Thursday, September 25, 2008

Welfare Organisations

Prior to the 40’s, the village did not have any organization for social or cultural activity.

Around 1943, there was a Rural Reconstruction Organization, headed by Mr.Devdas of Nagercoil. Assisted by his wife, he educated the villagers in beekeeping, poultry farming and improved agricultural methods. He also created facilities for recreation for the youth such as parallel bars, swing, ball badminton and calisthenics. His efforts helped improve the health of the village youth.

He also encouraged river swimming during the flood season. Boothathan was an expert swimmer who forded the river with the help of a theppa kattai when the floods were heavy. This was an exercise to save people if they were marooned or swept away.

The velar brother, along with Subbiah Thevar of Keezhanatham managed their oars.

Around 1947, Mr.Devadas left the village. The RRC was never revived in independent India.

From 1944 to 1947 a small library called Saraswathi Nilayam was set up in Sivan Koil Street by S Krishna. Every day a few (mostly women) visited the library to borrow magazines. It was closed when the promoter left for college education.

During this period a Grama Sangam was established under the auspices of the Indian National Congress, Messrs M.Shanmuga Thevar, S.Subbiah Konar and V.Muthuswamy were the active office bearers who organizes political meetings and celebrated national remembrance days.

During the struggle for freedom, K.Sundaram Aiyer (a k a Makara Dwaja Sundaram Aiyer) was arrested for his participation in the Civil Disobedience movement in 1932. He was the only congressman in the Agraharam. All others were pro-British, law-abiding citizens. He earned a bit of land meant for the Thyagis but did not survive fro long to enjoy it.

What the land was worth or producing is a matter for argument. It was arid and non-cultivable. (Source: Tirunelveli District Gazetteer)

After a long spell the catholic Brothers got the rural folk into the fold of Lawrence Welfare Society in the late 90s. This society was useful in promoting self help groups. Small savings and mutual lending were encouraged. Teams were brought from Tirunelveli Colleges for National Social Service work every year. Medical camps advised villagers on health and hygiene besides small scale treatments.

Apart from this, members of the society enlisted the support of the villagers to revive the Mangammal Salai in the year 1999. each subscribed some contribution. The school authorities also donate some amounts of money. Under the we-for-ourselves help scheme, they leveled the village road, retrieval parts of the ancient road near Sri Rama temple and laid a motorable road. A mini bus service started operating between Tirunelveli Junction and our village via a diversion from the western side of the Aezhu Panai. This has proved to be a useful means of accessibility to the village. Although some assistance was accorded initially by the DRDA, regular maintenance is not extended. It is common to see the ravaged of rain during monsoon, throwing this means of communication into disarray.

Naranammalpuram welfare society

Concerned at the travails undergone by the villages, some of the villagers living in Chennai organized themselves and formed a welfare society on 6th October 2001 with 20 members. It was officially registered on 8th November 2001. the Regn No. is 301/2001.

Ever since inception the society has served the village in many respects.