We focus on empowering and educating tribals

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google News“If a child cannot reach education, then education must reach the child’-taking a leaf out of these golden words of Swami Vivekananda, the non-government organisation Friends of Tribals Society (FTS) has come a long way in educating and empowering rural India, particularly tribal clans. The Chennai zone of FTS women’s wing had conducted a two-day expo called Navya Jhalak this week to educate and create awareness about the works of the organisation. FTS south zone chairman S S Damani spoke to City Express on its journey from being a small group to a prominent NGO in the antional scenario.Founded in 1989 in Kolkata, then Calcutta, the voluntary organization embarked on its journey with a small group of industrialists and philanthropists from the region who were committed to the upliftment of tribals in rural India. Believing that literacy is the key to the development of a country, the organization, comprising around 39,000 schools, has now reached around 40,000 remote villages from Leh to Kanyakumari, including 1530 centres in Tamil Nadu — these are located across Chennai, Cuddalore, Ooty, Nagapattinam, Theni, Palani, Dharmapuri among others.“The tribal population is the most neglected community in our country. Most of them were unaware of the right to education and about basic healthcare. Initially, they were hesitant to accept our contributions, but gradually we succeeded. Now we have about 11.50 lakh students under our cover,” says Damani.The organization mainly focuses on primary education, healthcare and village development in remote areas. In an effort to make learning a joyful experience, FTS banks on gurukul type of education called Ekal vidyalayas, wherein the children are made to learn outside the classrooms for only three hours. “As most of the villagers were reluctant to come out and study, we appointed teachers from their community itself to train them. Apart from the basic education, we teach them culture and values of Indian society, “Damani says and adds that the teaching materials and books are provided free of cost by the NGO.The organization also focuses on yoga, crafts and personal hygiene. “We make trained medical practitioners to educate the villagers on personal hygiene, nutrition and preventive health care. Our women’s wing takes care of maternity and child care,” says the chairman of FTS.Understanding that economic development is the key to success, the organization buckled down to providing training in the making of vermicompost and fertilizers to the farmers in remote villages. Hence, the ryots were able to make out a profit of Rs 3000 to 4000 per tonne.Recognising the organisation’s success in rural empowerment, the Tata Dhan Academy at Madurai conducted a survey and had estimated the NGO’s success rate at 94 per centfirst published:September 22, 2012, 09:39 ISTlast updated:September 22, 2012, 09:39 IST
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“If a child cannot reach education, then education must reach the child’-taking a leaf out of these golden words of Swami Vivekananda, the non-government organisation Friends of Tribals Society (FTS) has come a long way in educating and empowering rural India, particularly tribal clans. The Chennai zone of FTS women’s wing had conducted a two-day expo called Navya Jhalak this week to educate and create awareness about the works of the organisation. FTS south zone chairman S S Damani spoke to City Express on its journey from being a small group to a prominent NGO in the antional scenario.

Founded in 1989 in Kolkata, then Calcutta, the voluntary organization embarked on its journey with a small group of industrialists and philanthropists from the region who were committed to the upliftment of tribals in rural India. Believing that literacy is the key to the development of a country, the organization, comprising around 39,000 schools, has now reached around 40,000 remote villages from Leh to Kanyakumari, including 1530 centres in Tamil Nadu — these are located across Chennai, Cuddalore, Ooty, Nagapattinam, Theni, Palani, Dharmapuri among others.

“The tribal population is the most neglected community in our country. Most of them were unaware of the right to education and about basic healthcare. Initially, they were hesitant to accept our contributions, but gradually we succeeded. Now we have about 11.50 lakh students under our cover,” says Damani.

The organization mainly focuses on primary education, healthcare and village development in remote areas. In an effort to make learning a joyful experience, FTS banks on gurukul type of education called Ekal vidyalayas, wherein the children are made to learn outside the classrooms for only three hours. “As most of the villagers were reluctant to come out and study, we appointed teachers from their community itself to train them. Apart from the basic education, we teach them culture and values of Indian society, “Damani says and adds that the teaching materials and books are provided free of cost by the NGO.

The organization also focuses on yoga, crafts and personal hygiene. “We make trained medical practitioners to educate the villagers on personal hygiene, nutrition and preventive health care. Our women’s wing takes care of maternity and child care,” says the chairman of FTS.

Understanding that economic development is the key to success, the organization buckled down to providing training in the making of vermicompost and fertilizers to the farmers in remote villages. Hence, the ryots were able to make out a profit of Rs 3000 to 4000 per tonne.

Recognising the organisation’s success in rural empowerment, the Tata Dhan Academy at Madurai conducted a survey and had estimated the NGO’s success rate at 94 per cent