Fellowship Siddamma ASHA Austin, TX Update: Feb-April 2018
ASHA supported projects since 2004 & ASHA fellow since 2015 Created co-operatives, social programs & advocacy programs Works tirelessly to raise awareness about bonded labor Has freed 1000s of marginalized bonded laborers from rice mills & generational slavery since 2004 Provides education to children, women & farmers through Bharathi Trust (Since 1990) Awarded Trafficking in Persons Hero-2006 Kari Siddamma A lifelong social worker & activist Who works for the Upliftment of the Irula Tribes
Fellowship Siddamma ASHA Austin, TX Update: Feb-April 2018
Who are IRULAS? Irula scheduled caste tribe of over 25,000 spread across Tamil Nadu and Kerala Primary occupation include catching snakes & rats, fishing and as laborers Mostly unrecognized by the Indian government & Panchayats Heavily affected by 2004 Tsunami, recent floods, exploitative labor laws and landlords Endemic child labor & domestic alcohol abuse
Jan 2018: Sand Mafia The local sand mafia have been stealing sand from the nearby check dams which was built by Siddamma and a group of people (funded by ASHA) to prevent soil erosion and as a groundwater recharge zone Each day they would steal about 2,000 bags from this check dam This eventually goes to a local politician who uses the sand to make cement bricks for his own contract to build govt toilets for the community and other govt construction The local tahsildar and staff came in and were able to retrieve more than 2,000 of the sand bags However, the politician and mafia continue to be menace. The politician has built a 4th check dam (on govt funds) right next to the ASHA check dams.
Jan 2018: Farm Upkeep Siddamma replaced the old irrigation pipes with new ones She managed to put steel fence wiring but didn't have the money to have it done everywhere
Feb 2018: Irula Leaders Meet Leaders planning meeting in Chennai She prides herself in mobilizing the Irulas to demand the government for change. She is proud that the Irulas including women are now their own leaders. They have the knowhow to demand the government for basic amenities like patta housing etc. She said there have been some charities before who tried to help the Irulas by giving them money. However, Siddamma thinks that the best path forward is to bring change from within. She has been instrumental in bringing about this change. Over 20 years of partnership between Siddamma and the Irulas towards their upliftment
Feb 2018: Settlement of 400 bonded laborers Siddamma was invited back to Palavakkam where she helped settle about 400 bonded laborers who were released 10 years back These irulas were previously considered untouchables and did not have a chance to represent the people Siddamma was instrumental in getting them land and basic amenities like ration card, housing/land certificate etc Two of the released bonded laborers from the are now part of the local government 10 years back: 400 Released from Bonded Labor
Feb 2018: Women Leaders Agricultural Laborers and not educated They are capable of bringing basic amenities to their village like ration card, widow pensions etc On their way to Cuddalore for Irulas meeting Rani, Muthamma and Jayalakshmi : 3 courageous leaders from Pallipattu Taluk
Feb 2018: Irulas unable to attend school (Need ST certificate) Recently 80 percent of the Irulas have dropped out of schools since they don t have Scheduled Tribe certificate in hand The schools require them to have a ST certificate for them to obtain the subsidies provided by the govt. Looks like a lot of the Irulas have applied for ST certificate but they haven t seen any action from the government yet. Siddamma will be talking to the collector to expedite the ST certificates to the Irulas.
Unorganized Workers Union Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission with Unorganized Workers Union : Conducted a workshop on Bonded Labor Release and Rehabilitation at Ezhilagam, Chennai.
Villages that need help Two villages, Abdul Kalam Nagar in Kanjeevaram district and and Vittalapuram village in Thiruvallur district have 25 families that have no electricity, roads Currently they are living on objectionable land One of Siddamma s friends who is a social worker has been able to provide solar lights in this area Siddamma has talked to the Collector who is helping with allocating land for these people and with basic amenities like ration card etc.
Mar 2018: Success Story The women Irula leaders at Rangavaram Irula village have managed to get permanent housing scheme from govt. They are now looking boats in order to earn a livelihood
Mar 2018: Rameswaram Crisis The Irulas usually work as agricultural laborers or fisherman In the Cuddalore district, many of the Irulas are out of jobs because the land has been taken over by big real estate companies and fishing has also gone to the big vessels (/corporations) The Irulas are being lured into doing illegal work: specifically for catching a specific kind of worm found in the sea/shore which is then used for breeding prawn Catching these worms is illegal because it is considered food for the migratory birds flying over The Irulas can get jailed if they are caught. Siddamma says this is an ongoing crisis and she is trying hard to find a solution.
Padmashri Krishnammal Jagannathan She is a social activist who protested against social injustice and is a Gandhian activist. Her work includes upliftment of the landless and poor She has received several awards and recently has been listed for Right Livelihood Award for 2008 She (with her husband) founded Land for Tillers Freedom: The aim of the organization is to bring the landlords and landless poor to the negotiating table, obtain loans to enable the landless to buy land at reasonable price and then to help them work it cooperatively, so that the loans could be repaid" At 92, she continues to go places and help people except that now she has limited resources for her mobility and is seeking financial help so she can continue to work 92 year old Social Activist
Budget Proposal: Aug 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019 Disburse Rupees 25,000 per month/rupees 3 Lakhs for Aug 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019.