The Ministry of Social Work

    During the period of Malabar mission our fathers toiled for rendering the migrants the basic necessities and fruition of the wellbeing of their life. People orientation was the trademark of their vision and action. They initiated several economic welfare programme like cattle rearing, milk society, lending help for various kinds of cultivation. Establishing orphanage, cooperative society and women welfare association, construction of many public roads with bridges etc. were other projects they initiated. Frs. Leander Thattil and Joshua Chiramel were of happy memories in this field. From the very inception of the Preshitha Province, due importance has been given to social apostolate. From charitable activities catering to the immediate neighborhood, families and villages, the social work of the province has gradually grown to the integral development of the poor through scientific methods.

    Service Society (PSS), a voluntary charitable organization registered in 1981, is the chief organ of social apostolate in the province. In the initial period, the society has been doing social work on a very small scale in and around Coimbatore. In 1984, sponsored by Kuriakose Elias Service Society (KESS), Thrissur, PSS started implementing major projects in the Pollachi and Gudimangalam blocs with financial support from M/s Karl Kübel Foundation, Germany. Through these projects we have catered to the welfare of about 36,000 men and women. Frs. Thomas Prakash, Winson Moyalan and Varghese Kokkadan, as the secretaries to PSS, gave able leadership for the activities. Some of the milestones are Preshitha Agro Service Centre, coir-making unit, press, mushroom cultivation and Karunai Illam – a centre for special care of the AIDS patients. Many self help groups function effectively. The Preshitha Rural Hospital at A. Nagoor, Pollachi is rendering vital medical service to the villagers.

    PSS is adjudged the Best NGO Award for the year 2001-02 by the District Administration. District Collectors of various periods nominated PSS as a member in the following committees:

1. Governing Body of the D. R. D. A. Coimbatore
2. E. A. S. Committee, Coimbatore District
3. SGSY Technical Committee, Coimbatore
4. SGSY Implementation Committee, Coimbatore
5. IEC, Coimbatore District Co-ordinating Committee
6. WASTAN Committee, Coimbatore District
7. Committee for the Selection of the Best Panchayat Union in Coimbaore

    Attappady Social Service Organization (ASSO), registered in 1988, is a voluntary agency extending welfare service to the people of Attappady. Various Catholic institutions are represented. The Secretary of ASSO will be a member of Preshitha Province. Fr. Werner Chackalackal was the brain behind the programme, assisted by Fr. Rupert. The main objective of the society is to plan and execute integral developmental projects to improve the living condition and welfare of the poor and the backward sections of the people of Attappady, irrespective of race, community, caste or creed.

    For the social and economic development of the neighbouring villagers in Saravanampatty Lisieux Women’s Service Society came into existence in 1988. A stabilizer unit and agarbathi-making unit were built for this end. Later due to lack of market the agarbathi unit was discontinued. The stabilizer unit is functioning successfully.

    The pioneering efforts and commitment of our members in frontier ministries have often been mentioned by others as the distinctive mark of the province. The province has undertaken the Akasaparavakal, an ashram for the destitutes at Karimba and Vettathur, Suhruth Bhavan, a home for the street boys at Ottapalam, childline functioned at Samagra, Udhayam training centre for the mentally challenged children at Chennimalai and San Jose Bhavan, a boys’ home for tribals at Attappady. The involvement of the local people and parishes in the frontier ministry, especially at Threethvasramam and Alphonsa Bhavan is to be specially mentioned.

    Karunai Illam , the HIV/AIDS centre, functioning in a rented building at Armugakaundannur, Kovai Pudur, Coimbatore, shifted to Little Fower Minor Seminary on 18 April 2010. The buiding was used as the Minor Seminary till March 2010. Karunai Illam in the new premises at Koundampalayam was blessed on 26th May, 2010 by Mar. Paul Alappat, the Bispop of Ramanathapuram diocese, Coimbatore and it was inaugurated by Thiru. R. Venkatachalam, His Worshipful Mayor, Coimbatore Corporation. The ground floor is functioning as the HIV/AIDS centre and the first floor as Akasaparavakal. The centre is intented to care the abandoned and destitute people of both sexes. The centre has planned to accommodate 10 patients for a maximum of 14 days. The services of doctors, nurses and councilors are available for the patients here. The PHC’s and ART centre in Coimbatore Government Hospital are in regular contact with the centre. In addition to fee concession rendered in our schools they contribute substantial amount for helping the poor. Our parishes also have taken care to initiate various social welfare programme like housing scheme, relief fund, marriage fund etc.