TAMILNADU

Strategic Thrust -1: People’s Empowerment through LSGI

2.1 Water Crisis – River & People:-

A one day consultation on the theme was held on 29 Nov. 2007 at Trichirappalli (Tamilnadu). 122 delegates from the State took part.

“Our greed for becoming modern in every field has lead to various crises and water crisis is one among many” was remarked by Mr. Arupathikalyanam, General Secretary Farmer Association, Tanjore. He further said that we can’t address water crisis problem with current practice of modern forming. The Convenor of Tamilnadu Environmental Lawyer Forum, Adv. S. Martin, said that “age old agreement on sharing river water with neighbouring states has created panic about the future of water availability in the state”. He lamented that the natural cooling factor of water has become a heating factor among the political circle. The people must understand that the water is a natural resource which requires no political games but political vision of exploring it and conserving it for the future. Mr. Annadurai, State Convenor, IRN, expressed his anguish that despite of strong legislations, the industries are not prevented adequately from polluting the rivers. We have enough documentary proof about it. We are facing water crisis also because of growing industrial pollution into water sources. The people become helpless or some time anarchist when they see no action from the state in addressing the core problem likes water. The PIL and people’s action has to go a long way to address this problem effectively. We need to build new culture of water conservation. Ms. B. Vasantha, Chairperson of a women federation remarked emphatically that the man always tend to talk about bigger politics whereas they don’t talk about their own politics with women folk. It is the women, but certainly not the man who is facing the burnt of water crisis. It has reduced few hours of sleep and peace from her daily life. Mr. Kumar Kalanand Mani of IRN-Peaceful Society expressed his gratitude towards the organisers for holding the consultation on the key theme of the humanity. He said that the modern life is primarily based on growing consumption and it is completely blind on the values of conservation. The departure from conservation towards consumption is the key of endless number of mountainous problem. He informed the gathering that the great scientist of today Mr. Stephen Hopkins has warned us that the earth is in the danger. How long the modern society will depend on existing depleting resources? We have not yet departed our policy of damming rivers which has proved dangerous in many sense. Why we are discussing on water crisis even after damming all small and medium rivers in our country? He linked water crisis with existing gender discrimination in the society. It is the women who have been left mercilessly to manage the water against any odd. The man and the media bring modernity in the home and the women are expected to carry it efficiently.

He appealed every one to work for modern solution of modern crisis like scarcity of water otherwise the human society will be engulfed in civil war like situation. The consultation ended with following resolutions-

I. Mobilise people to protect water sources and the forest.

II. Water polluting industries must be close down

III. Formation of river conservation committee to protect river Vaigai and Tambirabarani,

IV. Stop subsidy to the chemical fertiliser and re-invest the same amount on the promotion of organic farming.

2.2 State Level River Conference:

The first state level river conference held at Nobili Pastorel Centre, Madurai on 11-12 Jan. 2008. There are 17 main rivers and 32 are tributaries in Tamilnadu.

Mr. Antonysamy, the chairperson of Tamilnadu Environmental Forum presided the inaugural function. Mr. Annadurai, IRN Tamilnadu highlighted the status of rivers in the state. He showed a documentary on pollution of rivers by various industries. He gave a detailed account of status of rivers in Tamilnadu. He said that water holding capacity of 8 dams have been reduced to 30% capacity due to heavy sedimentation. This problem has become worst in some area of Vaigai dam where the bottom of the reservoir has rose up to 22 feet due to sedimentation and siltation. He described about growing sand mining which has disturbed the natural structure of the river. Dr. Jivanandan, President, Tamilnadu Green Movement expressed shock on government apathy on the whole range of issues of conservation of natural resources in the state. He said that at one side natural forest cover area has depleted, rivers are becoming dry and at the same time mega projects are proposed around the forested area. The new railway link through dense Satyamangala forest will have irreparable damage of flora and fauna. We need cordial relations with our neighbouring states to meet our needs of water. We must focus our action on conservation of rivers in Tamilnadu. Mr. Kumar Kalanand Mani presented the over all scenario on status of rivers in India. He said that though we have adopted a federal structure of governance which is under great threat partly because of the damming of rivers. He gave the example of Tamilnadu which is struggling with neighbouring states like Karnataka and Kerala. Similarly, many states in India are facing a Tamilnadu like situation. The diplomatic relations with the neighbouring country like Bangladesh, Nepal and sometime with China get soared. The millions of people, most of them are aboriginals displaced from their roots and many of them are now untraceable. He concluded the future of the human kind is not in destructive industrial civilisation but it lies only in civilisation of the conservation. He appealed that lets respect the freedom of the river and allow them to flow free. The many participants exploded their anger and experiences on the issues on subjects like sand mining, encroachment of river area, commercial exploitation of river water, toxic plant around river, factory waste in river and alienating common people from their traditional access of the river water.

