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 Networking Partners


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 th Annual Report 2008 - 2009

28 year
28th year
of celebrating the networking experience


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Contents
Vision Mission & Objectives 08
09
Chairman’s Message
10
From the Director’s desk
Advisory Board 11
12
International Peace Centre
AMOS Centre 18
20
Gender Mainstreaming
22
‘Bhakshya Samrudhi’

26
Facilitating Agriculture Regeneration Measures (FARM) Wayanad
HIV/AIDS Prevention Care and Support Programme in Kerala 32
34
“Comprehensive Pediatric HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Programme”
Community Based Disaster Preparedness 36
Women and Child Protection Program 43
Eco Restoration Project 45
Integrated Development through Empowerment and Action (IDEA) 47
Liaison Office –Thiruvananthapuram 51
Knowledge Dissemination 53
Annual Accounts 54
 Executive Board

Rt. Rev. Stephen Athipozhiyil Mar. Mathew Arackal Thomas Mar Koorilos
(Member, JPD) (Chairman, JPD) (Member, JPD)


Rev. Fr. Romance Antony
5
(Executive Secretary, JPD)

Rev. Fr. Mani Melvettom Rev. Fr. Varghese Maruthoor Rev. Fr. Shaj Kumar. D

Rev. Fr. Thomas Tharayil Rev. Fr. Jacob Kattady Rev. Fr. Jose Venmelott Rev. Fr. Michael Vettikattu
 Ex-Officio Members Associated Members
1. Alleppey Rev. Fr. Siju P.Job 1. Caritas India
2. Bathery Rev. Fr. Varghese Thannickakuzhy 2. Indo Global Social Service Society
3. Calicut Rev. Fr. Sebastian Karakkat 3. Catholic Relief Services
4. Changanacherry Rev. Fr. Jacob Kattady
5. Cochin Rev. Fr. Johnson Chirammel
6. Ernakulam Rev. Fr. Paul Moonjely
Nominated Members
7. Idukki Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kochupurackal
8. Irinjalakuda Rev. Fr. Jose Palatty 1. Alleppey Ms. Jenova Philip Thekkepalakkal
9. Kannur Rev. Fr. Benny Manapatt 2. Bathery Mr. P.M. Pathrose
10. Kanjirappally Rev. Fr. Joseph Chirackal 3. Calicut Mr. P Antony
4. Changanacherry Mr. Jose Puthupally
11. Kothamangalam Rev. Fr. Paul Choorathotty
5. Cochin Mrs. Catherine Roy
12. Kottappuram Rev. Fr. Johnson Panketh 6. Ernakulam Mr. K.O.Mathews
13. Kottayam Rev. Fr. Michael Vettikkattu 7. Idukki Mr. Sunny George
14. Mananthavady Rev. Fr. John Choorapuzhayil 8. Irinjalakuda Mr. Xavier Pallippatte
15. Mavelikara Rev. Fr. Jose Venmalott 9. Kannur Mr. Yeshudas P.
16. Muvattupuzha Rev. Fr. Thomas Muthalapra 10. Kanjirappally Mr. Nelvin
17. Neyyatinkara Rev. Fr. D. Shaj Kumar 11. Kothamangalam Mr. Robin Antony Mundackal
18. Palai Rev. Fr. Thomas Valummel 12. Kottappuram Sr. Elsy
 19. Palakkad Rev. Fr. Abraham Palathinkal
13. Kottayam
14. Mananthavady
Sr. Linette
Mr. O.P. Abraham
20. Punalur Rev. Fr. Joemon Varghese 15. Mavelikara Mr. Shinto Xavier
6
21. Quilon Rev. Fr. Detto Joseph Fernadez 16. Muvattupuzha Ms. Anu Paul
22. Tellicherry Rev. Fr. Mani Melvettom 18. Palai Mr.V.L.George
23. Thamarassery Rev. Fr. Joseph Mathew Oliakattil 19. Palakkad Mr. Shaji T.J
24. Thiruvalla Rev. Fr. Varghese Marathoor 20. Punalur Adv. Jerome P
25. Trichur Rev. Fr. Geo Kadavi 21. Quilon Mr. P.A. Jose
26. Trivandrum AD Rev. Fr. Sabbas Ignatius 22. Tellicherry Mr. Mathew Thelliyil
23. Thamarassery Ms. Marykutty Joseph
27. Trivandrum AD-M Rev Fr. Wilson Thattaruthundil
24. Thiruvalla Mr. Shibu Varghese
28. Verapoly Rev. Fr. Mathew Kallinkal 25. Trichur Mr. C.K.Paul
29. Vijayapuram Rev. Fr. Thomas Tharayil 26. Trivandrum AD Mr. Hertha Christudas
27. Trivandrum AD-M Mr.George Daniel
28. Verapoly Mr.Christy D’Silva
29. Vijayapuram Mr.K.P.John

Heartfelt Thanks
Rev. Fr. Ronald M. Varghese Punalur
Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Nellattu Samridhy
Rev. Fr. Thomas Cheruparambil Kothamangalam
Rev. Fr Jacob Chundakattu Shreyas
Rev. Dr. Abraham Pallathinkal Palakkad

Hearty Welcome
Rev. Fr. Joemon Varghese, Punalur
Rev. Fr. Thomas Muthalapra Samridhy
Rev. Fr. Paul Choorathotty Kothamangalam
Rev. Dr. Varghese Thannickakuzhy Shreyas
Rev. Fr. Jacob Mavumkal Palakkad
Member Societies Organogram
1. Alleppy : Alleppy Diocesan Charitable Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council
and Social Welfare Society Justice - Peace - Development Commission
2. Bathery : Shreyas Social
Service Centre
1. Chairman
3. Calicut : Calicut Social 2. Two Elected Members
Service Society
4. Changanachery AD : Changanachery Social Executive Body
Service Society 1. Chairman
5. Cochin : Cochin Social Service
Society
2. Executive Secretary
6. Ernakulam AD : Welfare Services Ernakulam 3. 7 Elected Ex-officio Members
7. Idukki : Highrange Development
Society KSS Forum General Body
8. Irinjalakuda : Social Action Forum 1. Chairman
9. Kannur : KAIROS
10. Kanjirappally : Malanadu Development
2. Executive Secretary
Society 3. Directors of 29 Diocesion Social Service Societies
11. Kothamangalam : Social Services 4. 29 Nominated Lay Members from DSSS
12. Kottapuram : Kottapuram Integrated 5. Associate Members
Development Society
13. Kottayam AD : Kottayam Social Service
Society Standing Committees on 
14. Mananthavady : Wayanad Social Service 1. Tribal 7
Society 2. Gender
15. Mavelikkara : Chethana Integrated 3. Fisher-folk
Development Society 4. Good governance
16. Moovattupuzha : Moovattupuzha Diocesan
Social Service Society 5. Environment
17. Neyyattinkara : Neyyattinkara Integrated 6. Agriculture
Development Society 7. Health
18. Palai : Palai Social Welfare Society 8. Livelihood
19. Palakkad : Peoples Service Society
20. Punalur : Punalur Social Service
Society
21. Quilon : Quilon Social Service
Society
22. Tellichery AD : Tellichery Social Service
Society
23. Thamarassery : Centre for Overall
Development
24. Thiruvalla AD : Thiruvalla Social Service
Society - Bodhana
25. Trichur AD : Social Welfare Centre
26. Trivandrum AD : Malankara Social Service
Society
27. Trivandrum AD : Trivandrum Social Service
Society
28. Verapoly AD : Ernakulam Social Service
Society
29. Vijayapuram : Vijayapuram Social Service
Society
 Vision Mission &
Objectives
Vision
Growing into a vibrant resource
centre of excellence in social
work for the establishment of a
just society.

8 organaisatons
Mission
Capacitating of the partner
organizations through
Animation, Training, Knowledge
dissemination, Consultancy,
Networking, Advocacy,
Lobbying and Research.
Objectives of KSSF
1. Strengthen and professionalise partner
2. Facilitate the planning process of the partner
organaisations
3. Exchange of ideas and experiences
4. Strengthen the federations of community based
organisations
5. Network with development actors
6. Conduct quality training to address the social
issues
7. Provide consultancy services
8. Initiate policy dialogue, advocacy and lobbying
9. Conduct scientific studies and researches
10. Inspire and encourage the application of
science and technology in social work
11. Develop new approaches in development
12. Monitor and evaluate the activities of the partner
organisations
13. Declare solidarity to the struggles for social
justice
14. Facilitate democratization process through
peoples participation
15. Initiate and promote local resource mobilization
Chairman’s Message

K erala Social Service Forum is widely acclaimed

as a “partnership in the formation of a just society.”
As one of the biggest networks of NGOs in the State,
this Forum is called to voice the concerns of the
marginalized. It is called to represent the weak and
those denied of opportunities very specially as unequal
partners are destined to compete for world resources.

Over the years this network has emerged as one that

empowers the member organizations to take positions
in the frontline in the battle for peace, development
and social harmony. We have seldom failed to respond
to emerging socio economic issues rocking the country
and our response has been based on our unfailing
commitment to uphold the dignity of the human person
and the supremacy of truth, non-violence and equity.
It is in this context that we are alarmed at the plight of
small farmers, fishermen communities and dalit groups
who stand threatened under the current economic
order.

The year under review has exposed both our strengths 9
and vulnerability under the shadow of the global
economic meltdown. As nations stand bewildered at
the unpredicted blow on their development designs we
are challenged to explore new avenues in the cause
of our reference groups whose dreams have merged
with ours. Let us recommit ourselves to the blossoming
of an alternate world order that will guarantee
sustainability in development plans and assure growth
for all sections of people.

As the operational wing of the Catholic Church in Kerala

to give expression to its evangelical concern for the
development of the State, the Kerala Social Service
Forum has ventured to forge linkages and plan
innovative initiatives. I am happy to greet all the
Diocesan Social Service Societies in the network and
thank them for their witness to the Gospel. And on
behalf of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ council let me
greet all men and women who hunger for a just society.

MAR MATHEW ARACKAL

 From the Director’s desk
T his report is in the thick of a synchronized economic
recession rocking the nations of the world and we
stand bewildered as predictions fail and projections
are exposed. The storm in the form of global fiscal
crisis has shattered the aspirations of the people we
serve, stolen their dreams and makes no promises for
a better tomorrow. Dismal though the picture is, we
should not miss the silver line along the nebulous
horizon. This silver line no doubt is the indomitable
strength of the people –the small and weak to bounce
back and reach new heights. Yes we wish to reassert
our faith in the people who holds the key to the invisible
tomorrow—the world without tears, the new heaven
and the new earth.

