GIRL CHILD DAY

WED Trust observed Girl Child Day on 24th September 2011 at our Office premises, Chellampatti.

We advertised about the celebration into the target villages and a good gathering of 210 audience; 120 girls, 68 women and 12 men attended the programme.   Mrs. Aarthi Selvendran from Antenna Nutritech Foundation gave her valuable speech, who emphasized the importance of health and nutrition for the girl children and proud to participate as one of the 2 girl children families.  She explained the huge amounts spent on hospitals for treatment of children due to mal nutrition and ill health.  These can be overcome with proper care by nutritious food and periodical health check ups.  She established the proverb ‘HEALTH IS WEALTH’Ms.N.Logamani Program Director of WED Trust welcomed the participants and highlighted the number of activities implemented through WED Trust for the emancipation and empowerment of women and requested them to join hands with them for achieving high rate of success. 

Mr.Dharma Neethi Admin Director of WED Trust spoke on the present situation and issues faced by the only girl child families. He pointed out that child birth is not on the hands of husband or wife, but on Providence.  He emphasized the importance of giving love, affection and freedom to girl children to lead better life. He also pointed out the role of religion, media and society in male dominations and requested them to be aware of girl children’s conditions and work for their overall development

.Mr.Mannar Mannan, President of Periyar Peravai explained how the women were exploited and slaved historically through ancient stories Mahabharatha and Ramayana. Five families with only two girl children were provided with Birth day gifts; dress materials and groceries worth Rs.2500. Three participants shared their bitter experiences for having two girl children. At the outset, all the participants expressed happiness and thanked the organizers for a fruitful discussion, information and guidance to lead their life towards right direction. 

Violence against Women’s Day

WED Trust observed 25th November 2011 as Violence against Women’s Day. Resource persons from many areas were invited to discuss the possible ways to “PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN”.

200 women from 40 women groups participated in the seminar organised at the WED Trust Office premises irrespective of the torrential rain.

Founders of WED Trust Ms. Logamani and Mr. Dharma Neethi presided over the function. Ms. Jeyalakshmi, Program Coordinator welcomed the audience. Ms. Petchi from Tamilnadu Nutrition Development Project explained number of issues coming from the usage of alcohol and requested the Government to stop opening of Wine shops and Bars in suburban and village areas.  Ms. Suruthi, student of Government Higher Secondary School, Chellampatti explained that education, proper knowledge in usage of legal acts available to protect women’s human rights and love and affection between the family members are some of the ways to reduce violence against women. 

Mr. Jeyakumar,  Coordinator RADAR Society  identified life education, proper awareness on women rights and skills in coming forward to take up issues in favour of victims are the major ways to protect women from violence. He appreciated WED Trust for selecting men as resource person to speak program on women’s issues.  

Mookkammal and Peyammal leaders of Muram Women Federation explained female infanticide prevention case studies they involved and motivated the participants that unity and confidence among women can become one of the solutions to women’s issues.

Ms. Thilagam and Mr. Chellachamy capacitated the women leaders explaining with example of collecting weeds in the rice fields.  They also explained proper use of available resources with WED Trust such as Family Counseling,  Legal Aid Centre and Short Stay Home for Victims.

Mr. Dharma Neethi, the Admin Director of WED Trust explained traditional Tamil proverbs below with different meanings and asked the participants to treat both male and female as equal. This could only reduce the violence against women in the long run

1. Women should not smile: 

A woman contributes 50%in the world; if women do not smile how can men be happy?  So every one should smile.

2.Women should be away while they are in “PERIOD”.

When woman become pregnant she won’t give period and it sense the Child in the womb rear with the help of “THETTU”. If we call a woman as theettu for a period of three days, then the child or we live in 10 months in womb become life long –theettu. So we should not discriminate women because it is a scientific process of every woman.

3. If 5 girls born even King would become beggar:

It was in olden days. Now the world has changed a lot and every woman study and gets job. Actually we should change like - if 5 wise girls born, the father becomes a  king. If 5 bad sons born the whole family becomes worse.  
Awareness songs were sung by the team of men and women. The participants were keen in understanding every speaker and clapped very often as the sign of yes and happiness. Every one left the hall with proud and confident.   
Ms. Usharani, Coordinator from WED Trust proposed the vote of thanks.

Public Meet eett

On 17th December 2011, WED Trust organized “Public Meet” at the office premises, Chellampatti. Mrs. Sowtha, Trustee of the WED Trust and Mr.Jeyaraman Deputy Chairman of Chellampatti Panchayath Union presided over the function.

About 100 people including Presidents of Karumathur, Aryapatti and Pullaneri Panchayath, Councilors, Village leaders, leaders from Farmer Associations, Youth Group Leaders, Auto drivers, Leaders from Women Federation, Government staff from Health and Agricultural departments, representatives from Cooperative societies, Leaders from religious community, leaders from Elderly Welfare Group, representatives of NGOs, Volunteers, Staff and Beneficiaries of WED Trust were actively participated.  

Ms.N.Logamani, Financial Trustee cum Program Director of WED Trust welcomed the gathering and briefed about the history of WED Trust and listed out some of the success made during the past 20 years. She thanked the donors, staff and village leaders and public for all possible support provided to achieve these results.

Mr.PS.Dharma Neethi, Managing Trustee cum Administrative Director has released the organization’s Annual Report for the year 2010-11 and distributed to all the participants.  He explained the important activities and number of beneficiaries benefited by various programs implemented during the year. He also briefed about the future programs and requested the participants to support financially for the construction of Community Development Training Centre and Short Stay Home. 