The conference ended with following resolutions-

I. To work for an integrated water administrative system with people’s active participation,

II. No development activities in and around hills and rivers which creates pollution and destruction ,

III. No cultivation of foreign plants specially in hill areas,

IV. To restore the right of adivasis over natural resources and

V. To stop sand mining and commercial use of rivers.

2.3 Land to landless

There have been continuous efforts towards addressing the problem of landless families. The landless families were identified by survey and applications were submitted to the concerned authority to get land for them. The following chart elaborates the status of effort in these regards-

SN	PO & PDO	No. of landless family	Action taken	Outcome/ land received
1.	New world PDO
	Paniyoor	42	38	4
	Gomathipuram	54	24	30
	Etticherry	61	32	29
	Paruvakkudi	58	43	15
	Kuvalaikkanni	67	35	32
2.	Bharath PDO
	K. Vahaikulam North	48	9	-
	K. Vahaikulam South	29	11	-
	Periya Solandi	36	13	-
	Pasi Kulam	14	2	-
	Purasalur	47	7	-
3.	Saral PDO
	Vandari	66	17	2
	Annaikaraipatti	35	4
	Meyyanoothampatti	33	6	6
	Sangaralingapuram	47	5	5
	Ramasamyapuram	27	2	2
4.	Mahatma Gandhi PDO
	Thambipatti	102	89	In process
	Maharajapurma	106	74	-do-
	Mathur East	112	62	-do-
	Mathur North	98	62	-do-
	Rengapalayam	74	-	-do-
5.	Annaitheresa PDO
	Shunmugapuram	33	19	4
	Pappaiahpuram	25		2
	Alangarapperi Keelur	20	20	10
	Kuppakuruchi Mettur N	21	18
	Kuppakruchi Methur S	27	25	5
6.	Vidial PDO
	Kumaresan Nagar	8	4
	Kattunaicken Nagar	4	3
	South Kalugumalai	71	12
	Thullukar Patti	25	8
	Ketchilapuram	49	5
7.	Azhagai PDO
	Chemponvelai	27
	North Payode	25
	Ettamadai Barathot street	35
	Pilavahal Velai	50
	Ranger office Back side	32
8.	Pashumai PDO
	Indiranagar	31	28	5
	Thatchankulam	17	12	6
	Malaiadi	41	22	9
	Bethaima	7	4
	Selvaputhakulam	9	7	3
9.	Vidivelli PDO
	Thangaiyapuram	19	3	1
	Manattur	21	2	1
	Sokkanur	18	11	2
	East Chempur	21	2	2
	West Chempur	20	13	1
10.	Bharathi PDO
	Athipatti	23	11
	Sembatti	28	6
	Puliyuran	64	41	21
	Pannaimondradi	-	-
	Thiruvivundalpuram	-	-
11.	Marutham PDO
	Lakshmiyapuram	48	13
	kattapuli	51	21
	Mavadi	84	26
	Vengalapottal West	59	18
	Vengalapottal East	74	27

Strategic Thrust - 3: Gender Equality

3.1 Rural Women Conference:

A two-day conference of rural women was organised on March 11-12, 2008 at Mathur in Virudhunagar district. The conference started with a rally of delegates which was flag off by Ms. A. Mariammal, Police Sub-inspector. The slogans regarding women rights, prohibition were raised by the women delegates.

The conference was inaugurated by lighting of the traditional lamp in the hands of Ms. Muniammal, President of Mahatma Gandhi PDO, Mathur and Mr. Ramdoss, President Village Panchayat. In her inaugural remark Ms. Muniammal expressed thanks for getting opportunity of bringing man – woman together in PO and PDO. She said that I have been attending various programmes from my village level to the national level since becoming PO and PDO president. What I see within myself that a new Muniammal is emerging as woman leader. I am proud to perform such a role. I have now some information regarding human rights and women friendly legislations. Still I do feel lot of things have to be done for emancipation of the women. She thanked for organising an exclusive conference for the women.