10
The year under report witnessed sincere attempts to
search a new identity both for the forum as well as for
member organizations. Identification of ground realities
through compilation and scanning of data was taken
up in all earnest. Critical review of data posed pertinent
questions as regards the co-relation between the
strategies hitherto adopted with the real needs and
aspirations of our reference groups. At the close of the
reporting year we were poised for an exercise to
formulate the regional Perspective Plan which is yet to
complete its scheduled process .We stand committed
to provide the right backdrop for the member
organizations to design their road map for journey
ahead. The whole question is to articulate the emerging
role of our Diocesan Social Service Societies so as to
become relevant and responsive to the ever changing
socio-economic –politico-cultural environment today.
We are mandated to consolidate the outcomes of the
interactions at various levels, interpret them against
standard indicators of societal change and extrapolate
the global strategy for development with due
recognition to the roles of the various stakeholders.
We have to resist the temptation of deserting the
marginalized groups and shift to attend to the cause of
the middle class who can create easy and early results.
Amartya Sen has recently said that increase in income
need not be the indicator for development. Even as
the Nation reasserts affirmative action as a tool for
inclusive development, we wish to call upon the
member organizations to accompany the “lost, least
and the last” who alone holds the real indicators of
development. It is incumbent on this Forum to emerge
as an effective body that will respond to the current
development scenario and take up issues concerning
farmers, fishermen, dalits and the tribal community in
Kerala. The Forum is exploring effective strategies to
this extend. We also wish that both the Forum and the
Diocesan Social Service Societies will be able to
articulate the Gospel values and the clarion call to build
a just society.
Fr. Romance Antony
Executive Director
Advisory Board
Freely blooming to a new era

The meeting looked critically at the

development scenario of Kerala.
Mr. T.A. Varghese, Development
Consultant making a presentation on
current development priorities of
Kerala and the role / scope of DSSSs
and KSSF said that the Church could
miss the bus if it did not revisit its
interventions. Low productivity and
production, fluctuating prices of
commodities, losing crop diversities,
poor quality including use of harmful
pesticides etc were cited as issues in
the agriculture/cash crop sector.

N o organization can remain isolated from the

general stream of society which alone can equip
it to be relevant. It was in this context that Kerala Social
Advisory Board Members

service Forum decided to enhance its competency by Dr. T. A. Varghese Development Consultant 11
constituting an Advisory Board consisting of persons Mr. K.V. Peter Former Vice Chancellor
Kerala Agricultural University.
from different walks of life and persons of known
Fr. Mathew Vadakemuryil Renowned Social Worker
expertise. With wider consultation KSSF is destined
Fr. Thomas Peeliyianikal Director
to emerge as an effective body that will both respond
Kuttanad Vikasana Samithi
to the current development scenario and take up issues
Rev. Dr. Hubby Mathew Director
concerning the farmers, fishermen, dalits and tribal Peermedu Development
community of Kerala. Society
Rev. Fr. Robin Management Consultant
The first meeting of the advisory Board was held on Dr. C. Thomas Abraham Development Consultant
December 15th at AMOS Centre. Meeting was chaired Fr. James Culas Social Worker
by Mar. Mathew Arackal, Chairman of JPD Dr. G. Placid Director SAHAI
Commission and graced by the presence of Most Rev. Rev.Dr. Thomas Joseph Expert Tribal Affairs
Thomas Mar Koorilos and Most Rev. Dr. Stephan Therakthil
Athipozhiyil members of JPD Commission. Mrs. Lida Jacob IAS (Rtd.)
Rev. Fr. Joseph Ottaplakal
Prof. E. J James Water Scientist
Inaugurating the meeting Mar Mathew Arackal said that Dr. Sunny George Environment Scientist
the Church was immensely concerned about the Dr. Lissy Jose Former member
emerging socio-economic scenario in the wake of the Women’s Commission
economic melt down. Practically all sectors and all Monsignor G Christhudas Social Worker
sections of people are at a cross road and there seems Ms. Beena Sebastian Social Worker
to be no answers to the many questions asked by Dr. K. J Joseph Scientist
people in distress. He deposited faith in the advisory Center for Development
Studies
committee consisting of a galaxy of eminent persons
Adv. V C Sebastian Management Consultant
to give a lead for way ahead both for the State and the
Dr. Jose Chathukulam Social Worker
Church.
 International Peace Centre
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”
“
Inauguration of International Peace
Centre
It was a moment for pride for Kerala Social Service
Forum when an International Peace Centre (IPC) was
inaugurated at AMOS Centre, Kottayam to initiate
structured interventions for furtherance of peace and
mediating conflict resolution. Kerala Catholic Bishops
Council had approved the proposal at its annual
meeting held at POC Ernakulam on 11-12-2008. Rt.
Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos, Archbishop of Tiruvalla and
Member JPD Commission inaugurated the venture on
December 15th 2008 at AMOS Centre, Kottayam.
We are living in an era where peace in its entirety is
being challenged. The increasing instances of terrorist
strikes, the spread of a culture of violence,
sectarianism, communalism and hostility urged the
Forum to initiate the IPC. There are conflicting interests
creating fragmentation in civil society thereby
 endangering peace and tranquility. Sustainable
12 development cannot be achieved without addressing
conflicting interests and narrowing the gap between
divergent interests. It is in this context that the Church
as the messenger of peace seeks space in the national
drive for reconciliation. Being an initiative under the
Justice, Peace and Development Commission of
KCBC, International Peace Centre will work for realizing
the following broad objectives.
 To foster a spirit of universal brotherhood by laying
emphasis on the pursuit of peace as a way of living
and imparting education on peace in schools and
community based organizations.
 To inculcate a value system, which will create love
and respect for one another, transcending barriers
of caste, creed, religion, ethnicity and geographical
boundaries through a well-planned academic and
social program thereby encouraging and promoting
peace and for the furtherance of which effective
exchange of views will be arranged.
 To train the leaders of social organizations, student
leaders, youth leaders and trade union leaders on
a culture of reconciliation thereby help in building
an integrated and holistic society, through
sustainable development with reverence to all the
living beings vis-à-vis environment and mother
Mother Teresa
His Grace Thomas Mar Koorilos, Member, JPD inaugurating
the International Peace Center
nature based on the principles of earth ethics, earth
care and earth unity.
 To promote respect to life by campaign for pro-life
measures and other activities as a means of
attaining the ultimate goal of building up a holistic
global society wherein sanctity of life will be
respected.
 To initiate effective peace building and reconciliation
in the wake of conflicting interests through dialogue
and negotiation and to this end develop peace
building tools.
 To identify instances of discrimination that could
ferment discontentment and mediate remedial
measures through representation and other
peaceful means.
 To intervene as messengers of reconciliation and
to offer mediation for conflict resolution in the spirit
of the gospel.
 To spread the message of non violence and combat
all forms of violence.
Gandhiji Samadhi and Peace Day
Observation
Kerala Social Service Forum, in collaboration with
Kottayam Social Service Society, Palai Social Welfare
Society and Vijayapuram Social Service Society,
observed International Peace Day and Gandhiji
Samadhi on 30th January 2009 at Chaithanya Pastoral
Centre, Thellakom, Kottayam. The function started with
readings from Holy Bible, Bhagavat Gita and Holy
Mar Mathew Moolakkat, Mar Mathew Arackal, Dr. Cyriac Thomas leading the chain of lighted candles as a symbol of our
mission to dispel the darkness of violence
Quran imparting the message of inter religious
harmony. His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakkatt,
Archbishop Kottayam Diocese who presided over the
program called for concerted action by NGOs to
achieve harmony among people of all faiths. Religion
he said was not destined to divide people. Mar Mathew
Arackal, Chairman, JPD Commission invited the
participants to look forward to the time when the power
of love will replace the love of power. He narrated
several instances where development efforts failed to
counter the power of parochialism and the culture of
hatred. Dr. Cyriac Thomas, Former Vice Chancellor of
Mahatma Gandhi University and a practicing Gandhian
delivering the key note address accentuated the
relevance of Gandhism in the present context of
communal riots and terrorism. The word peace has
become a concept rather than a state of mind that as
an individual everyone has to enjoy. India has turned
to be the land of terrorism, communal riots, crimes of
all nature, and countless other offences and felonies
which ultimately threaten the whole humanity, he
added. The conference concluded with participants
forming a chain of lighted candles symbolizing the drive
to dispel forces of darkness.
Opinion building on National Policy on
Voluntary Sector
KSSF initiated a series of formal and informal
discussions on the draft National Policy on Voluntary
Sector. Member organizations and other NGOs were
consulted and critical comments consolidated.
Discussion was held at the highest level with the
officials and ministers of the State Govt on formulation
of State Policy on Voluntary sector. The discussions
were in the wake of the National Policy on Voluntary 
Sector by the Planning Commission. The declared 13
objective of the Policy was to ensure a responsible,
creative, effective and independent voluntary sector
with diversity in form and function so that it could.
contribute to the social, cultural and economic
advancement of the country. While on one hand, the
policy was hailed as a pioneering initiative, there have
also been critical views which considered it as a limiting
framework, taking away the functional autonomy of the
voluntary sector. Formal and informal discussions
paved the way for unanimity of agreement that the
voluntary sector has significant potential as
development actors, and this potential need to be
harnessed in the present stage of development of the
Nation. Forum could make use of the occasion to focus
on attempts to strangle the Voluntary sector as also
attempts to hijack NGOs as political wagons. However
we could explore the opportunities and constraints, so
as to ensure a realistic National and State Policy on
Voluntary Sector.
Representation on Coastal
Management Zone Notification
The Ministry of Environment and Forests , Govt of India
issued a draft notification titled “Coastal Management
 Zone Notification,2008 “ and called for comments from
the stakeholders and general public. KSSF joined the
large band of organizations that came forwarded with
protests and critical comments. Many of the clauses
in the notification sent alarm bells and fishermen and
all those who were interested in the protection of sea
and the livelihood were concerned. KSSF and its
member organizations made representations to the
ministry. Trivandrum Social Service Society was
authorized to study the matter in depth and lobby with
the Central Govt. It is gratifying to note that the Central
Govt is reconsidering the notification.
Kuttanad crisis
KSSF joined the many agencies that stepped into assist
the farmers in Kuttanad in the wake of a man made
calamity of possible crop loss. Harvesting of paddy
faced severe crisis due to several factors including
shortage of labour and opposition to mechanized
 harvesting. KSSF held three rounds of discussion with
14 member societies with stake in Kuttanad who rallied
volunteers to assist timely harvesting.
Discussion on Kuttanad/ Idukki
Packages
KSSF organized a series of discussion on Kuttanad
Package and Idukki Package. Beside member
organizations involved in the area other NGOs working
in the area were also invited for discussions which were
led by concerned subject experts.
Evaluation of the Forum by Caritas
India
Caritas India and Catholic Services initiated an
assessment of the Regional Forums. A team of
researchers were assigned for the above under the
leadership of Fr. V. Joseph Xavier. The evaluation team
interviewed the Chairman, Ex. Director and held focus
group discussion with the Diocesan Directors on
September 8 & 9, 2008. Filled in questionnaires were
also collected for the assessment. The study team has
presented the Assessment document which should
serve as a guide for way forward. The study report
has appreciated the role of KSSF as an apex body
and its capacity to respond to emerging issues, The
study paper has pointed out the lacunae and gaps. A
notable comment on capability was “it is the case of
starving mother and prosperous children”. Very
valuable suggestions have been given by the team
which will be taken up for discussion. The report about
KSSF concludes with the words, “The role envisaged
originally for the Forum was that of a Capacity Building
and as a Common Platform for DSSSs to come
together. The Forum is increasingly fulfilling this vision
as clear from a glance at the activities undertaken by
the Forum
Major findings
 There was firm conviction among all DSSS
Directors, regarding the need for Forum.
 All the personnel concerned had ideas regarding
what the Forum should be doing and targeting,
although many did not have formal discussions
about Vision, Mission and Perspective Plan.
 The reasons given by various persons for the
existence of the Forum reflect high-level vision. But
the Forum is not able to fulfill all these, although
many of the aspirations are translated into action.
Many activities take place reactively in response to
the demands of the projects by funding agencies
rather than as deliberate activities consciously
chalked out as an outcome of discussions focusing
on Vision, Mission and Perspective Plans.
 Although there is no discussion about Vision,
Mission, Perspective Plans lot of proactive
endeavors are taking place
 Forum is increasingly becoming relevant to the
DSSSs as indicated by increase in attendance.
 Forum can move on to take a real lead. Forum
needs to be more enabling. Regarding capabilities,
it is the case of starving mother with prosperous
children.
 Forum has become instrumental in networking
among the various DSSSs. The we - feeling is due
to good relationship with Forum Director also.
 If increased attendance is any indication of the
increasing relevance of KSSF to DSSSs, Forum is
becoming increasingly relevant to the Forum. There
is a feeling of ownership to Forum.
 Every week DSSSs receive at least e-mails on
 contemporary issues. The latest topics like Bill on because DSSSs Directors might not be able to keep
Voluntary Sector and its implications are discussed. themselves updated due to their preoccupation in
Climate Change issues are discussed. Forum made day to day functioning including Field visits and
strategic interventions in the issue of Farmer frequent travels.
suicides. Status Paper on Kerala is prepared and  Darsan the federation of women’s self groups is
discussed. Forum is aware and alive to functioning very well.
contemporary realities. Forum is supplying  The staff in many DSSSs is more experienced,
information in time- This role is specifically important while the staff at Forum is new. It needs more
capacitated staff. But this means substantial
financial commitment.
Trainings organized by KSSF
S.No. Date Venue Beneficiaries Resource person Input session
1 05-09, Renewal Outreach Staff of Ms. Maria Paul, Basic of HIV/AIDS, Sex
May 08 Centre, HIV/AIDs Pediatric Programme and Sexuality, Water and
Ernakulam. Officer, CF, Sanitation, Pediatric
Mr. Badbu Kariampally, Counseling, Nutrition and
Officer, NRHM, Home based care, ART
Dr. Fabian, Pediatric Adherence, Roles and
Programme Officer, CF, responsibilities of ORWs
Dr. Beena, NRHM, 
Ernakulam & 15
Dr. Ajth, Trichur Medical
College.

