Date:21/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122158520200.htm

Tamil Nadu

Uplifting his community members through education

— Photo: Vidya Venkat

G.Israel.

Being a scavenger’s son, G.Israel understood the ignominy which members of the Adi-Andhra community (a Scheduled Caste) suffered in society. He spoke to Vidya Venkat about how Janodayam Centre for Social Education, a voluntary organisation he heads, worked to uplift this community which has been traditionally employed in sanitary work by civic agencies in the city.

“When I cleared my tenth standard examination back in 1983, my community was proud because it was as good as passing the IAS examination. Today, with support from Janodayam, Adi-Andhra boys and girls are even getting PhDs,” G.Israel, a first generation learner, says with pride.

According to him, education is the key to empower the Dalit community. He recalled the days when people of his community were condemned as ‘thotti,’ but today they are aware of their rights and fighting back against social discrimination.

His early inspiration in social work came from Father Claude D’Souza, George Joseph and D.Packianathan of Loyola College who did the groundwork for forming Janodayam. “My job then was to bring together Adi-Andhra children from slums in T.P.Chatram and take them to the nearest Corporation School on Gramini Street. I made sure they attended classes regularly and got their school certificates. It made a marked difference in their lives.” “We run evening classes for adults of the community, organise street plays to create awareness among them and organised conservancy workers to fight for their employment rights.”

Today, students of social work from various colleges come to Janodayam to document the social struggles of the community which helps the government to formulate policies for the community. The NGO also helps Adi-Andhra students get government scholarships for higher studies and helps them to get admission in colleges.

A number of Adi-Andhra persons, however, continue to be employed in unclean occupations. The Tamil Nadu Government must take a survey of the total number of manual scavengers in the State, he says.

“Go to Poonamallee High Road, near the Anna Arch, you will see Adi-Andhra scavengers cleaning pavements where others have defecated. If it is happening right in the heart of the city, one can only imagine what the situation in our villages would be like.” Many of the community members are also caught in debt traps. In its 25 years of operation, Janodayam has established its activities in 50 slums in Chennai. The city alone has close to six lakh Adi-Andhra persons living in 132 slums. “To reach them all is difficult but they all benefit through the lobbying work that we take up on their behalf with the government,” he says.

Biggest success

He refers to the creation of a Welfare Board for the Scavengers as the biggest success. “Along with other rights groups we had been lobbying for it since 2002.”

He also referred to the recent government announcement of a three per cent sub-quota for the Arunthathiyars, a Dalit sub-caste which includes the Adi-Andhra community. “We had actively supported the demand,” he said.

Mr.Israel, however, feels that such political victory may not necessarily translate into welfare for the whole community. “At the end of the day, education alone can empower them,” he says.