Mr.Susai Prakasam Managing Trustee of Masha Trust Madurai participated as Chief Guest and spoke on the importance of social work and the risk involved in running a voluntary organization. He praised the disclosure of accounts in the Annual Reports made available to the public. He illustrated number of ways that people can participate, cooperate and support WED Trust for its existence and continue to serve even when financial crisis happens. He also pointed out number of incidents how we can help others and make them happy.

Youth Group leader Mr.Pandi has accepted WED Trust as a community supportive and participatory voluntary organization which is actively working for the empowerment of women and children.  He assured to provide all possible support to the Trust to reach more people. Mr Jeyaraman, Union Vice Chairman has admired the different programs and admitted that this type of program motivated him first to involve in social service, secondly coming to politics.

Mr.Pandi president of Aryapatti Panchayath has listed out number of good efforts taken by the Trust and thanked the founders for making wonderful services in this backward area. He also requested to motivate people to properly use the government welfare scheme especially the Rural Employment Guarantee Program.  Mr.Jeyaram Ex president of Karumathur Panchayath requested the community to stand behind WED Trust to change poor’s life. Mr. Muthupandi District Secretary of Farmers Association, Mrs.Peyammal from Muram Women Federation and many other spoke at the meeting and would like to work together in all future endeavors.   

Mrs.Sowtha, Trustee of WED Trust briefed the over all program and proposed vote of thanks to one and all.  

An Opportunity To Double Your Donation for the completion of a Short Stay Home  for the victims of domestic violence

WED Trust believes that developing women and children is essential for developing the whole society. We find that the rigid form of an outdated value system has subordinated the women in communities and families: they are looked upon as a commodity to transfer from her mother’s family to the bridegroom’s family. Transformation of the value system and preparing the mindset of these communities is urgently needed.  If we equip the women to address their problems, they will find success and real empowerment.

Female infanticide, feticide, rape with the assurance of marriage, dowry harassment, separation, divorce, domestic violence are some of the common issues that affects the life of women. When a woman faces family violence, she has deep mental depression and a war in her heart.  She not only is injured and suffers pain physically, but also in her soul.  She becomes hopeless as well as helpless.  She needs peace of mind, physical rest, institutional care away her home. If she wishes to go to a court of law, she also needs legal aid.

Women’s Emancipation and Development Trust launched “Family Counseling and Legal Aid Centre” in 1994 to mitigate these agonies. On receipt of the petitions from the victims, the Counseling Centre will make detailed enquiry and write a letter to the offenders inviting them to settle the issues.  If the response is negative, our legal team visits the offenders home and discuss the issue with the family members.  For mutual agreements dates are set to organize counseling sessions for an amicable settlement out of court. A qualified counselor and advocate will offer counseling for the women and children at risk and will help them bring peace to their lives. In many cases separated wives have been reunited with their husbands by counseling sessions

Due to the high volume of solving the issues with friendly approach, the centre has become popular in Usilampatti Taluk and even the local police station and judicial persons have appreciated our endeavors. Complicated cases have been disposed off quickly and at no cost through counseling.  People have not need not to go to police or to a court of law and file petitions, spending their valuable money and time unnecessarily. Rarely some cases are out of our purviews.  In such cases, we move to a court of law as appellants on behalf of the victims.

There is an urgent need to provide a place for a short stay for the victims when the issues are severe and not to send them back home until normalcy is ensured.  Annually 50 to 100 families are in need of such counseling; more than 25 cases needed legal assistance to move the court and nearly 30 victims are in need of short stay with our assistance.

We have started to build a separate building for the Counseling and Short Stay Home with an estimate of Rs.12,000,000 (Twelve Lakh only) to fulfill the following needs. 

So far we were able to raise Rs.678, 000 with the contribution by number of donors. We are thus in need of another Rs.5 lakh to complete the project. Now one of our longtime individual donors from USA has come forward to provide a matching grant for all donations made to complete the project. This means the amount you donate will be doubled. So we urge you to DONATE NOW. In addition to making a donation, please share this message with your friends and ask them to help us complete the Short Stay Home to assist unfortunate women who are victims of domestic violence.

You can donate through bank transfer/cheque.

1. Indian Donors

1. Foreign Donors

Yours sincerely

Ms. Logamani and Mr.Dharma Neethi
Founders.
Women’s Emancipation and Development Trust
Chellampatti Madurai Tamilnadu India
info@wedtrustindia.org, www.wedtrustindia.org

ECO-SAN TOILET @ WED TRUST

With the knowledge gained through an Exposure visits to Pondicherry and Trichy on Eco-San Toilet, WED Trust has constructed one model Eco-San Toilet at the Office,  inaugurated on 5th Feb 2012 and start educate people in and around Chellampatti.

Eco-San Toilets are environmental friendly, using less water, fecal matter can become very good compost and the urine and wash water can be used for kitchen garden.

Thanks to Antenna Swiss and India who have given their support to realize this important and innovative project.  We have equipped two Masan from our area to be trained on the construction of the said Toilet from Scope - NGO. These Masan will help people who are interested to build this type of Toilet through their skilled labour.

On the one side wall of the Toilets, we have painted attractive pictures on the impacts of Open Defecation, Septic Tank and Eco-San types of Toilets.  On the other side, pictures depicted on how to use this Eco-San Toilet effectively.   Women and children are gaining knowledge by visiting this toilet. We are sure that Eco-San Toilets can get momentum in future. WED Trust intended to raise funds to promote this Eco-San Toilet in the rural area.