2 26-27 AMOS Centre, Suraksha & Eco Mr. Kushal Neogy, State Effective Presentations
May08 Kottayam partners Representative, CRS Skills
Chennai

3 23-24 AMOS Centre, CBDP Mr.P.K.Kurian, Director Gender indicators in LFA

June 08 Kottayam Coordonators & PLANET and Mr. and process
Asst. P.V.Baiju, Professor, documentation
Coordinators Thirur College.

4 22-23 AMOS Centre, CBDP Mr. P.J.Varkey State Developing field

Sep 08 Kottayam Coordonators & Officer, Caritas India monitoring tools
Asst.
Coordinators

5 30 Sep AMOS Centre, CBDP Mr. Koshy Mathew, Reporting and

& 1 Oct Kottayam Coordonators & Freelance Consultant Documentation Workshop
08 Asst.
Coordinators

6 4-5 ADS CBDP Mr. Kushal Neogy, State Sphere standards

Dec 08 Coordonators & Representative, CRS
Asst. Chennai
Coordinators
 Capacity Building of the Forum Team Members
S.No. Date Venue Persons Attended Resource person Input session
1 28 KILA P K Kurian Prof. Chambers Participatory Action
Aug 08 Research in WatSan

2 3- 4 Caritas India, Fr. Romance Organized by Caritas International Conference

Sep 08 New Delhi Antony India on Climate Change

3 15 Sep NBCLC, Fr. Romance Development IDEA Review meeting

08 Bangalore Antony & Asha Consultants of IDEA
Maria Program

4 16- 18 Don Bosco P K Kurian Mr. Sreedhar, HR Human Resource

Sep 08 Provincial Manager SBI (Rtd.) management
House,
Bangalore

5 10-12 IOM, Jaimon C Uthup & Dr. Savithri, Freelance Workshop on Migration
Oct 08 Hyderabad Bindhu Abraham Consultant and HIV/AIDS

 6 27 BABA Atomic Jaimon C Uthup

16 Oct 08 Centre, Mumbai

7 25-28 Don Bosco Asha Maria Paul Mrs Mercy Kappen, Gender concepts
Nov 08 Training Centre, Associate Director
Delhi VISTHAR

8 26- 27 WPC, New Fr. Romance Women Power Connect

Dec 08 Delhi Antony

9 12- 13 Thailand E.J. Jose Caritas International Pan Asia Conference –

Jan 09 International Farmers
Learning Exchange
Program

10 15-16 AMOS Centre, All Staff Mr. Kushal Neogy, SR, Thrust areas and
Jan 09 Kottayam Catholic Relief Services SWOT Analysis

Regional Perspective Plan

Kerala Social Service Forum undertook the formulation
of a regional perspective plan. The exercise is a part
of a drive to identify the thrust areas for interventions
by the Diocesan Social Service Societies in the next
five years. The last perspective plan was formulated
in 2004 and revisited in 2005. All the diocesan societies
took up the formulation of diocesan perspective plans
in 2006 – 2007. The formulation of the perspective plan
was accepted as a collective venture of Catholic church
to streamline its response to emerging socio -
economic issues and concerns and to design
appropriate strategies for sustainable community
development. The preparations for the perspective plan
started as early as July 2008 with a series of activities
detailed below:
 Planning workshops
 Collection of data from DSSS
 Consultations
 Tabulation, consolidation and analysis of data
collected.
Efforts were made to capture the emerging socio-
economic issues in Kerala State and measure the
strengths and weaknesses of the DSSS.
Objectives of Regional Perspective Plan:
 To identify the thrust areas of our intervention in
the milieu of Kerala scenario
 To find out the way ahead for intervening in the area
specific developmental concerns by consolidating
the diocesan perspective plans
 To prepare for the collective and integrated
response to current developmental and social
issues
 To formulate strategies to face the challenges
before us in our social development ministry
 To articulate our methodologies in addressing the
challenge we face
 To redefine and restructure our approaches to the
issues we confront
 To arrive at clarity on a range of issues that invites
our consideration
 To initiate better association and tie up with
governmental, quasi governmental and corporate
sectors, in the present scenario of financial crisis


17
REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE PLAN

SECTORAL PERSPECTIVE PLANS

7 REGIONAL
PREPARATION OF
RPP WORKSHOP LEVEL
BACK GROUND
SECTORAL

REVIEW OF PREVIOUS CONSOLIDATION AND

OPINIONS FROM EXPERTS CORE COMMITTEE
RPP DOCUMENT & ANALYSIS OF DATA
AND CONSULTATIONS DISCUSSIONS AT KSSF
KERALA STATUS PAPER COLLECTED FROM DSSSS

INTERVIEWS WITH
CONSOLIDATION OF PRIMARY DATA SECTORAL &
DIRECTORS AND
DPP DOCUMENTS COLLECTION FROM DSSSS PLANNING WORKSHOPS
KEY STAFF AT DSSSS
 AMOS Centre
Making us to cogitate

T he facilities at AMOS center was put into the

service of Govt. departments and other NGOs for
capacity building needs. KSSF itself organized 18
training programs catering to various programs and
projects. The facilities at the center are to be
augmented and modernized to keep pace with
standards. Plans are in progress to turn the center into
a leading knowledge hub and research center.

Trainings programmes organized by KSSF

Sl.No Name of the programme No. of programmes

1 Training programme for point persons of ‘CBDP’ 6
 2 Training programmes for point persons of ‘Suraksha’ 1
18 3 Right to Food Campaign 1
4 Directors meeting of IDEA/CEP 2
5 Review meeting of CBDP 2
6 Partners meeting-HIV/AIDS prevention care and support program 1
7 Mainstreaming Creative Grassroots Innovations 1
8 Introducing the programmes of KITCO 1
9 PME Training 1
10 Introducing the programs of Horticulture Mission 1
11 Staff capacity building programme 1
Total 18

Trainings programmes organized by Govt. departments

Sl.No Name of Department/Institution No. of programme

1 Kerala Institute for Local Administration (KILA) 7
2 Technical Education Dept. 2
3 Mahatma Gandhi (MG) University 7
4 General Education Dept. 1
5 Institution of Management in Government (IMG) 1
6 District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) 1
Total 19
 Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara inaugurating RTF workshop

Regional workshop on Right to Food the efforts of KSSF in this line.

(RTF) Campaign
Kerala Social Service Forum organized a Regional
workshop on Right to Food (RTF) Campaign on 14th
August at AMOS Centre. 23 DSSSs represented in the
workshop. Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary,
KCBC inaugurated the workshop. In his inaugural
address he said that we need to concentrate on food
security of Kerala in our interventions and appreciated
The workshop was conducted by Fr. Nithya Ofm. Cap,
the National Executive Secretary - CBCI Justice Peace 
and Development Commission and Sr. Mariola the 19
National Coordinator for RTF. Fr. Nithya presented the
details of the interim orders of the Supreme Court. Ms.
Lishitha Vijayan, Human Rights’ Law Network,
Ernakulam explained about the current position of this
campaign at Kerala State.

Trainings programmes organized by NGOs and other institutions

Sl.No Name of NGOs/Institution No of programme
1 IGSSS 1
2 Abhayaloka Trust- Kollam 1
3 Mary Matha Higher Secondary School, Theni 1
4 Shramic Development Centre 1
5 JAYCEES 1
6 Kumaranalloor Grama Panchayath 1
7 Josco College of Nursing 1
8 Saint GITS College 1
9 Theme Centered Interaction (TCI) 4
10 Mangalam Engineering College 1
11 Centre for Reform & Research, Trivandrum 1
12 GET WIN-Ernakulam 1
Total 15
 Gender Mainstreaming
Reducing gender disparity

“Mainstreaming a gender perspective is the process of assessing the implication for women and men of any
planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in any area and at all levels. It is a strategy for
making the concerns and experiences of women as well as of men an integral part of the design,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal
spheres, so that women and men benefits equally, and inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimate goal of
mainstreaming is to achieve gender equality”.

