About – Ahal.org.in

WHO WE ARE

We, the Jesuits belonging to the Jesuit Chennai Province are missioned in central part of the Province opting to work among the most neglected Arunthathiyars (Dalit-Untouchables) of Northern Tamil Nadu since 1999.

WHERE WE ARE

AHAL centre is located at Kilpennathur in Thiruvannamalai District working in 60 Villages of 2 Civil Districts (Villupuram and Thiruvannamalai) and making periodical interventions in other Districts too

GOAL

To ensure Arunthathiyar people a dignified, decent life and equal rights and to make them assertive and self-reliant.

HISTORY

The Arunthathiyars of northern Tamilnadu, especially at Thiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts are few of the most neglected, despised and vulnerable groups among the Dalits. They are triply exploited by the dominant caste groups, by the Government and by the Church. They have neither property nor permanent income nor education nor political power and authority nor even any human dignity. Since, quite a number of them are Roman Catholics, the Indian Government considers them as Backward Caste (BC) and they do not get any benefits from the Government unlike their Hindu brethren. The educational situation among these people is dismal in nature. They have been discriminated in every sphere of life.

Fittingly, the Jesuits of Madurai Province initiated a new mission called ‘Sahaya Matha Mission’ in 1999 for Arunthathiyars in Thiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts. A Social Action Team (AHAL – Action for Human Rights and Liberation) and a Parish were born in order to work among the Arunthathiyars. At present, there are 60 villages in 9 Unions, namely Chengam, Thiruvannamalai, Kalasapakkam, Polur, Vettavalam, Kilpennathur, Chetpet, Vandavasi, Melmalayanur, Gingee and Mailam.

TARGET PEOPLE

From the begining, the AHAL Jesuits had been working for the Arunthathiyars especially for the Christian Arunthathiyars and have been extending their services to Puthirai Vannars (the Washer Community for the Dalits), the Gypsies, Thombars (Pig-rearers), Irulars and other marginalized Groups in the Vicinity. In all our ventures, women, youth and children are the focal point.

OBJECTIVES

To promote Corporate Community Leadership.
To empower women with gender justice.
To build people’s movement to fight for their cause.
To assist the children to obtain quality education.
To facilitate the people to access their basic livelihood rights and needs.
To intervene in the issues of caste discrimination and violence against Arunthathiyars through Legal Aid.
To create employable opportunity to youth and women

STRATEGIES

Creating awareness through cultural troupes and capacitating thru training programmes.
Providing formal and non-formal education.
Enabling them to participate and make decisions for their own destiny.
Forming people’s movement and be linked with the other movements.
Advocacy and Lobbying.
Developing knowledge, skills and perspectives to
Community Leaders

LEGAL REGISTRATION DETAILS

Name of the Society: AHAL Jesuit Society

Date of Registration: 24-July-2007

Registration Number: 108/2007

DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS OF THE ORGANIZATION

Founders of the Organization: Joseph Michaeel, Eugine Rozario and Arockiaraj Raphael.
Type of Organization:Non-Profit Organization
Name of the Organization:AHAL (Action for Human rights And Liberation) Centre.
Address: Santhaimedu, Tindivanam Road, Kilpennathur, Thiruvannamalai Dt, Tamil Nadu, 604601.
Email ID:ahalmaiyam@gmail.com
Mobile Number:7812831938
Target Group: Arunthathiyars
Special Preference: Catholic Arunthathiyars
Focused Groups:Youth, Women and Children.
State: Tamil Nadu
Number of Districts working in: 2 (Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram)
Number of Taluks working in:7
Number of Unions working in: 11
Number of Panchayats working in: 18
Contact Villages:80
Area of Intervention:Educational Empowerment, Economic Development, Social Enchancement, Political Advocacy and Lobbying.
Funding Sources:Jesuit Chennai Province.
Number of Employees:Field Staff – 6, Domestic Staff – 3, Office Staff – 3, Campus Staff – 1, Technical Staff – 4 Social Education Centre Animators – 52.

NETWORKING ORGANAIZATIONS

ICRDCE Chennai
Grace Hospital Thiruvannamalai
PALAVAI, Tindivanam
RDC, Thenkanikottai
PARAN, Kadambur
ASSET, Chengalpattu
POPE, Thalavaikulam
Loyola college, Vettavalam
Loyola ITI, Ranipettai
Thiruvannamalai
TVM, VPM
ISI, Delhi & Bangalore
Fire Station, Santhaimedu
Centrio, Chennai
Magis, Chennai
LIBA, Chennai
Social Watch, Chennai
Auditors, Chennai
Inter-Ministerial Collaboration, Chennai
Political Parties, TVM & VPM
Govt Schools, Mel Paapambadi & Kilpennathur
TLM, Gingee
VIDIAL, Sathiyamangalam
RWDT, Salem
DLM, Thiruvannamalai
Loyola College, Chennai
Thiruvannamalai
Nguit, TVM & VPM
Child Help line, TVM & VPM
TVM, VPM
Nippon Paint, Vellore
Chennai Province Youth Commission, Chennai
AICUF, Chennai
IDEAS, Madurai
Inter Unit Collaboration, AHAL

IMPACTS

Through our intervention for the past twenty one years, there is a strong social and political awareness created among the youth, women and children. Educating the children has become the prime concern among the people. People’s readiness to collaborate with other like-minded groups and political parties on various issues related to their welfare has increased. Our commitment in building houses for these people has really given them self-dignity. Our presence and accompaniment helps them move slowly and steadily towards self-reliance, self-governance and self-respect.

FUTURE PLANS

Identifying Potential leaders and Cadres among men and women
Creating corpus funds for education, women empowerment, training on human rights and legal issues.
Ensuring employability to all the unemployed youth and women.
Strengthening the unorganized people through networking and trade union.
Combating caste and gender issues at various levels.