In 2014, SMIC set off Attappadi Welfare Project realizing the pathetic living conditions of tribal community in the region. Our project identifies the root causes and the core areas for improvement in the villages. SMIC initially adopted two hamlets (Down Agali Ooru & Agali Kandiyur Ooru) in Attappadi as Santhi Gramam and brought in all around development activities which are currently being extended to other hamlets. The focus is upon the five core sectors i.e. Education, Sanitation, Health, Employment and Agriculture among which Education is given utmost priority and importance.
There are 192 tribal hamlets in Attappadi and our project runs successfully within two hamlets i.e, Down Agali Ooru and Agali Kandiyur Ooru. We strive but run successfully with the support of few
Good hearted people and presently expand the project to other hamlets. We identify the causes and the core areas for improvement in the villages and implement developmental measures and steps from the bottom level.
A P J Abdul Kalam International Residential Tribal School is the extension project of SMIC?s (Santhi medical Information Centre) Attappadi Welfare Project. Our past three years? (2014-17) welfare activities in the region could bring better living conditions to the community in terms of infrastructure facilities, education, health, employment, hygiene & sanitation etc. But in the bottom line, the fact is, the tribal people are more inclined to their lethargic way of life addicted to drugs and laziness with little interest to work, learn or to live self-sufficiently due to their long rooted and habituated way of unprivileged, exploited, oppressed and marginalized life. They resort back to their miserable lifestyle, the moment the external rehabilitation facilities are stopped. Lack of solid basics in education restrains them to excel in higher studies, which was reaffirmed to us when tried to give entrance coaching [ Students of GHSS Sholayur ] and IAS coaching to selected students of Attappady. Only solution is the sustainable development of the community through education and the hopes resides with the upcoming generation.
Hygiene & Sanitation
Education
Self Sufficiency
Agriculture
The School is registered under the Vidyadhanam Educational Trust who will be managing the funding requirements of the School. An Academic Advisory Committee consisting of professionals and subject experts chaired by Secretary of the Trust will be advising on the academic and expediting aspects of A.P.J Abdul Kalam Tribal Residential School. The Authority will be responsible for monitoring academic and infrastructure developments, review and adjust day to day operations. The objectives of the mission will be implemented through steering committees without amendments or alterations other than enhancing the deliverables.
The young generation is the hope and future of any community. SMIC intends to help and guide the aspiring tribal students and youth to reach and explore their future.
Education Support Scheme
The project is aimed to support the education sector of Attappadi by supplementing the educational needs of the students. Under this project,
Nutteen project
The project is launched to mitigate the malnutrition problems among the adolescent girls in the community. The initiative put forth a consistent and viable solution by distributing one papaya sapling & a hen each among the 125 girls in IHRD College which helps them to find long term sources of nutrition supplements in home.
Adolescent Health & Menstrual Hygiene Management Project
The project facilitates the tribal girl students to have better menstrual hygiene and private access to menstrual hygiene products. Santhi distributes sanitary napkins made in our tribal units among the school and college students as a part of this program. Also, incinerators (Napkin Destroyer) are set up in the schools and for college students.
Knowledge Villa Project
Knowledge can empower the upcoming generation of the tribal community. Knowledge Villa Project is to inculcate the habit of reading and thereby promoting the value of education and knowledge among the students in Attappadi tribal villages. A digital library promoting visual communication and a vast library is being seated up with 1 lakh reading materials in the region.
Sports & Cultural club
Santhi Medical Information Centre launched the idea of Sports and Cultural club with a view to tap the hidden talent of youths in tribal hamlets. It puts emphasis on encouraging sports and cultural club activities, arranging tournaments in rural and tribal areas of Attappadi. The project seeks to inculcate the social norms and values in tribal youth group by developing a sense of responsibility and good conduct among them. It can enhance the tribal talents and make them explore the opportunities with a chance of employment, promoting socio-cultural interactions as well.
Attappadi Welfare Project is successfully implemented so far only through the support and care of our well-wishers. We humbly wish for your support to extend the project to the remaining 190 hamlets. You can also be the part of this noble cause. We welcome you to hold our hands in this initiative and together we can kindle the hopes of a brighter future in the people of Attappadi.
International Residential school for tribes
In the light of the activities organized in Attappadi, Santhi realized that the sustainable development of tribes in Attappadi can be attained only through education so is the notion of Tribal Residential School unleashed for a better future. This is a platform to facilitate the capabilities of tribal students where we train the students from primary level to the higher classes. Students exposed to vast opportunities serve them to achieve broader outlook.