United Nations Economic and Social Council, 1997

The main focus of the Gender Department of the Forum which we propose to popularize among partner
was on exploring avenues in mainstreaming Gender organizations.
into the fabric of Diocesan Social Service Societies
both in organizational dynamics and in its interventions. Activities of Kerala State Women’s
Efforts were made to establish linkages with Forum-Darshan
organizations involved with study and research in
gender issues. Annual General Body Meeting of Darshan for the year
of 2007-08 was held at AMOS Centre on 17th and 18th
It was our concern to ensure that gender policy is in of November. The meeting examined the range of
place in all the DSSSs. Twenty DSSSs have now intervention in Women Empowerment by the Diocesan
 evolved Gender policy. Checklist has now been Social Service Societies and the challenges ahead.
20 developed to verify if the policies meet standards. The meeting elected the following as office bearers.
KSSF has also prepared draft State-level gender policy
which is expected to be approved by the General body Mrs. Mini Sebastian - President
of the Forum soon. Mrs. Daisy John - Vice President
Ms. Asha Maria Paul - Secretary
Our efforts to mainstream gender equity into the Mrs. Perly Benny - Joint Secretary
development network are continuing .We have in this Mrs. Rajeena Davice - Treasurer
connection developed /customized tools and indicators

Women’s day rally at Kannur

Zonal –level Office Bearers
Thiruvanathapuram Zone Ms. Girly Lukose- QSSS
Ms. Mary Pushpam- TSSS
Ms. Kunjumol Raju- CHIDS
Kottayam Zone Ms. Catherine P C- VSSS
Ms. Perly Benny- HDS
Ms. Mini Sebastian- PSWS
Ernakulam Zone Sr. Shaba- Samridhy
Ms. Rejeena Devid- Social Action
Ms. Jancy Varghese- SAFI
Calicut Zone Sr. Vineetha- KAIROS
Ms. Daissy John- Tellicherry
Ms. Annamma Joseph- PSSP
Regional Meeting
Regional meetings were held in Kottayam and
Ernakulum to highlight the Importance of
Jagrathasamities in the Panchayth
Action plan of Darshan
1. PRI leaders training at all Districts
2. Leaders training at diocesan level
3. Regional meetings of Darshan
4. Interface meeting of DSSS Self Help Groups
5. Diocesan visits by Darshan Executives
State-level Women’s Day Observation
The International Women’s Day of 2009 was observed
jointly by KSSF, Darshan and Malabar NGO Network
at Kannur the city which had pioneered many a struggle
for the rights of the working class. The day brought
together 1250 men and women from all parts of the
state giving an eloquent witness to the commitment to
build a world without discrimination. Mrs. Ishitha Roy
I A S, District Collector of Kannur inaugurated the public
gathering. Rt. Rev. George Valiamattam, Archbishop
of Tellicherry, Rt. Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakkalakkal,
Bishop of Kannur, Rev. Fr. Romance Antony, Director
KSSF, Rev. Fr. Mani Melvettom, Chairman North
Malabar NGO Network were the other dignitaries
present on the occasion.
“Women and Food Security” was the theme for the
input session which was dealt by Mr. K V Sivaprasad,
Chief Editor One Earth One life. “Men and Women
united to end violence against girls and women” was
the theme for the second session, Adv. A K
Dhanalakshmi, Human Rights Law Network led the
session. In the afternoon, a rally was taken out through
the main street of Kannur highlighting the rights of
women.
Mainstreaming Gender in Disaster
Preparedness
One of the critical indicators of disaster risk reduction
is ‘gender equity in disaster preparedness’.
Mainstreaming gender sensitivity among the
functionaries of the project for ensuring all inclusive
efforts emerged as a felt need of the project. 
21
Women are seldom represented on disaster
management decision-making bodies and their needs
and interests are rarely addressed. Their access to
early-warning systems is often minimal. Women are
responsible for the care of small children, the elderly,
and the disabled, which adds to their vulnerability.
Women are often the last to receive space in safe areas
and relief is usually issued to males. Relocation after
disasters increases women’s workloads, decreases
their control over food and income, and disrupts their
social support networks. At the same time, domestic
violence and sexual exploitation increase.
In the reporting period Gender Department intervened
to mainstream Gender in Disaster preparedness
project. CMT Gender coordinator and KSSF Gender
coordinator made different field visits to diocesan
societies and attended DSSS level project review
meetings.
It is our target to train 700 PRI leaders from 10 Grama
Panchayats and 5 block panchayats in 14 districts of
Kerala by March 2010. The main objective of the
training is to incorporate gender equity concepts in
Panchayat plan formulation.
 ‘Bhakshya Samrudhi’
Towards prosperity and self-sufficiency
State-wide Campaign on Food Security/Safety (Supported by: Italian Bishops’ Conference)

Background of the project Accomplishments

“Bhakshya Samrudhi” is the collective response of the
Catholic Church in Kerala to the emerging crisis of Food
Security in the state. It is a Campaign for food security,
safety and sovereignty. With a track record of
successful initiatives in agri-related programs many
DSSSs are concentrating to propogate organic farming
as an enduring answer to sustainable development.
The present project is an attempt to boost the
intervention of the member organizations of KSSF in
sustainable agriculture.
The project was officially launched by Mar Mathew
Arackal Chairman JPD Commission, KCBC & KSSF
at the half year General Body meeting held on 28th
January 2009 at AMOS Centre Kottayam.
The logo of ‘Bhakshya Samrudhi’ was unveiled on the
occasion of State level women’s day celebration at
Kannur by His Grace Mar George Valiamattom,
Archbishop of Tellicherry on 7th March 2009.
The regional networks were put into service to
implement the program. We were able to build regional
partnerships for a meaningful intervention in agri-
related ventures.
Clusters were identified in organizational level in order
to avoid overlapping of areas and for smooth execution
of the project. A cluster is a farming hamlet and is
pertaining to a closed geographic location having
different kinds of agriculture.

The program envisages a campaign on food security

all over the State by promoting sustainable agricultural
 practices.
22
Specific Objectives
 Formation/strengthening of Regional Networks for
effective campaign for food security
 Enabling Diocesan Social Service Societies /other
Faith based NGOs to intensify initiatives to promote
Agri-related ventures and in motivating people to
join the struggle to ensure food security.
 Promoting conservation of traditional knowledge
and practices in agriculture.
 Encouraging exclusive use of organic inputs like
Mar George Valiamattom, Archbishop of Tellicherry unveiled
indigenous seeds, manure & bio pesticides and the logo
restraining use of chemicals in farming.
 Conserving indigenous seeds.
Workshop on Programmes and
 Ensuring integrated farming system where Proposal development of Horticulture
agriculture and animal husbandry go hand in hand. Mission
 Enlisting self reliance in essential food commodities:
rice, vegetables, tubers, fruits, milk, egg and meat. As part of the State level networking with players in
 Formation of farmer groups that would function as the Horticulture sector /Agriculture sector, linkage with
trend setters in organic farming for ensuring food Govt. Line Departments were established and a
safety and security. workshop on the programmes and projects of State
 Streamlining the ongoing programs for food security Horticulture Mission (SHM) was arranged at KSSF on
in DSSS/NGOs and linking them to the mainstream 16th and 17th of March 2009. Mission Director Dr. K
campaign for food security Prathapan along with his team led the workshop. In
addition to the sessions handled by the experts the
new projects of SHM were briefed. Representatives
from the partner organizations participated.
TARGET: Each NGO is to select 150 farmers in an
average and introduce sustainable agricultural
practices in selected clusters. A total of 5700 organic
farmers will be lined up in the first phase of the program
and an equal number at the second phase. Networks
will organize and lead farmers’ training. At the Forum
level fervor towards sustainable and integrated farming
has set the tone for positive action.
Instead of sectoral approach, Kerala Church for the
first time in the history of social work in Kerala is offering
a State-wide campaign on the burning issue of the time,
Food Crisis. Whole hearted participations and
discussions of the network partners and agriculturalist
in the network formation is a sure sign of the sunny
days to come.
Director inaugurating North Malabar Network
Regional networks to strenghthen the
partnership
Forum has ventured to decentralize its organizational
dynamics by constituting regional clusters. We have
been able to rope in other faith based NGOs to the
network
As the first phase 38 NGOs have been clustered
according to geographical proximity into seven
Networks with an aim to promote regional planning
and concerted action. Diocesan Social Service
societies along with some faith based NGOs converged
to constitute the regional networks as follows:
1. North Malabar NGO Network
[NMNGON]
 Wayanad Social Service Society
 Shreyas, Bathery
 KAIROS, Kannur

23

24
Director with an organic farmer
 Thalasserry Social Service Society
 Centre for Overall Development, Thamarassery
 Calicut Social Service Society
 Women’s Welfare Association
 Malabar Social Service Society
 Payyavoor Community Development Programme
2. Ernakulam NGO Network
[ENGONSA]
 Cochin Social Service Society
 Ernakulam Social Services Society
 Welfare Services Ernakulam
 Samrudhy – Muvattupuzha
 Kothamangalam Social Service Society
3. Travancore South Central NGO
Network
 Changanacherry Social Service Society
 Kuttanad Vikasana Samithi
 Bodhana ,Tiruvalla
 Chethana Integrated Development Society ,
Mavelikkara
 Aleppy Diocesan Charitable and Social Welfare
Society [ADC&SWS]
4. Central Kerala NGO Network
 People’s Service Society Palakkad
 Social Action- Trichur
 Social Action Forum Irinjalakuda
 Kottapuram Integrated Development Society [KIDS]
 Apex Voluntary Agency for Rural Development
[AVARD], Chalakkudy
 KESS
 ASSO, Attappadi
5. Kottayam NGO Network
 Kottayam Social Service Society
 Palai Social Welfare Society
 
25

Mar Andrews Thazhath, Archbishop of Thrissur presides over the Central Kerala NGO Network meeting

 Vijayapuram Social Service Society The Seven NGO networks – at a glance

 Malanadu Development Society
North
6. Idukki NGO Network Malabar
 High-range Development Society, Idukki
 Peermade Development Society Southern Central
 Voluntary Organisation for Social Action & Rural Kerala Kerala
Development [VOSARD]

7. Southern Kerala NGO Network

 Malankara Social Service Society
 Punalur Social Service Society Travancore KSSF
Ernakulam
 Neyyattinkara Integrated Development Society South
 Quilon Social Service Society Central
 Trivandrum Social Service Society

For each network there is a panel for administration Kottayam Idukki

which includes Chairperson, vice chair person,
Secretary and Joint Secretary.
 Facilitating Agriculture Regeneration Measures
(FARM) Wayanad
Healing the wounds of hearts and nature

26
Sri. Mons Joseph, Minister for Public Works inaugurating the Income Generation Program under FARM
“The district of Wayanad of Kerala has unique and
distinct features for its horticultural crops, sustaining
soils, water, subtropical climate and above all the skill
and knowledge level of its toiling farmers.. Passage of
time transformed the tribal district into the present stage
of agrarian unrest, farmers’ suicide and above all
dwindling biodiversity in flora, fauna and micro
organisms.” (Dr. K V Peter, Former Vice Chancellor,
Kerala Agri. University) The study conducted as part
of the FARM reveal that 1690 persons have committed
suicide during the period year 2000 -2008, in this small
district of Wayanad, with a population of 8 Lakh.
Concerned about the sad plight of the agro rural
communities in Wayanad, KSSF together with 8 NGOs
made analytical studies on the aggravating drastic
situations in the District of Wayanad and initiated a
Consortium of NGOs and thus formed Save Farmers
Campaign (SFC) for collective interventions and
involvements among the victim families of suicide. The
co-ordination responsibility of this process involvement
is taken up by KSSF with the financial and technical
support of CARITAS INDIA.
For the past one year SFC has attempted to continue
the search for answers to the questions raised by
farmers and has tried maximum in extending its
supportive services to the survivors of the suicide victim
families, families in distress and in general to the agro
rural communities in the District. The following is an
account of the strategic interventions of SFC and the
achievements hither - to.
1. General Awareness Building
Programmes
Grama Panchayath-level Seminars
Awareness generation seminars were conducted in all
25 Grama Panchayats and the only one Municipality
by the partner NGOs. The topics covered were
Panchayath Raj Institutions, Agrarian Crisis, Food
security, Organic farming, Legal awareness, Family
 Sl.No NGO Coverage Panchayath No. of Seminars No. of Participants
1 SHREYAS 04 26 2096
2 WSSS 05 34 2756
3 VOICE 04 26 1667
4 WWA 04 36 3195
5 JEEVANA 04 28 2236
6 MASSS 03 17 1140
7 STARS 02 12 836
TOTAL 26 179 13926

