Udayani Social Action Forum

The Calcutta Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) started their pioneering work among the Santal tribals at Christo Sewa Ashram, Kalna which has celebrated its ruby jubilee in the year 2003. It was established with hope of working among the rural villagers of Burdwan and Hoogly districts in West Bengal. The major focus of its intervention was the integral development of Santal tribal community through education of Santal children. During the last 4 decades, the dedicated works of Jesuit fathers and brothers have immensely contributed to the socio- cultural and educational development of the poor people in this area, especially the Santal tribals. Christo Sewa Ashram is now a parish under Asansol diocese. It runs a residential hostel for poor Santal children. Currently there are 125 children residing in the place and getting quality education. Besides we run several coaching centers in the villages for the poor children. We also run personality development and English residential camps for the poor youth twice a year.

Over the years we are able go deeper into the life of the people around. This enabled us to understand some of the basic problems that each of these poor households undergoing in their daily lives. They very often become pray for various diseases due to unhygienic conditions existing in their surrounding. There is still lack of awareness about the basic education for the children especially girls. The economic condition of people is very bad. Credit facilities are not available for the poor due to lack of collaterals and the only source of credit is the money lenders who charges exorbitant interest for short periods. There is no assured food security for most of the households belonging to the backward caste in the area. Their source of income depends on the availability of work. Our experience with the villagers taught us that the resources available in the villages are underutilized due to poor knowledge and also due to lack of credit facility. There is absolutely no diversification of crops. They have poor knowledge about animal husbandry. Income generating activities (IGA) enable people to become entrepreneurs and adopt some means of livelihood options.

Our strategic interventions are in the areas of tribal and dalit community organization and development, women empowerment through Self Help Groups, training and animation, education, counseling, Identity formation, and making effort towards sustainable development.

For the past four years Udayani is working among the Santals in Burdwan and Hoogly districts in the area of Education and Empowerment. One of the many interventions that we engage here is forming, training and monitoring of Self Help Groups. Udayani, has been forming active and vibrant SHGs through which women are marching towards the goal of self-reliance. The Education Aid Centers provide quality education to the Santal boys and girls in the villages

Activities:

• Santal Education and Empowerment based on their cultural roots
• Forming Self Help Groups and people’s movement
• Coaching the dropouts among the tribals
• Capacity building and skill enhancing Training for youth and women
• Typing and computer training for tribal youth
• Health work and health awareness
• Education of the drop outs through remedial coaching
• Organizing camps for the rural youth
• Agricultural awareness and Income generation programme

Oh.. we are delighted to meet you friends !

We discuss, plan together and act !

We work together to earn our living !

A delicious meal indeed !

Udayani Social Action Forum
Christo Seva Ashram
Kalna
Burdwan Dt – 713 409
West Bengal
Tel: +91-3454-255 726
Email: Joseph Pulickal

Jesuit Personnel:
Joseph Pulickal
Sebastian Xalxo
E.S. Joseph