St Vincent de Paul Society assists primitive tribes in south India

Members of the St. Vincent De Paul Society (SSVP), Capuchin Franciscans, and government officials teamed up to help the "Irular" community, one of the primitive indigenous people of south India.

On June 25, the core group of members of the SSVP of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry visited the Senjikuppam settlement, where the "Irular" community lives.

SSVP members, Capuchin Franciscans—Father Nithiya Sagayam, OFM.Cap, and Father Sathyaseelan, OFM. Cap—and government officials discussed ways to assist the primitive people effectively at the Thalir Capuchin Center.

Raj Kumar, former president of the SSVP of the archdiocese and a teacher from Pondicherry, and Joseph, another core group member of the SSVP and an official dealing with the employment scheme of the government, met the people in person and dialogued with them.

The team collected details about the family's status and checked their prospects.

The present president of SSVP encouraged children about their holistic health and education. 

He also distributed the stationery to the children. The secretary of SSVP distributed food packets to the children.

The vice president of SSVP spoke to the "Irular" community and gathered all the details about their socioeconomic status, struggles, and challenges. 

The core group members SSVP spoke to them about the importance of education, employment, and transformation in their future. They also spoke to them about utilizing the government's schemes for their well-being.

Joseph, a government official, explained to them about the rural employment schemes, and strategies to reach out to the officials. He distributed the food packets to all the children.

"The children who never got used to meeting outsiders are now familiar with and friendly with others. It is a great shift in their lifestyle. The people also gathered to meet us. This is also rare. People, in general, are shy about meeting others," said Father Sagayam, a social activist.

"Along with the Capuchin Fathers and the Vincent De Paul networks, we look forward to a new society in their lives with a bright future," he added.

Even though the government is now helping them buy a house, it is a long process. Besides, they have several basic needs to be taken care of.

The Irular community is the most abandoned in society. In the whole of India, these primitive tribal people are the ones living in extreme poverty.

Due to the discrimination and suppression of other people, they withdrew themselves into secluded places. They are by nature shy and quiet but in subhuman conditions.

Usually, they lived in four to five families on the lakeside and riverbanks. They have recently been relocated to stay together in settlements in different places. One such settlement with around 100 families is at Senjikuupam. The Capuchin friars from Thalir Center near Villupuram are involved in their holistic welfare.

There is no permanent residence and no land ownership among them. There are no roads or running water, electricity, medical facilities, recreation for children, toilets, privacy, security, a school for children, permanent jobs, economic status, or savings.

They do not have regular employment or a future. There is no place for people to congregate, and there is no organized system.

Due to their geographical situation, they live far away from others. The children never entered any school as they were cut off from society.

Children stay at home to take care of the house and the siblings, while their parents go far away to earn money and visit the children once a month.

They fetch water from far away, cook food, and do household chores. When they grow up, they just join their parents and work with them. The children live with low self-esteem, without any plans for their future.

"They just survive. They live without any access to medicine or healthcare. And they usually die young. Rarely do we come across people living in old age," said Father Sagayam.

During the recent visit, the Capuchin Friars distributed to each family food, clothing for children, and a pocket of mango fruits. They supplied them with notebooks, as they are first-time learners. 

But soon they found out that the children needed more basic needs than education. Hence, besides notebooks and stationery, they gave each family a packet with combs, bathing soaps, washing soap, hair oil, and toothpaste to make the children presentable.

The Vincent De Paul group members interacted with the people and the children. A deacon,  Anthuvan from Pondicherry, joined the Vincent De Paul group and animated the children with hope for the future. 

The Vincent De Paul group members are to focus on the education of children, their character formation, and motivating parents about their future.

The Capuchin Fathers supplied nutritious snacks and food to children and elders. They taught them brain games. This way, they are prepared for the new system by going to school and getting prepared to meet other children and for the school education system.

If a primitive Tribal family could be adopted by a group of friends, with their support, SSVP could focus on their holistic welfare. 

There is a great need for income-generating potential. Each family urgently needs a Solar lamp with a plug point for a charger. Because none of these houses have electricity. They need mats and sheets to sleep. They need a plastic sheet to cover their thatched roofs. When it rains, the rain enters the house through the roofs. They need utensils and vessels for family and individual use.

"They also need trees, and hence we like to give them tree plants for each house since this place is always dry and hot," said Father Sagayam.

The children need additional dresses for regular use. Presently, they use just the same school uniforms. They cannot afford to buy additional dresses.

The children need school bags and stationery. They need to be healthy and build up their immune systems. They also need games to give them ample opportunity to interact and develop their talents.

The SSVP is a worldwide Catholic charitable organization that was established in 1833 to sanctify its members through direct assistance to the underprivileged. -Santosh Digal