Trainings and workshops

Sl.No Training/workshops/ Target group No. of Resource
seminar Participants Person
1 District Level Workshop Key personnel of the 21 Dr. Usha, International
on Food security partner NGOs Rice Campaign Leader
2 Organic farming and Organic farmers 800 Green Peace Foundation
sustainable agriculture 
27
3 Seminar on Livestock Farmers 1300 Dr. Umanath, Special
development in Officer, Vidharbha
Wayanad Package, Govt. of India
4 Exposure program for Personnel from the 43
Project Team in partner NGOs
Organic Farming to
Tamilnadu Organic
Farmers Movement

5 Advanced Training for Panchayath Level 235 (Four

Project Team Community Facilitators, Trainings)
Tribal Program Facilitators
and Be-friending
Coordinators

budget, Alcoholism and drug addiction, Pain and
Palliative Care.
Human Rights Be-friending Program
We have continued our journey to wipe the tears from
the faces of families orphaned and lead them back to
rebuild their lives. In the first place we encounter the
farmers in crisis or the members of a suicide victim
family yarn for their emotional release. The second
step is helping them to socially rehabilitate. To actualize
this dynamics SFC introduced an innovative program-
Human Right Be-friending. The volunteers and the
project team trained in the tool of Be-friending as a
Psycho-social therapeutic approach. The identified
families- either a suicide victim or a family in deep
survival crisis- are repeatedly visited by our Be-friending
Coordinator / Community Facilitator. The visits often
 help to rescue them from the traumatic situations they
are in. These house visits also provide opportunities
to assess the capabilities to undertake and manage
feasibly any supplementary livelihood resource
schemes proposed to be implemented for them.
Human Rights Be-friending
Program
Befriending is love – in its simplest and purest form.
It is this love that heals and restores the persons
in distress, their dignity, confidence and self
esteem. Befriending takes place when a suicidal
person interacts with a befriender. During
befriending the persons in distress get a chance
to ventilate their feelings to the befriender who will
give them undivided attention.
Livelihood Support Program
To help the suicide victim families and the farmer families
identified in utter crisis in rebuilding their economic
sustainability, supplementary income generation
enterprises were facilitated and supported to 461
families.
Prior to introduction of IGP, training on specific agro
based supplementary income generation programs
was provided to entrepreneurs. Beneficiaries were
assisted to develop business plan the opted
entrepreneurship. The partner NGOs assessed the
feasibility of the entrepreneurship plan.
Minister interacting with farmers

The aim of befriending is to support the persons in

 distress as they face their difficulties and to share
28 their pain by demonstrating acceptance and
empathy.

The essential nature of befriending is that the

befriender responds to a suicidal person as a
friend, on an equal level, with unconditional,
uncritical acceptance and respect.

The basic idea of befriending is persons in distress

/ suicidal persons need some one to listen, to trust
and to care.

Befriending at a glance
Sl No NGO Cases attended
1 MASSS 159
2 STARS 203
3 WSSS 361
4 Jeevana 163
5 WWA 392
6 Shreyas 495
7 Voice 402
Total 2175
Details of Schemes:

IGP No IGP No IGP No IGP No

Dairying 179 Fast food service 01 CD Shop 01 Provision Store 01
Goat rearing 161 Rabbit rearing 08 Computer DTP 01 Cottage Industry 03
Tailoring 28 Door delivery of 01 Miscellaneous aid 07 Bag works 01
food material
Poultry 16 Door delivery of 01 Lottery sales 01 Tea Shop 03
readymade
Readymade 01 Computer sticker 01 Stationery 01 Pig rearing 01
cutting
Stone creasing 01 Curry Powder 01 Furniture 01 Catering unit 01
Petty Shop 17 Black smith 01 Grocery Shop 01 Calf rearing 08
Fancy shop 01 Flori-culture 01 Food products 07 Auto-rickshaw 01

Research/Studies/ Documentation
a. Research study on Suicides in Wayanad 
The ill fame of Wayanad is well known through out 29
the Nation in line with farmers’ suicide in Vidharbha,
Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere in the country.
However there have been no authentic studies on
the issue at least in the case of Wayanad. There
has been contradicting statistics and reports
published by Govt. and media. In this context SFC
initiated an authentic data collection and analysis
on the causative factors of suicide. SFC was
successful to complete the data collection and
research study is under the process of finalization.

b. Participatory Research on Agrarian Crisis and

Multi Stack Holder responses
It was a participatory study conducted in Edavaka
Grama Panchayath in North Wayanad and
Ambalavayal in South Wayanad. PLANET KERALA
a development research organization was entrusted
with the task. The report of the study is being
published.

c. Documentation
A Video documentation titled “Fire in the Belly” was
produced for the sensitization purposes. It depicts
the burning issue of suicides in Wayanad. It was
officially released by Mr. Oscar Fernandez, Union
 Minister in New Delhi. Apart from the visual
documentation a comprehensive profile of entire
PRIs in Wayanad has been prepared. Similarly 66
Be friending case studies also have been
documented.

d. Media Coverage
Over the short period SFC has been able to
establish tangible relation with the media, News
papers and TV channels highlight news and reports
of SFC interventions and programs. The Hindu,
New Indian Express and Deepika have published
special features on SFC.

e. Intervention among Tribal Community

The aboriginal tribes who form 17% of total
population were not included in the target population
even though they belong to farm sector and face
with similar issues of suicide. In this context in the
second phase of FARM strategic interventions
 among this most vulnerable section of people with
30 awareness generation, rapport building, community
organizations, Be friending, livelihood support
measures etc.. have been initiated.

Review and Monitoring

Periodical assessment and evaluation meetings of the
partner organizations have been conducted by KSSF.
It includes monthly meetings of Project team, quarterly
meetings of Chief Functionaries and Point persons of
partner NGOs, half yearly joint review with the
participation of officials, including Executive Director
CARITAS INDIA.

External Evaluation
An external evaluation of the entire program was
carried out by Mr.T.A.Varghese, Development
Consultant and the findings were shared to the partners.

Significant Outcome of the Program

 Trained 235 personnel in Be friending, PRIs and Tribal

development
 Be friending support to 2175 victims of suicide and
people in distress
 Provided EDP training to 465 persons
 Supported 465 families for starting alternative
livelihood initiatives.—total project outlay-
 Local Mobilizations towards alternative livelihood
support program amounts to Rs. 18,30,000/-
 800 people participated in District Level Seminars
on Organic farming
 60 Key personnel from partner NGOs participated
in the District Level Workshop on Food Security
and NGO Networking
 1300 people participated in the District Level
Seminars on scope of Animal Husbandry in the
context of agrarian crisis.
 66 case studies on suicide victim families prepared
for study and social investigation.
 Data of cancer patients in Wayanad available
 Authentic data on suicides in Wayanad since the
year 2000
 Exposure to project team to organic farming in
Tamilnadu
Impacts
 Enhanced allocation for agricultural sector in the
plan outlays of 26 PRIs
 Reduction in suicides in 24/26 Grama Panchayaths
as reflected in the data maintained in the District
Crime Records Bureau.
 Awareness Generated on pesticide menace in
agriculture resulted in reduction in application of
chemicals
 Return of farmers towards use of bio pesticides and
adoption of organic farming
 Enhanced reputation and recognition of the project
at different levels reflected by invitation for the
project team in different International and National
consultations/events.
 Interface with Union Ministry of Commerce on
formulation of Wayanad Package
 Effective advocacy and lobbying with Govt.
Agencies like Spices Board, Kerala Agriculture
University, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute,
State Horticulture Mission etc..
 Human rights issues like domestic violence against
women in which legal and counseling support
arranged by NGO Partners 
 Project team facilitated Krishibhavan Programmes 31
as Resource Persons
 Sustainable IGPs enable sustainable livelihood to
465 families in distress
 HIV/AIDS Prevention Care and Support
Programme in Kerala
Bestowing the dignity and reducing vulnerability

T he collective response of the Church in Kerala to

the threat of HIV/AIDS found its realization in a
coalition of Ten Non Governmental Organization under
5.
6.
7.
Samrudhi, Moovattupuzha
Jeevana, Calicut
Sarathi, Angamali
the Kerala Social Service Forum with the support of 8. Snehatheeram, Manjalumoodu, Trivandrum
Catholic Relief Services. Being surrounded by high 9. St: Johns Health Services, Trivandrum
prevalence states of India, Kerala too is considered a 10. Peoples Service Society, Palakkad
destination point. The increasing thrust on tourism has
accelerated the threat. The high rate of migration from Goals attained
the state and the frequent traffic of emigrants added
to the reality of the state as a favored destination of  People living with HIV/AIDS have enhanced their
work force from other States are points to be pondered. quality of life in terms of improved care and support
services and social acceptability
Through the network of NGOs at grass root level, we  Empowered Communities guard themselves
could spot that vulnerability towards infection is more against HIV/AIDS
among women and children due to various factors.
Among them, the biological factors, gender Major Activities done by Partners in the reporting
discrimination, low level of knowledge and social stigma Period
are considered as the key elements. Even though there  Formation of Core Groups
are a number of agencies in the sphere of awareness  Awareness programmes for various sections of
generation, there is a lack of intervention among the society
 women and children. The HIV/ AIDS Prevention Care  Sensitizing groups of youngsters , women and
32 & Support Programme carried out by the coalition of men
ten NGOs may be considered the first consolidated  Training programmes for Peer Educators and
venture to address the issue. Promotion of Positive Speakers
 Medical Support to PLHA’s
Partners  Counseling Services
 Outreach Programmes
1. ATMATA, Changanacherry  Advocacy and Lobbying
2. Punalur Social Service Society, Punalur  Campaign {Street Plays} for Behavioral Change
3. Tellicherry Social Service Society, Kannur  Referral Services
4. Centre for Overall Development, Thamarasshery
State-level Review Meetings
In order to achieve timely and efficient implementation
of the project and to monitor its progress, quarterly
review meetings were convened for the project
directors and the partner staff under the facilitation of
CRS. These meetings turned to be cross learning
events and also as a tool to track the progress of the
project.

 Quarterly Meeting at Jeevana Calicut – 8- 9 July

2008
 First Review Meeting at Sarathi Angamaly –20-
21 November 2008
 Second Review Meeting at Jeevana Calicut – 23rd
March 2009
Monitoring and Evaluation

In order to track the activities at the grass root level,

CRS Programme Support Officers together with State
Project Coordinator and Accountant, visited the partner
organisations and the project areas. During these visits,
the team conducted programme vouching as well as
Financial Vouching and kept the track of the project.

