throughout the world. This is the fourth time an organisation in India got bestowed with Confucius prize.
Though Kerala has one of the highest literacy rates in the country, this success story has not always reached traditionally disadvantaged groups such as women, ethnic minorities,‘ scheduled tribes’ and migrants, who often live in financially under-developed and marginalized communities. It is here that NGOs like JSS makes a change. JSS Malappuram provides non-formal education to the illiterate and training in different vocational skills for neo-literate adults. The organization also helps beneficiaries to find work or to start an enterprise individually or as a group and has trained around 53,000 people including 41,000 women.
Talking pen developed by State Resource Centre-Kerala is part of JSS’ s Vidya Programme- a comprehensive development project for Scheduled Tribes of the district. Advanced technological tools including mobile computer lab, LCD projectors are also used for literacy programme. Instructions are offered in Hindi, English, Malayalam and other regional languages, including the tribal language Paniya. Textbooks are written in the community’ s local language and are also available in Braille. Braille Literacy Materials are developed by JSS in collaboration with State Resource Centre- Kerala and Kerala State Literacy Mission. Under this programme 341 visuallychallenged beneficiaries have got Braille Literacy along with a vocational training.
Ullasam to Unnathi: Tailor made projects for sustainable development
JSS Malappuram boasts of a set of vocational training courses which aims at sustainable and participatory development of
marginalized communities. One among such projects is‘ Ullasam’( Job with pleasure)- a novel venture which offers five days of job along with a day of yoga and meditation. Around 250 beneficiaries have been exclusively selected from widows, unmarried women of 40 plus year and divorcees. Under the scheme, non-woven cloth bag, baby bed, shoppers, mosquito cover etc are manufactured.
Relief’ is another programme implemented by the JSS with the s upport of Pain & Palliative Society for enhancing the capacity of patients who are suffering from paraplegia and acute diseases. The patients are provided skill training along with some soft skills and
Tribal woman learning alphabets using Talking Pen as a part of‘ Vidya’ Programme conducted by Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Malappuram plays to motivate them. Comprehensive Responsible Development through Education and Skill Training( CRDEST) is a special programme designed by JSS for the benefit of tribal youths with the collaboration of various Government agencies. Through this project hundred tribal youths are identified from various tribal settlements. One week residential coaching in various subjects along with soft skills is provided as part of the scheme. The tribal youth trained under CRDEST programme are working as facilitators, trainers and motivators in tribal settlements.
‘ Unnathi’( rise) is the latest mega skill development programme adopted by JSS for empowerment of women in coastal areas. Thousand beneficiaries identified for the project in the first phase will undergo six month training in embroidery and apparel making. After training they will be provided with sewing machines.
JSS Malappuram is also conducting literacy and skill development programmes in Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana( SAGY) villages of Malappuram district. It has conducted total enrolment campaigns of Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BhimaYojana and Pradhan MantriJan DhanYojana in SAGY villages. Basic computer course were also conducted for 1,500 villagers in association with National Digital Literacy Mission. Classes in new trends in the likes of Fashion Technology for marginalized women and mobile phone technology for Schedules Tribes were also conducted in SAGY village. Financial literacy classes are being conducted for the socio economic upliftment of deprived women of SAGY villages.
JSS Malappuram, a C category JSS is being provided with an annual lump sum grant of Rs. 30 lakh in two installments by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry. This grant powers the various activities of this institution. If the government can bring various government and non-government agencies under one umbrella, the benefits to the targeted population will many fold, opined Director of JSS.
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November 2016 17 www. smartgovernance. in