Ms. Rajam, Senior fellow, welcomed the delegates. Ms. Pushpam spoke about present status of the rural women specially of the poor and dalits. She emphasised that overall status of the poverty ridden women, most of them are dalit have not changed even after 60 years of independence. We have been struggling in creating self confidence among them and uniting them for their self-reliance. The women are not finding adequate time from their overloaded domestic work for understanding and addressing their key problems. Every activity towards development of the rural women with more focus on poor and dalits needs long term intervention and strategies. Creating self-confidence among them and uniting them is the first task which we are doing under the banner of PO-PDO and GMM. She said that we are working very hard for the women’s equal status in every sphere of the Swaraj process. The women have been elected to the village panchayats in big numbers which is a silent revolution. However, such women need constant support in building their capacity.

Mr. Balarasu, a peace activist, spoke in detail about ‘Panchayati Raj and Women’. He thrust upon capacity building of women in panchayati raj for their effective role. He said that the 73^rd constitutional amendment has opened good opportunity for the women. Prof. (Ms.) Rajeshwari, Advisor, Tamilnadu, delivered a speech on protection of women from Domestic Violence Act. She appealed the delegates to secure quality and adequate education for their girl child as well.

The conference ended with the determination to work for 100% literacy among the women, violence free village and land to every landless woman.

3.2 Women Education Programme

The women education campaign was organised from March 8-20, 2007 in all operational area. This resulted in undertaking literacy programme specially for women. The following chart explains about the progress in this direction-

SN	POs	No. of centre	No. of beneficiaries
1.	New world PDO
	Paniyoor	1	37
	Gomathipuram	1	32
	Etticherry	1	31
	Paruvakkudi	1	33
	Kuvalaikkanni	1	34
2.	Bharath PDO
	K. Vahaikulam North	1	34
	K. Vahaikulam South	1	28
	Periya Solandi	1	19
	Pasi Kulam	1	21
	Purasalur	1	47
3.	Saral PDO
	Vandari	2	32
	Annaikaraipatti	3	47
	Meyyanoothampatti	2	16
	Sangaralingapuram	1	17
	Ramasamyapuram	1	19
4.	Mahatma Gandhi PDO
	Thambipatti	1	32
	Maharajapurma	1	19
	Mathur East	1	22
	Mathur North	1	24
	Rengapalayam	1	7
5.	Annai theresa PDO
	Shunmugapuram	1	7
	Pappaiahpuram	1	11
	Alangarapperi Keelur	1	14
	Kuppakuruchi Mettur N	1	8
	Kuppakruchi Methur S	1	9
6.	Vidial PDO
	Kumaresan Nagar	-	-
	Kattunaicken Nagar	-	-13
	South Kalugumalai	1	18
	Thullukar Patti	1	21
	Ketchilapuram	1
7.	Azhagai PDO
	Chemponvelai	1	17
	North Payode	1	11
	Ettamadai Barathot street	2	33
	Pilavahal Velai	2	41
	Ranger office Back side	1	19
8.	Pashumai PDO
	Indiranagar
	Thatchankulam
	Malaiadi
	Thatchankulam	1	16
	Malaiadi	1	21
9.	Vidivelli PDO
	Selvaputhakulam	1	9
	Manattur	1	12
	Sokkanur	1	7
	East Chembur	1	13
	West Chembur	1	7
10.	Bharathi PDO
	Athipatti	1	23
	Sembatti	1	17
	Puliyuran	1	26
	Pannaimondradi	-
	Thiruvivundalpuram	-
11.	Marutham PDO
	Lakshmiyapuram
	kattapuli
	Mavadi
	Vengalapottal West
	Vengalapottal East

Strategic Thrust - 4: Strengthening PO, PDOs and Self-reliance of the Village

4.1 Strengthening PO & PDO:

Series of periodical review meetings were organised to ensure the proper growth of PO & PDOs and implementation of the planned programmes. The state coordinator paid regular visits to each PDO.

- 22 functionaries of the PDO took part in the national workshop held on Oct. 8-10, 2008 at Peaceful Society, Goa.

- 11 (new and senior) fellows took part in second national training which held on Oct. 25-30, 2008 at Peaceful Society, Goa.