Visit to Old Town (a slum area in Vellore) Mothers’ group to set right the problems that were raising in the group. Mani……. is one of the mothers from the newly formed group from Old Town. She is mother of four children. The elder boy is of age 7 and the other three children are girls. Last two children are twins of 1.1/2 years old. She was about to sell the last two kids due to poverty and now since she had joined the mothers’ group she has some hope in life to bring these children. The members of the mothers’ group promised to help her out with the support of CAT to make sure that these children get good education. I promised to get admission to the first boy in the boarding home at Senganatham where we have built the toilets and other projects. One of the children will go into sponsorship.

I went to Parasur where we have four mothers groups We have cleaned the whole area. In order to advice people about cleanliness.

Went to our leased land in the afternoon, did the measurement for vermicomposed pit.

Moved on to Dindugal to attend a wedding and to visit the old age home which we have recently constructed funded by a USA sponsor

On the way to Dindugal I also visited Pavithiram and Theresapuram where we drilled bore well which was sponsored by JT an Irish sponsor.

Agreed on the distribution of the individual passbooks to each of our mothers with savings and loans. Evening went to the land and checked the shed which is under construction.

Discussed with Fr.Jacob who is in Chennai, who is also honoured by Life insurance company for successfully implementing the micro insurance for the women groups. He promised to guide me to implement the system for our mothers. We hope to implement a life assurance policy for our families within the next few months.

Discussed with the staffs on various mothers groups and condition of the children. Amali reported about a child who was sent home from the college for not paying the fees. We have arranged to get her back in the college by giving the parents higher education support from the money that we received back form the higher education loan. I also spoke to the principal of the college to admit her back in the college and we will send the parents with the money.

Went to Eleanganny to visit the school which is half finished and looking for support for the completion. I took an engineer for the measurement and to get the estimation for the work.

Spent the afternoon in the land. Paid the wages for the construction workers and checked the different activites that are carried out there. On Saturday 40kgs of brinjal were sold out at the cost of Rs 10 per kg. One of the staffs who work there is given responsibility to take the vegetables for selling.

Visited a school in Ranipet where more than 5000 girls study from 1st std to 12th std. These children are from the low waged cooli workers. Most of the parents of these children work in the tanneries in Ranipet. This is highly polluted job and the life span for these parents are very less. This school is run by sisters of St.Charles Borromeo. Even though this is run by catholic nuns, 90% of the girls are from Hindu and Muslim community. The catholic children are taught catechism and the non-catholic children are taught moral science. They have requested for sponsorship to the very poor children and a water purifier to the school. The school is well maintained and kept very clean.