Red Ribbon Express

A journey through the heart of India traversing 9000
kilometers covering 43200 villages and halting over
180 districts, RED RIBBON EXPRESS visited major
stations in Kerala to mainstream the concept of HIV/
AIDS among the common people.. KSSF and partners
availed the opportunity to conduct awareness
programmes at several places coming under the
purview of the project.
among the general public who visited the programme.
A stall was arranged by the Kerala Social Service “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise” 
Forum at Kottayam Railway station, exhibiting the On the 1st of December 2008 partners of the project 33
activities and messages of the project. Around 27,000 and other DSSSs observed world AIDS day with the
people including school students visited the stall. theme leadership & Message “Stop AIDS. Keep the
Subsequently ATMATA, ESSS, QSSS, SARATHI etc. Promise”. Public meetings, Rallies, Street Plays,
arranged stalls in various railway stations. HIV/AIDS Awareness Session, and Painting Competitions were
project under the banner of CRS got great attention organized as part of the observance.
 “Comprehensive Pediatric HIV/AIDS Care and
Treatment Programme”
Restoring smiles on the faces of his beloved ones

‘Comprehensive
Pediatric HIV/AIDS
Prevention, Care
and Treatment’ is a
State level health
programme
supported by
Clinton Foundation
HIV/AIDS Initiative
(CHAI) and Catholic
Relief Services
(CRS). The project
 is implemented
34 through 14 partner
organizations in
the 14 districts of
Kerala and they
are working for
pediatric
prevention, care
and treatment.
List of Partners

No Name of Organization
1 Centre for Overall Development, Thamarassery
2 Cochin Social Service Society
3 Ernakulam Social Service Society
4 Snehatheeram, Trivandrum
5 Malankara Social Service Society, Trivandrum
6 Peoples Service Society, Palakkad
7 Quilon Social Service Society
8 Sarathi, Angamaly
9 Shreyas, Bathery
10 St.John’s Health Centre, Trivandrum
11 Tellicherry Social Service Society
12 ATMATA Kendram, Changanacherry
13 Jeevana, Calicut
14 KAIROS, Kannur

Objectives of the programme: 35

 Ensure CLHAs to get registered at a government Table 1: List of CLHAs supported in the reporting year
ART center
Jeevana, 14
 To assist CLHAs to avail services from the gove- COD, 15
CSSS, 5
rnment ART center (CD4 test, cotrimoxazole, etc.)
KAIROS, 16
 Ensure regular follow-up of all enrolled CLHAs ESSS, 13

 Children on ART – Monthly

Snehatheeram, 5
 Children Pre-ART – Every 3 to 6 Months
 Ensure that CLHAs on ART adhere to the proper Atmata, 37 MSSS, 11
drug regimen
PSSP, 22
 Ensure monitoring of health & Prevention from
Opportunistic Infections
 Ensure that CLHAs are receiving care and support TSSS, 21 QSSS, 8
components
St.Johns, 7
 Psycho- Social Support of the CLHA
 Nutritional Support of the CLHA Shreyas, 5 Swathy, 45

 Travel support

Activities in the reporting year Total

224 CLHAs
Networking and Linkages

In order to sustain the programme, after the withdrawal

of Clinton Foundation, KSSF has initiated discussions
with other donors.
 Community Based Disaster Preparedness
Resilient communities in social transformation

K SSF is coordinating the activities of 10 partner

organizations in resilience building in the coastal
areas of 6 districts in Kerala. The project has gone
through two successful phases and established 1577
community based organizations (CBOs) with the
strength of 13567 trained community members to
manage disasters through risk reduction. It is
envisaged to transfer the community structures of the
program to the statutory machineries for disaster
management planned to be set up by District
Administration and Panchayat Raj institutions (PRIs).
vulnerability of any likely natural disasters
 Community Based Organizations are strengthened
to network and negotiate with government and civil
society organizations to access resources and
implement development programmes
 Communities are able to assess problems of water,
sanitation and environment and plan community
based programmes
Activities in brief:

Project Goal  Community mobilization

Capacitate the partners to mobilize community for
building up a resilient society in 335 wards in the coastal
belt and 54 wards in Kuttanad of Kerala state through
addressing risk reduction, vulnerability reduction, and
plans for prevention, mitigation, preparedness and
developmental interventions in a sustainable manner.

36 Specific objectives
 People in the target villages are capable of critically
assessing their own situations and make decisions
on their priorities
 Communities are appropriately prepared to reduce
 Participatory Learning and Action (PLA)
 Village Contingency Plan (VCP) preparation
 Task force (TF) formation
 Children’s group formation
 Capacity building of CBOs
 Interface with PRIs
 Life security programmes
 Participatory Livelihood Analysis
 Vulnerability mapping
 Promotion of organic farming
 Addressing issues of HIV/AIDS
 Water and sanitation program
 Networking and linkages with Govt
 Advocacy

Project area and partners

Sl. No Districts Working Partner No of Villages/wards

1 Trivandrum TSSS 47
MSSS 10
2 Quilon QSSS 31
3 Aleppey ADS 66
CHASS 26
QSSS 13
4 Pathanamthitta BODHANA 28
5 Ernakulam ESSS 52
WSE 26
CSSS 27
KIDS 18
6 Trichur KIDS 45
Total 389
 
Sri. Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian Affiars, Govt. of India inaugurating the II phase of 2nd year program of CBDP 37

Inauguration of the second phase of
SOA II
The initiatives under CBDP 2nd phase 11nd year
programme was kicked of at a colorful function at
Ernakulam by Mr. Vayalar Ravi the Minister for
Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India on May
24th. The Minister applauded KSSF and its member
organizations for its commendable intervention in relief,
rehabilitation and resilience building programmes in
the coastal belt of Kerala. Mr. Vinod Chandra Menon,
Member National Disaster Management Authority
presented a memento from NDMA to KSSF for its
contribution in disaster risk reduction ventures.

Achievements at partner level

CBOs in Disaster preparedness
Task Forces Details
Task Forces No Community Children GP members GO members
Members
Early warning team 315 2417 132 249 128
Search and Rescue Team 287 2892 152 221 139
Medical & First Aid team 303 2502 151 256 217
Relief & Rehabilitation Team 309 2467 114 194 141
Damage Assessment Team 198 1507 51 117 55
Water & Sanitation Team 122 891 395 73 20
Disaster Management Team 43 891 234 179 183
Total 1577 13567 983 1289 883
 Consolidated details of achievements at partner-level

Sl. No Activity No of units

1 Training to Task Force Members 387
2 Task force materials procured 154
3 Mock drills conducted 39
4 Staff capacitation programmes conducted 40
5 Trainings to field animators and CBO members together 111
6 Exposure visits of partner organization 9
7 Awareness programme to children on disaster preparedness 74
8 Interface programmes with PRI for net working and linkage 31
9 Environment and ecology awareness 12
10 Trainings on EDP 26
11 Meetings with Kudumbasree 33

Vigilance week observation 2008
 Mr. Vijaya Kumar Hon. Minister for Law and
38 Parliamentary Affairs Govt. of Kerala inaugurated the
state wide vigilance week programme at Kannanthura
Thiruvanthapuram on 20th May 08
‘Vigilance week’ was observed by all the partners in
May 08. The objective of the program was to create a
common platform to provide information on disaster
and disaster preparedness to the community.
Mainstreaming of the Disaster preparedness
programme by developing support groups other than
the CBOs in the CBDP programme was another
objective. Grass root level programmes were organized
in the project villages by the Coordination Committees.

Vigilance week program at partner level-consolidated data

Sl.No Activities No of units
1 Panchayat level Inauguration 7
2 District level inauguration 5
3 Medical camps 3
4 Training for task force members 4
5 Rally/Road show 4
6 Competitions for children 4
7 Seminar on Disaster preparedness 1
8 Photo exhibitions 3
9 Cleaning campaign 4
10 Street play 4
11 Task force convention 1
12 Health awareness program 6
Sri. M. Vijaykumar, Law Minister, inaugurating the vigilance
13 Children camp/trainings 2
week at Trivandrum
Seminars on disaster preparedness, competitions for
school children and health awareness programs were
the highlights during the week. Various programs were
organized from village level to district level by the
partner agencies.

Disaster Vigilance Meet at Kuttanad was organized at

Edathua on 19 th May 08. Mar Joseph Powathil
Archbishop Emeritus of Changanassery inaugurated
the meet.

Water and Sanitation (WATSAN)

Programmes
An important accompaniment of CBDP is concerted
intervention to improve the Water and Sanitation
facilities in the project area. Awareness generation on
health, hygiene and sanitation, rejuvenation of water
sources and cleaning campaigns are the major
components of the programme.
Baseline survey was conducted in the project areas to
make an understanding about the water systems and
water sources in the area. Water test was conducted

WATSAN - Activities in the year 

39
Sl.No Activity No of units
1 Total no of wards chosen for intervention 13
2 Well rejuvenation including back washing 42
3 Ponds improvement 11
4 No of biogas and vermin compost units installed and functional 15
5 Length of canal space improved and strengthened with vegetative measures 1

Outcome of the interventions

Technical
 Improved quality of water of
the treated sources
 ncreased the quality and
quantity of water in public well
 Improved environmental
sanitation
Social
 Behavioral Change in community in using public wells
 Recovery of wells is widely appreciated by the community
 Involvement of Self Help Groups in monitoring and managing
wells marked as good indicator of sustainability of the
programme
 Good ownership and efforts from the community for
improving the water quality
 Reduced expenditure for drinking water transportation
 Community expressed the desire to extent the interventions
for the benefits of more people
 Households and user groups satisfied with the improvement
of water quality
 in the villages to ensure the purity of water sources. Back washing of wells, rejuvenating ponds, awareness
programmes are the activities under the programme. System boundary approach was adopted for renovating
wells and ponds in the project area. Back washing and phyto remediation are other two methods took up for
water renovation. Community user groups have been formed in each project area to ensure the participation of
people. Weekly meetings of these groups review the activities under the WATSAN programme, ensure the
cleanliness of respective villages and take remedial measures if necessary.

