on forming 30 women’s groups in neighbouring Periyakulam district and hiring a micro-enterprise expert. SRED's women's federation is currently trying to raise funds to build a storeroom so that they can earn money by selling fodder.

How you can help

If you enjoyed reading about the work of Village Service Trust in this newsletter and feel we are worthy of your support, here are some ways you can help.

MAKE A DONATION
If you are not already a regular giver, please consider making a donation or better still setting up a monthly standing order. If you are a regular giver, many thanks for your support.

COME TO OUR SUPPORTERS MEETING
We are holding a supporters meeting in London on Saturday September
22 2007. John Dalton, VST's India-based field officer, will be the main speaker. If you would like to receive details about the supporters meeting please either telephone 020 7326 5338 or email
villageservicetrust@lineone.net

EVERYCLICK
Everyclick.com is an internet search engine that gives half of the revenue it generates to charity. Last year search engines generated close to £3.2 billion. By registering with Everyclick and using it as your search engine you can raise money for VST whenever you search the web. There is no charge to you and no charge to VST so it really is 'free money'. Sign up now at www.everyclick.com.

LEAVING A LEGACY TO VST
Remembering Village Service Trust in your Will is your opportunity tosupport our work into the future with a donation which you may not have been able to afford during your lifetime. If you would like more information about leaving a legacy to VST contact us now and ask us to send you our new legacy pack.

VOLUNTEERING
Keeping administrative costs to a minimum is one of VST's chief concerns. We would like to involve more people in helping us in a wide range of activity that they can do from home as well as at the office. If you are interested in helping out, give Ruth Whitbread a ring on: 020 7326 5338 or email her at: villageservicetrust@lineone.net