SAM & TVDC
project description | project budget previous | next The Sanitary Mart Project (SAM) and the TAHDCO Village Development Coordinators (TVDC) are projects to better the lives of the scheduled caste and tribe communities, who have been neglected educationally, economically and socially. The programs aim to provide holistic development and training so that villagers can become self-sustainable. The following sections detail the aims and accomplishments of these two interrelated projects, which have been initiated by TAHDCO (Tamil Nadu Adidravida Housing Development Corporation Ltd.) and cooridinated by CST.
Project Description
CST, with the financial cooperation of TAHDCO, has created an economic rehabilitation program to serve the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities. The program aims to enhance the life positions and economic standing of their community through establishing a Sanitary Mart in their area. The Sanitary Mart is a shopping and service center where sanitary wares are produced and sold. Profits are distributed evenly over the members. Four groups in Salem and five groups in Namakkal were formed with a total reach of 180 families. The groups received training in human resource development for leadership skills, group dynamics and time management while being taught to produce Phenyl, bleaching powder, incense sticks, candles and soap powder to sell in the mart. Four out of the nine groups have already succeeded in setting up the Sanitary Mart, the other five are still in the process.
Sanitary Mart skill training at Namakkal Gathering at a SAM meeting In the following table, achievements are measured by the number of members that are trained and self-employed:
District
# of groups
Total members
HRD training
Skill training
New group formation
Salem
4
80
15 days
15 days
3
Namakkal
5
100
15 days
15 days
6
TAHDCO Village Development Coordinators (TVDC)
Project Description
The TAHDCO Village Development Coordinators (TVDC) is a holistic development project wherein volunteers from the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe villages are chosen to receive training in how to get resources from the government for the development of their villages. CST conducts training and follow-up and also provides advice in getting financial assistance from the bank and DRDA. In total, 171 members of 35 villages - 20 in Salem and 15 in Nammakkal - were selected. Eventually, 148 volunteers were trained in 30 TVDC-groups. Through this program, about 12 of the villages have already achieved improved infrastructure and economic development from the government; others are still in the process.The results of the TAHDCO Village Development Coordinators Project are presented in the table below:
District
# of villages covered
Total TVDCS trained
Sex
# of active groups
Total group members
male
female
Salem
85
71
41
30
55
880
Namakkal
65
58
32
26
42
672
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." --Martin Luther King, Jr.