Achievement at forum level

Capacity building of partners
In the reporting year we organized the following capacity building programmes for Kerala partners.
Sl.No Date Name of the programme Resource persons
1 4-5 Training on sphere standards Mr. Kushal Neogy,
Dec 08 for Caritas partners in Kerala State Representative, CRS
2 22-23 Workshop on LFA with gender Sri.P.V.Baiju , Lecturer, Sree
June 08 indicators and documentation Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit &
process Sri.P.K.Kurian, Training Manger,
PLANET Kerala
3 30 Sep – Workshop on Documentation and Mr. Koshy Mathew, documentation
 01 Oct 08 report writing skills consultant from Bangalore
40 4 22-23 Workshop on developing field Mr. P.J.Varkey State Officer, Caritas India
Sep 08 monitoring tools

Information Education & Communication (IEC)

Leaflets and posters on Disaster Preparedness (QSSS), Documentary on children’s group activities in ecological
preservation (MSSS), Resource directory with emergency phone numbers (MSSS), Handbook on Health Care

Review meetings in the reporting year

Year Month Date Venue
2008 April 9 Welfare Services Ernakulam
May 9 Ernakulam Social Service Society
June 16 Aleppey Diocesan Society
July 4 Quilon Social Service Society
August 12 Malankara Social Service Society
September 1 AMOS Centre, Kottayam
October 7 Bodhana, Thiruvalla
November 7 Kovalom Animation Centre
December 4 Aleppey Diocesan Society
2009 January 8 Ernakulam Social Service Society
February 17 AMOS Centre, Kottayam
March 6 AMOS Centre, Kottayam
(Bodhana) and CBDP Calendar (Bodhana), Street play
on road safety (TSSS) are some of the documents
produced by the partners for disseminating the
knowledge on disaster preparedness.
Project review meetings
Kerala Social Service Forum organized review
meetings to monitor the program as well as to make
decisions for course correction and capacitating the
project staff.
With the aim of updating the knowledge base of project
persons, in put sessions were organized in the
meetings. Details of inputs given are given below.
1. ‘Water and Sanitation’ – by PLANET Kerala
2. ‘Process Documentation’ – by Mr. Stalin,
Communication Officer, CMT, Caritas India
3. ‘Vulnerability of the Kerala Coast & Response of
NGOs in Disaster Preparedness Mitigation’ – By
Mr. Shibu, Faculty, Disaster management, M.G.
University
4. Interaction with Sri. T.T. Antony IAS, Add. Sec.
Revenue Department
5. ‘Coastal Regulation Zone & Coastal Management
Zone’ – by CESS
Result of Resilience building
 Kerala Social Service Forum and its 10 partner
organizations attained competency in systematic
planning, implementation and monitoring of disaster
preparedness programmes including networking,
advocacy and lobbying.
 Programme staff were capacitated to plan,
implement and monitor the progress and process
of disaster preparedness programmes effectively
 Best practices and replicable models of CBDP
programme among the partners are shared and
adopted mutually
 Attitudinal changes of the community after the
initiation of CBDP programme were recorded
through various case studies 
 Monitoring systems are developed at forum level 41
in which monthly visits of personnel to partner
 Sri. K.P. Rajendran, Revenue Minister inaugurating State-level CBDRM, at KIDS

organization are mandatory and thereby efficiency (CBDRM) project supported and monitored by United
is promoted in programme implementation Nations Development Programme aims to create
  Community consciousness has been evoked resilient villages and link the community based
42 through disaster vigilance week observances and structures to the district administration with allocation
massive sensitization occurred and the need for of early warning systems for prompt action.
disaster preparedness was raised from the key
actors of social development District wise status of villages in DRM
supported by UNDP
Networking and Linkages
S.No District Partner No of villages
Better networking and linkages with Govt and other organization supported
line departments are established at state level for the 1 Trivandrum TSSS 24
sustainable implementation of the programme. State MSSS 0
government and the line departments have provided
2 Quilon QSSS 30
adequate support for the successful implementation
of CBDP. Govt and the other key actors acknowledged 3 Aleppey ADS 23
and recognized the changes taken place among the CHASS 0
community after the initiatives of CBDP programme in QSSS 3
coastal areas. 4 Pathanamthitta BODHANA 0
5 Ernakulam ESSS 8
Partnership with UNDP (United
Nations Development Programme) WSE 8
CSSS 12
Project partners received enviable recognition from the KIDS 3
Disaster Management Dept., of Govt of Kerala when 6 Trichur KIDS 45
they were awarded with the implementation of
7 Kozhikodu Jeevana 40
“Community Based Disaster Risk Management
project” in seven out of the nine coastal districts in the 8 Kannur MASS
State. Community Based Disaster Risk Management TOTAL 196
Women and Child Protection Program
Enabling the communities to protect women and children

I rrefutable is the fact that trafficking of women and

children is a grave violation of Human Rights and
one of the most serious organized crimes of the day,
Accomplishments

 Sensitization to line departments

transcending cultures, geography and time. The  Sensitization to PRI’s
collective response of the Church with the patronage  Sensitization to media personnel’s
of Catholic Relief Services is now in the third year of  Sensitization to Police
implementation.  IEC Materials
 Constituting village legal aid cell/Counseling/
Our member Organizations played a constructive role Advocacy
in the awareness generation and formation of  Training and Strengthening of SHG’s
community structures. Suraksha Project aiming the  Training and Strengthening of Youth Groups
protection of women and children commenced its  Life skill training to children
intervention in July 2006 as a follow up of the resilience  Training program on Child rights and impacts of
building activities of Tsunami Recovery Programme. trafficking
Project went through two interim periods of three  Seminar on Trafficking and unsafe migration for
months before the second phase was initiated for one youth
year in October 2008.  Skill training program for
 Observation of International day for Women’s
Key Focus areas of the project Protection
 Street plays
 Reducing the prevalence of unsafe migration  Strengthening the CVG’s 
 Reducing the incidence of the domestic violence in  Strengthening of the Children Parliament 43
the operational areas  Knowledge building program for Targeted women
 Increasing the safety of women and children at on legal aspects
home/destination around circumstances involving  Family awareness programs
migration  Awareness class for school children
Partners of the Project
NGO District Intervention Areas
Malankara Social Service Society Trivandrum Kanjiramkulam, Athiyannur and Poovar
National Domestic Workers Movement Trivandrum Trivandrum Taluk
Quilon Social Service Society Kollam Needakara, Alapad, KS Puram,
Ayanivelikulangara, Clapana and
Kollam Corporation
Aleppey Diocesan Centre and Aleppey Cherthala, Mararikkulam
Charitable Society (South & North) Punnapra,
Ambalapuzha GPs and
Alleppey Municipality
Cochin Social Service Society Ernakulam & Ezhupunna & Kumbalangy GPs
Aleppey
Welfare Services Ernakulam Ernakulam Kuzhipally & Njarackal
Ernakulam Social Service Society Ernakulam Elamkunnapuzha, Njarakkal,
Nayarambalam, Edavanakadu GPs
Kottapuram Integrated Thrissur & Vadekkekkara, Eriad, Methala,
Development Society Ernakulam Kaipamangalam, Engandiyur GPs
 the community structures which requires continued
accompaniment to make them sustainable. The
protracted aim is effective integration with the
Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Monitoring and Evaluation

In order to monitor the programme in a sharpened

 Training on community counseling to CVG’s
 Interface and Exposure of Child Parliament to
District
 Networking with child line and Rehabilitation homes
  Interface with government departments
44  Establishing ‘Âshwas’ – A comprehensive
community resource center providing necessary
services to affected and the vulnerable
 Market analysis for Alternative Income Generation
Projects
 Advocacy programmes for Residence Associations
 Information directory and Migration date base
 Formation of Alumni of trained youth
Community structures formed
The best practices in the project are the formation of
manner we organised quarterly review meeting of the
Directors and Coordinators and this acted as a sharing
platform for the best practices. In order to track the
activities in the grass root level Programme Support
Officer CRS and State Coordinator conducted field
visits through the NGO’s as and when required. Team
guided the partners for the timely and systematic
implementation of the activities under the programme
as stated in the project proposal, and advised on
improvements.
Trafficking of women and children and domestic
violence has emerged as major problems in the
emerging social mosaic of Kerala. Fragile socio
economic condition facilitates and complicates the
issue. The project aimed at forming Community
Vigilance Groups to address the issues related to WCP.
These groups were successful in intervening in cases
ranging from incest, trafficking, demanding basic
amenities etc. Yet another target of the program was
the formation of the children’s groups which have
turned out to be beacons of hope in a battered society.
With emphasis on change in behavior, notable
progress has been marked in leadership skills and
responsible and responsive lifestyles.

Community Vigilance Groups Bal Panchayats

NGO No Members Male Female No Members Boys Girls
MSSS 16 140 54 86 17 281 144 137
QSSS 10 75 17 58 10 191 106 85
ADS 11 165 0 165 6 120 42 78
ESSS 12 211 0 211 10 250 116 134
CSSS 35 1218 381 837 29 2213 1017 1196
WSE 10 90 10 80 2 30 10 20
KIDS 13 212 67 145 14 262 121 141
Total 107 2111 529 1582 88 3347 1556 1791
Eco Restoration Project
Restoring the lost equilibrium
E cologists of the present century have to contend
with pristine landscapes now containing only
remnant fragments of natural ecosystems, amidst
degraded areas and human-impacted sites. All the
apparatus in the universe are arranged in a hierarchy
to coordinate with each other for the survival of
themselves. So the elimination of one or some of them
definitely raises a threat to the survival of others also.
The depletion of the ecology should be viewed
seriously. The growing population and man’s
dependence on the ecology are responsible for the
depletion. It may be a contradiction that while man was
progressing over the years the mother earth was
disintegrating.
Concerned with the depletion of the ecology Kerala
Social Service Forum was able to co-ordinate a novel
project “Promotion of Agro Enterprises and Eco-
restoration Programme” for developing Self-reliant
communities in the High Ranges of Idukki Districts and
Wayanad to redeem the pristine ecology for the survival
of man. Peermade Development Society, Peermade,
Director inaugurating learning session of Eco Restoration project
High Range Development Society, Idukki & Shreyas,
Wayanad were the implementing partners with Catholic
Relief Services supporting the intervention.
Objectives of the programme
 To promote appropriate agriculture practices for the
restoration of bio diversity.
 To sustain the proper management of natural
resources by taking up appropriate eco-restoration
measures
 To develop supplementary sources of livelihood for
the farming community and laborers in the target
area
 To mitigate the impact of environmental pollution
through the promotion of eco friendly life style.
As part of a 2-years emergency response program,
CRS helped the three project partners to cover many
of the marginalized farmers and population’s
immediate needs around the first and second part of 
the program objectives, including the awareness 45
 programs, capacity building programs, natural resource
management especially through the construction of soil
bund, stone bunds, springs development, rain water
harvest tanks, Silpauline tanks, community water
harvesting tanks , planting of sapling of trees as part
of afforestaion and also the promotion of organic
farming with an additional support of various income
generation programs.

Accomplishments
 More than 50 Awareness creation camps on NRM
 Technical training on BCA preparation & application
to 1000 farmers
 Technical training on value addition to spices to 750
farmers
 Organic cultivation and certification to 300 farmers
 Stone bunding, 35 Silpolin Tanks, 300 Rain Water
Harvesting structures, 87 well renovation, 80 spring
development, 6 community water harvesting
 schemes etc. Demonstration in organic farming
46

“The joy of creation”

Integrated Development through Empowerment
and Action (IDEA)
To the new arenas of development

I ntegrated Development through Empowerment and

Action (IDEA) was introduced by Caritas India as
an approach to place development within the
be broadly said as the key objective of the process.
Other NGOs in the area in agreement with the vision
of DSSS and PRI in the area perceived as collaborators
mainstream of diocesan pastoral dynamics. The in our mission. IDEA suggests that the core
intervention under this label is conceived as a ‘process’ competencies, creativity, manpower, resources and like
to develop organizational backing for sustainability and mindedness of these ‘development actors’ could be
local ownership. Seven dioceses in Kerala are in integrated to build a just society.
various stages of initiating the process.
The first step in the process was to revalidate the
Diocesan Perspective Plan documents.
Diocese Name of the DSSS
Idukki Highrange Development Society Setting up priorities
Kannur KAIROS
The DPP workshops carried out with the help of
Muvattupuzha SAMRIDHY Development Consultants, Caritas State Officer and
Irinjalakuda SAFI the Executive Director of KSSF, have been remarkable
Kozhikode JEEVANA as they helped each diocese to set their priority issues.
Punalur PSSS The priority issues were termed to be the ‘Thrust Areas’,
for which the development actors in a diocese should
Vijayapuram VSSS
give thrust to, in the forthcoming years. A glance over
the ‘Thrust Areas’ show that they do reflect the true 
The process of IDEA needs of the society where each diocese is established. 47
Based on these Thrust Areas, each Diocese has set
IDEA upholds ‘integration’ as its key word. Achieving up ‘Thrust Area Committees’ (TACs) which are to draft
Integration of all Development Actors- ministries, position papers and plan of action in the respective
congregations—and all Programmes for thrusts. The various Diocesan Actors of development
Empowerment and Action in the partner Dioceses can are supposed to share their resources to realise these
action plans.

