News

Cletus receives his Doctoral Degree

It was at the 25th Convocation of the Gandhigram Rural University, held on the 9th July 2007, that Cletus was awarded his Doctoral Degree. His research into the importance of educating the rural youth with vocational skills, entitled ëTowards the Comprehensive Framework of Training the Youth: An analytical study of Community Collegeí, took him five years. A huge amount of data was gathered as part of this study, which will be useful in shaping future initiatives for SCAD.

Cletus chose the Gandhigram Rural Univeristy for his study because of its commitment to the development of the rural society and the spread of Gandhian values. Mr. P. Chidambaram, the Union Finance Minister of India, and a prominent member of the Indian Government presented Cletusí degree to him.

Women's Self Help Groups' Exhibition

SCADís Women Self Help Group members recently put together an exhibition of their income-generating activities, in order to take advantage of a visit to Tirunelveli of Dr. M. Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Not only was it a wonderful display of the items which they produce, but it also demonstrated the increased level of empowerment which they have begun to experience through these Self Help Groups.

The Chief Minister was very impressed with their exhibition and promised them additional financial assistance through the banks.

Tree Planting Scheme in the Tuticorin District

A tree-planting scheme is well underway in the dry, dusty and largely saline areas of the coastal region around Tuticorin.  Much of SCAD’s work is carried out in the villages in this area and the purpose of this scheme is to improve both the land and the lives of the inhabitants there. 

Word of the project was spread through the Women’s Self Help Groups and the Farmers Groups, and from an initial 52 interested farmers, 12 have been selected to take part in the first phase of the project.  These farmers are gradually working their way through the various steps of implementing the scheme: training, land preparation, digging bore holes etc. and the current phase of tree planting was completed in October 2006.  The saplings include 10 varieties of fruit, fodder, medicinal and timber trees and this project has the potential to transform the scrub landscape of the Tuticorin region in future years.

Salt of the Earth has now enhanced this Tree Planting scheme to enable our more of supporters to take part. For a very modest amount of money invested in the planting of indigenous tree, it is possible to make a big impact on the communities with whom SCAD works.

Please read the articles in our most recent Newsletter and pass on our Brochure to friends and family.

Exam Success at the school at Cherenmahadevi

The Anbu Illam school for the physically handicapped children on the SCAD campus at Cherenmahadevi started as a primary school in 1990. Two years ago it was upgraded to a high school and has just put its first batch of 15 students through the Government exams. SCAD is delighted to report that 14 of the students passed the exams, with one girl achieving 404 marks out of 500. Both of Kavitha’s legs are affected by Polio and she cannot walk at all. In the past this would have meant that her prospects in life would be negligible, but she is a diligent student and is very proud of her results. Full story in the latest Saltseller newsletter.

The Opening of the Good Shepherd school

The Good Shepherd school in the Tuticorin district was officially opened earlier this year by David Friese-Greene during his visit to SCAD. The new building at the school was funded by Mark and Marian Tucker and has enabled numbers of students attending to increase to 750. David is a long-standing supporter of Salt of the Earth who produced our promotional video. For the full story please see the latest Saltseller newsletter.

World Women's Day

On March 10th 2007 SCAD hosted a huge celebration for World Women's Day at their campus in Tirunelveli. More than 20,000 women from the Self-Help Groups supported SCAD took part in the celebration as the focus of the day was on the economic empowerment of women. Over 50 stalls were organised by the women and the groups exhibited their products.

The whole event was a huge success and was attended by a number of dignitaries including three ministers from the government of Tamil Nadu.

View article in our latest Newsletter

Photography by David Friese-Greene

The President of India visits SCAD

2006 was a momentous year for SCAD.

In January Cletus was fortunate enough to have a meeting with the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who said that he shared Cletus’ view that India can only be empowered through the vitality of its villages.  Shortly after this meeting, the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Manmohan Singh, presented Cletus with an award for outstanding social entrepreneurship at the National Economic Summit in Delhi organised by the Confederation for Indian Industry.  SCAD was one of only six groups in the whole of India to be selected for this prestigious award, which was given “in recognition of visionary, pragmatic and courageous contributions that significantly improve the state of the world’s people.

Then, on 22nd September 2006, His Excellency the President of India took time out of his tour of Southern Tamil Nadu to visit SCAD during his first ever visit to Tirunelvelli.  He opened the new block on the Francis Xavier Engineering College campus, which has been named after him and, following the speeches, students were given the opportunity to put questions to the President about matters that concerned them and their lives.  When asked what was important for the future of India, the President answered “Every branch of engineering and management are important.  We have to bring up the people living below the poverty line.”

Dr. Abdul Kalam was later introduced to some of the children from the Schools for Children with Disabilities and their head teacher, Princemol, told him about the aims of the project to rehabilitate these children so that they can live normal healthy lives and offer a positive contribution to society.

Green Energy Project

In January 2006, Salt of the Earth trustees who were visiting SCAD learned that the Indian government were offering considerable tax breaks on wind turbines sited on a large wind farm not far from Cherenmahadevi., if they were purchased and commissioned before March 31st.  Salt of the Earth supporters responded generously to an appeal for extra funding and SCAD has now commissioned one of these turbines as a means of investing in green power and also becoming more self-reliant in terms of finance.  The windmill generates approximately £15,000 per annum, which will be ploughed back into the projects and thus help the many thousands of poor and disadvantaged people in Tamil Nadu.

SCAD is now considering the possibility of commissioning additional turbines.

Photography by David Friese-Greene

Visit by Cletus Babu, Director of SCAD

Cletus had planned to visit the UK in April 2006 but this trip was postponed because of a very important Government inspection of the Further Education Colleges at SCAD.  However he arrived in August and enjoyed a very busy and productive trip, which included meetings with supporters in Leicester, London, Bristol and the Isle of Wight.  Despite being weary from travelling and chilled by the inclement weather, Cletus inspired both new and well-established supporters of Salt of the Earth and SCAD with his enthusiasm for the project and its future developments.