ഉപയോക്താവ്:Committed social workers
Committed Social Workers(CSWs)
Societal advancement of any population is closely linked with the interventional mechanisms present in the particular society. The Scheduled Tribe population in Wayanad district was devoid of such interventional mechanisms to a large extent. Realising this fact, the Government of Kerala deployed Committed Social Workers in Wayanad district. The objective behind this mission was to ensure presence of Social Workers among the Scheduled Tribe Population so as to ensure their societal advancement. qualification of CSWs
Societal advancement of any population is closely linked with the interventional mechanisms present in the particular society. The Scheduled Tribe population in Wayanad district was devoid of such interventional mechanisms to a large extent. Realising this fact, the Government of Kerala deployed Committed Social Workers in Wayanad district. The objective behind this mission was to ensure presence of Social Workers among the Scheduled Tribe Population so as to ensure their societal advancement.
Committed Social Workers (CSW) have been creatively and proactively working in Wayanad district for ensuring betterment of standards of living of Scheduled Tribe population. CSWs are working under the direct control and supervision of the Sub Collector, Mananthavadi. From the very beginning of the project, CSWs are actively intervening in various issues related to Tribal Development and Welfare. The realm and scope of work for Committed Social Worker is very vast, which is both broad and deep at the same time. Horizontally, the work is spread among the colonies/settlements in one Grama Panchayat/Municipality area. Vertically, the work is very large in its scope ranging from Making available basic government services like various certificates, Ration Card, Election Photo Identity Card, Aadhaar Card etc. to deep and integral sociologic interventions for preventing alcoholism, drug abuse, child marriage, child labour, atrocities etc.
The Role of CSWs
The role of Committed Social Workers is multi-pronged. CSWs are acting as a liaison between the Administration and Scheduled Tribe Population. CSWs function as a co-ordinating agency between various government departments. Data collection, information dissemination and development ensuring interventions are some of the other roles. As a group of professionally qualified, young, enthusiastic and self motivated Social Workers, we have been successfully engaging in a social transformation process among Scheduled Tribe Population in Wayanad under the guidance of Hon. Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Tribe and under the leadership of District Collector. Our targeted interventions have brought about much positive changes in Scheduled Tribe development.
As it is common to all Sociologic interventions, the efforts taken by us require continuity of operation. In order to bring in the complete desired change, the social catalysts need be continuously monitored, analysed and intervened wherever necessary. We humbly list out some of the major achievements we have made so far for kind consideration.
An Overview of CSWs Performance 1. Rapport has been built with the Scheduled Tribe population in Wayanad district. This rapport is a mandatory pre-requisite for any sociological intervention. Now we are in a better position to communicate with ST population as we have successfully and carefully built a workable platform of trust between us and the ST population. 2. Through our interventions, many Scheduled Tribe citizens have received their rightful Government services like Ration card, Aadhaar card, EPIC etc. We are successful in ensuring availability of various Social Security Pensions for eligible beneficiaries, who were left out of the Social Security Network for a multitude of reasons. Various certificates and electric connections were also made available to many beneficiaries. 3. During this academic year, we worked among the ST population to ensure that maximum students get admission to Pre-metric Hostels. Unlike previous years, the number of admission in all the pre-metric hostels in Wayanad is more than the approved strength this year. 4. In higher secondary education, under the leadership of District Collector, we conducted Special Camp for admission this year. It was a successful mission, through which a number of ST students received admission to Plus One course. 5. It was conducted Special Camps with reference to Personality development, career counselling, motivation for solving the barriers like lack of confidence, problems of higher education, lack of motivation etc.. for SSLC and Plus Two Passed ST students. 6. CSWs helped many students to secure admission in Model Residential Schools in Wayanad district and outside Wayanad like Nilambur Model Residential School. 7. It was a common practise to collect mandatory PTA fund and Activity Fund from ST students. Economically backward ST students often find it difficult to make such payments. This kind of compulsory fund collection was causing undue hardship for ST students. The situation was brought to the notice of District Collector and got an order passed for stopping such mandatory collections. 8. CSWs have been actively working to prevent drop out from schools. 9. ASAP is an ambitious and fruitful program of Government of Kerala for imparting skill training. Enrolment of ST youth was less. CSWs actively intervened in the issue and have made much progress in enrolment of ST youth in ASAP. 10. CSWs conducted a study about the condition of pre-primary education and submitted the report to Sub Collector, Mananthavadi along with suggestions for improving the scenario. 11. Some irregularities in PDS entitlement distribution were come to attention during colony visits. The same was resolved through intervention at PDS distributor level and Civil Supplies official’s level. 12. Oorukoottams are an effective tool for effective decentralised planning. Oorukoottams ensure participation of ST community in development planning. CSWs actively took part in strengthening of Oorukoottams. Hamlet Development Committees (HDCs) are being formed in colonies to ensure improved and targeted participation of ST population in development activities. 13. Action was taken to ensure maximum participation from ST students in the admission process to Navodaya Vidyalaya and CBSE - UDDAAN. 14. Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is one of the major welfare scheme ensuring jobs to the jobless. It’s a livelihood mission which translates the ambitions of otherwise hopeless populations into reality. Realising the importance of this scheme, CSWs have been struggling hard to ensure maximum participation of ST population in the scheme. We are working with a target to ensure 100% Job Card delivery to ST population. 15. District Collector has formed a Tribal Helpline and Welfare Monitoring Cell at Collectorate. Here, anyone can contact the toll free number 1077 and lodge a complaint. The District Collector absorbed Committed Social Workers to the Cell. CSWs worked at field level and collected more than 600 petitions from ST population. These petitions are processed at the Tribal Cell and the grievances are being resolved.
16. CSWs conducted special camp for ensuring issuance of RSBY health card to all ST families. Worked in co-operation with the District Lottery Office and District Administration to ensure that the assistance under Karunya Benevolent Fund reaches needy and deserving ST patients. 17. CSWs have been collecting data about service delivery parameters of various departments and have been convening Adalats for ensuring timely service availability to all ST Citizens. 18. Scheduled Tribe housing schemes are a major area where middlemen are exploiting Tribes. Realising this issue, the Hon. Minister for Welfare of ST gave orders for forming Tribal Construction Societies. CSWs gave leadership for formation of societies. CSWs organised skilled ST labour force and encourages them to form a society. These societies have started functioning. In the months to come, the Tribal Housing sector in Wayanad will witness a revolutionary change. On the one hand, the societies will eliminate middlemen's exploitation and ensure good quality construction. On the other hand, it will create more jobs for Skilled and Non-skilled Tribal workers. 19. CSWs have been proactively working to ensure legal protection for Tribes. We worked in unison with the community and identified instances of Child Abuse, Child Labour, and Atrocities against Tribes etc. CSWs have been successful in getting legal actions initiated against offenders in all such cases. Conclusion The above narrated activities are not exhaustive but only indicative. We have been working in the field to create awareness, ensure sociological advancement of Tribes, prevent exploitation and help the community to sustainably develop itself into a mainstream social group. Our activities are at the first stage. The work that we have started with very good momentum and enthusiasm need be continued in the years to come also, so as to ensure proper, suitable and visible change. The social and societal circumstance of the ST population in Wayanad is steadily showing signs of positive change. The ST population in Wayanad has much potential for sociological advancement. What we have done so far is only the first step of a long journey. At least a couple more years of continuous and preponderant interventions are inevitable for ensuring successful completion of the mission. Sociological issues present among the Tribal Population in Wayanad can be resolved through dedicated, devoted and committed efforts.