Diocese Thrust Area Committees on

Idukki  Natural Resources Management

 Family & Education
 Community Based Organisations

Kannur  Health
 NRM
 Education
 Livelihood
 Dalits
 Fisher folk
 Gender

Muvattupuzha  Human and institutional development

Organisational Development

Irinjalakuda  Community Based Organisations

 Capacity building
  Agriculture
 Health

Kozhikode  Education
 Health
 Natural Resources
 Management
 Livelihood
 Peace building

Punalur  Organisational Development

 Natural Resources Management
 Education
 sustainable livelihood
 Value Education

Vijayapuram  Human and InstitutionalDevelopment

 Organisational Development
 Community Based Organisations
 Health
 Non violence and child development
  Politics
48

Structures that promote IDEA

In order to sustain the ‘integrated approach’ IDEA
process suggests constitution of Core Development
Cell in each of the Dioceses which will be chaired by
the Bishop and convened by the Diocesan Director of
Social Works. It is a mandatory structure as directed
by Caritas India. Apart from the Bishop, Vicar General,
Members of the Diocesan Curia, Heads of Ministries
and Congregations in the Diocese, heads of like
minded NGOs and thematic experts, the Development
Consultant of Caritas India, the State Officer of Caritas
India and the Executive Director of KSSF are also the
part of the CDC which is empowered to review and
monitor the process of integration. It puts forward
suggestions for the Capacity Enhancement
Programmes for the second line leaders of the Diocese,
irrespective of ministries or departments. It also
proposes common programmes jointly undertaken by
the various actors in a diocese. Each of the Dioceses
has formulated another mandatory consultative body
named the Diocesan Development Advisory Body
(DDAB) constituted with experts and eminent
personalities of the Diocese. The suggestions of the
CDC also are discussed for follow up in the DDAB.
Another structure IDEA proposes to have is the Core
Committee for Networking & Advocacy (CCNA) which
is yet to be formed in all the partner Dioceses. Among
these four structures of IDEA process (TACs, CDC,
DDAB, CCNA) the CDC assumes great importance
as it is a working committee which steers the destiny
of IDEA in each diocese.
In the reporting year 16 CDC meetings were convened
in the partner dioceses.
Value addition
Other than building up the above structures and
conducting its meetings, each DSSS has a project
component within IDEA. Either it is the value addition
of the previously funded project of Caritas India in that
Diocese, or it is proposing intervention in new localities,
where the DSSS has not yet involved for development
activities. All the seven partner Dioceses are having
CBO level interventions as part of value addition or
interventions in new areas.
 
49

IDEA partners

Accompaniment & organisational

developmenT
Another feature of IDEA is that Caritas India has organization were revisited in sittings of the DDSWs
entrusted a Development Consultant to each Diocese and the staff.
who accompanies the process of organisational
Development in each of these dioceses. As already Development Consultants
mentioned, the DSSS being the lead agent of social Mr. John T Samuel
activities in a diocese with all basic infrastructures, its Mr. P K Kurian
professionalism also is envisaged. The DCs visit each
Diocese as and when required, conducts OD
workshops, attends CDCs and puts forward
suggestions for improvement of the systems and
structures. As part of the interventions of the DCs,
Finance and HR policies are in place in almost all of
the DSSSs. The vision, mission and value base of the
 Capacity Enhancement Programmes
(CEP)
CEP is a software component of IDEA. It identifies the
organizational development needs of the partner
stakeholders and provides assistance in carrying out
the same. CEP programmes are envisaged at DSSS
and KSSF level. KSSF had arranged training in March
2008 in Project proposal writing, for all the IDEA
coordinators to sharpen their skills. A couple of other
trainings as detailed below have taken place in the
partner Dioceses.
IDEA Coordinators’ Meeting (ICM) is anew platform
developed as part of the process. It has been a
milestone in the Capacity Enhancement of the IDEA
coordinators wherein best practices where shared and
cross learning took place. It takes place bimonthly at
each of the partner Diocese. KSSF, Development
Consultant and State Officer of Caritas India closely
accompany the ICM. It has surely improved their skills
in reporting and documentation as well as timely
planning and implementation of programmes under
IDEA.

Moovattupuzha
Irinjalakkuda

Vijayapuram

Mavelikkara
Programmes

Punalur
Kannur
Calicut

Idukki
 Capacity Enhancement of staff        
50 Capacity Enhancement of GB Members  
SWOT Analysis workshop for Staff 
Revisit of DPP        
Gap analysis workshop     
Professional training in computer application  
Training on professional documentation        
Students counseling training for education
ministry members & school HMs 
Training in Social analysis for congregations superiors  
Strengthening of CBOs & SHGs   
TOT for Core group for value education 
PME training for youth 
Organizational Development workshop   
Workshop on Human Rights for staff 
PRA workshop for staff and selected CB leaders 
Gender sensitivity Training to the presidents and
secretaries of pious organizations 
3 days residential leadership training camp for the
second line leaders from all pious organisations 
Liaison Office – Thiruvananthapuram
Validating our relevance

 Transferring information on funding possibilities and

T he Liaison office in the capital city was able to
extend its frontiers of contact and capture the
possibilities in partnering with Govt line departments.
NGO collaboration
 Timely transfer of Notifications, Application
The wide horizon of State funding for community guidelines and forms
mobilization and poverty reduction is unfolding through  Forwarding applications and following up with
the mediation of the Liaison office at Thiruvanthapuram. concerned departments.
Our campaign for a healthy partnership between Govt  Representing DSSSs for project discussion etc;
and DSSSs and resource mobilization has made  Representing KSSF in conferences and workshops
breakthrough. Battering the fortress of the red taped at the capital city.
beaurocracy we have been able to link the member
organizations for meaningful partnership. The government departments, which
are interacted by KSSF Liaison
Objective department
 To network with Govt. departments, quasi govt. 1. Public Relation Department (PRD) GOK & GOI
depts., corporations and boards under the 2. GoK-Social Welfare Department (SWD)
patronage of govt. for formulation of policies and
3. GoI - Social Welfare Board
for NGO collaboration.
 Information exchange and updating relevant data. 4. GoK - Women’s Commission (WC)
 Lobbying for partnership in relief, welfare and 5. GoK - Women’s Development Corporation (WDC)
development interventions. 6. GoK - Revenue Department 
 Representing DSS to Govt depts. and following up 7. GoK - Disaster management 51
on their behalf.
8. GoK - Tsunami Rehabilitation Cell (TRP Cell)
 Helping the DSSS for effective action
 Linking CRS to State programmes. 9. Kerala State Handicapped Persons Welfare
Corporation (KSHPWC)
Strategies 10. Kerala State Backward Class Development
Corporation (KSBCDC)
 Linkages with state Govt departments and Govt. 11. Kerala State Aids Control Society (KSACS)
sponsored corporations

Some of the successful ventures in Govt. –DSSSs collaboration

Schemes and Projects DSSSs availed
Japan Fund For Poverty Reduction (JFPR) Bodhana, KIDS, QSSS, KSSS, MSSS,
JEEVANA, and WSE
Kerala State Handicapped Persons KSSS
Welfare Corporation
National Environment Awareness campaign KSSS (Kottayam) & KSSS (Kothamangalam)
Community Based Disaster Risk Management TSSS, MSSS, QSSS, ADC & SWS, CSSS,
ESSS, WSE and KIDS
State Horticulture Mission All DSSSs applied
NORKA ROOTS KSSF
Kerala State Handicapped Persons All DSSSs
Welfare Corporation
Tsunami Rehabilitation Housing project QSSS
 12. NABARD
13. GoK-Schedule Caste \Schedule Tribe Department
14. GoI – Ministry of women & child Development Department
15. GoI- Ministry of Justice for Social Developments.
16. National Rural Health Mission.
17. ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization).
18. Kerala State Horticultural Mission.
19. CTCRI (Central Tuber Crops Research Institute).
20. Government of Kerala – Kuttanad Package Cell.
21. Central Water Commissioner Office.
22. Center for Environment and Development.
23. Other Likeminded NGOs Working in same sector.

Funding opportunities disseminated to the partners

 Community Radio Scheme
 Ministry of Environment and Forest
  State Horticulture Mission
52  Centre for Environment and Development
 National Commission for Minorities
 Integrated Child Development Scheme
 Ministry of Tribal affairs
 Grants from Ministry of Law and Justice
 NABARD
 NORKA
 Micro Credit opportunity from India Post
 Grants for development of play grounds from State Youth Board
 Micro credit opportunities from India Post
 National Human Rights Commission
 Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF)
 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)
 Global Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative; India Country Program by
the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy/UNDP/GEF.
 National Commission for Women
 Kerala State Handicapped Persons Welfare Corporation
 Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment
 Rural Business Hubs from Ministry of Panchayath Raj
 Suraksha project from State AIDS Control Society
 Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation
 Grants from Child Health Foundation
 Development Market Place for Nutrition
 European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights
 Grants from European Commission for gender equality
 SEED Awards
Knowledge Dissemination
Development Communications


53

E-journal
 Annual Accounts


54

55

56

57
 Outflow of Funds

1 AMOS Expenditure
2 Local Fund
3 Capital Expenditure
4 Earmarked Funds

Inflow of Funds


58

1 AMOS Income
2 Local Fund
3 Capital Reciepts
4 Earmarked Funds

Earmarked Funds

1 CBDP Fund (Caritas India)

2 Gender Mainstreaming (")
3 WCP Fund (CRS)
4 SFC Fund (Caritas India)
5 Food Security Fund (IBC)
6 Health Fund (CRS)
 
59

KSSF Team

Our Gratitude towards

Catholic Relief Services Caritas India Italian Bishops’ Conference

 Bindhu Abraham, Varghese C John and Deepak O J

60

Edited and compiled by

Fr. Romance Antony
KERALA SOCIAL SERVICE FORUM
AMOS Center, Adichira, Thellakom P.O., Kottayam,
Kerala - 686 016, India
Tel: 0481 - 2594802/ 03
Fax: 0481 - 2591795
Email: kssforum@yahoo.com
www.kssf.org

Regional Offices
Opp Civil Station, Kalpatta North, Wayanad, Kerala - 673 122.
Tel: 04936 - 206473
Email: sfcwayanad@gmail.com

TC 26/269, Spencer Junction, AGS Office P.O., Trivandrum, Kerala - 695 039.
Tel: 0471 - 2325401
Email: kssftvm@yahoo.com