District-level Mass Campaigns (rally & protest):
District-level mass campaign (rally& protest) was conducted in West region districts. 50 NGOs conducted mass campaign at district level. About 800 working women
participated in this campaign. Details of Thozhi network and issues of the working women were discussed. Press meet was also organized. Women workers were given
identity card. Women workers were aware and agitate about their rights through legal way. The media covered various issues at workplace. The general public in the district are now aware about Thozhi network.
Thulir Land & Water Project
Background
Caritas-India supports ‘Thulir’ project in Tamil Nadu. CEEMA has been implementing this project in ten villages of Mulanur block, in Tirupur District. The programmes are related to agriculture, awareness and protection of land and water. We formed tenvillage land & water committee (VLWC) in the target areas and one core committee. The farmers realized the importance of organic producer groups, animal husbandry and valueadded products. CEEMA networked with the Department of Animal Husbandry and distributedAzola to the farmers.
Activities
Mass campaign on land & water
The local government collaborated with CEEMA to protect land and water resources in Mulanur. Most of the target audience took noticeof the campaign and realized the importance of protecting land and water.
Advocacy/ lobbying
We conducted advocacy lobbying programmes on 15.10.2018, 07.12.2018 and 13.03.2019 with farmers, Agricultural Department and Watershed Department to create awareness on rain water harvesting for our target community. The resource persons stressed the need of rain water harvesting.
Training on organic farming
The organic farming training programmeswere conducted from 8th to 11th October, 2018 and from 14th to 16th February 2019. 110 farmers participated in this programme. Mrs. Nirmala (assistant agriculture officer) explained about the agricultural schemes and activities implemented by Agriculture Department of Tamil Nadu. She also explained about organic fertilizers and its benefits. Fr. Pushpanathan along with other resource persons, Mr. Selvam and Mr. Bhaskar had also talked to the participants.
Quarterly coordination meeting of the core committee
The programme was conducted on 26.02.2019. Twenty five committee members participated. The meeting was organized to discuss about rain water harvesting and drip irrigation. Mrs.Rajeshwari, watershed development scheme officer was the resource person.
Network meeting
The network meeting was held on 07.01.2019. 70 farmers participated. The department officials from Mulanur Block actively participated in this programme. Mr.Haridas of Caritas India, New Delhi, presided over the function and explained various success stories of land and water project and various methods to conserve soil and water for the future generation. He also explained about rain water harvesting, models for save water, organic manure, trenches and bunds. The Agricultural Department officials distributed 5kg Cumbu (Bajra) seeds to all participants free of cost.
