....::::QUILON SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIETY/DEPARTMENTS::::....


	Human Resource Development
		QSSS has been involved in the mainstream of community-based organization since the wake of integrated human development programme. (1978 – 1990) From 1990 we organized credit unions on the structures for resource mobilization and organization of people. Keeping in line with the emerging stride of Self Help Groups we have re-grouped our stakeholders under a new brand name “Samrudhi” which means prosperity. Focus is to enable our reference groups to become primary agents and planning subjects for their animated and authentic development.
	Education
		“Every society in the world has a culture which is transmitted from generation to through education. Education is the humanization of people in society. Whether it is referred to as socialization or enculturation, indigenous education or traditional, education is education. And as a human process, it is part and parcel human society”. We have a network of 98 adult education Centre where about 9000 men and women are encountered to combat poverty. As on organization that is concerned with livelihoods and aspects of development it is important to strive for advancement of educational growth of the reference groups at recognized levels both in functional format as well as career aspect as on entry point to development. We are also trying to provide supportive systems that will accelerate the quality of education in formal sector paving way to academic excellence and career building. Project Excellence: 60 pupils in STD X from Karthikappally, Mavelikkara Taluks were selected for special coaching to boost academic standards. 45% of them have come out in bright colors and will be followed upto plus 2. A second batch for the present academic year has been selected.
	Income Generating programmes
		QSSS has pioneered vocational education policy to enable training in livelihood activities and bestowing skills to our partners to venture into self-employment or collective occupations. We also plan affordable technology transfer to modernize traditional and rural employment sector, so as to improve productivity. Our policy is that income generating programmes must be market oriented but utilizing available resources and raw material and should also be eco-friendly. As the fishing community constitutes a major part of the reference population, Quilon Social Service Society always treat the above as the prime target of our intervention. We look forward to mobilize the fish workers to become subjects of social change change by removing middlemen at all points. We give priority to schemes that would increase the productivity in the sector without tampering with the environmental balance. Entrepreneurial development has taken a front seat by creating on EDP policy and opening new avenues with inbuilt credit, market, technological linkages, services as well as infrastructure supports.
	Gender Development
		The socio economic status of coastal women is abysmally low. As far as welfare and development programmes by the Government are considered this sector has been constantly neglected. Gender discrimination is in the increase, be it in the family situation or public life and can only be termed as dehumanising. QSSS has had ample experience in projects for women's emancipation. Our policy regarding women's programme is one of pro-active intervention to free them from dependency in occupation and to give equal status in family and social life. We also believe in organization of women for self – dependent growth, credit mobilization, bestowing them negotiating power, to assist them in and direct investment in supplementary source of income guided by the philosophy of sharing, co-operation and empowerment.
	Relief and Rehabilitation TOP
		Though there has been a paradigm shift from Relief to sustainable Development concerns, no responsible NGO can dis-associate itself from addressing the crying needs of people. Hence Relief and Rehabilitation continue to occupy a primary concern of QSSS. The corpus fund for relief fund comes from the contribution of believes in the form of Lenten Campaign against hunger and disease and donations from well wishers.
	Joy Sowers
		Education is the key to development. Hence the pivotal need of upgrading the education standard of the reference groups. We have a student scholarship supported by Joy Sowers – Belgium . 39 students are supported.
	Social Security
		We launched a programme to bring women under insurance coverage ensuring a sense of security. We have been able to enrol 5723 women in Raja Rajeshwari Mahila Kalyan Bheeva Yohana Scheme.
	Sponsorship
		We have been able to bring many families in distress under the family sponsorship programme of SAFP, Canada through its India office. The friendship and fellowship between the families across the sea is a testimony of global co-operation. SAFP beneficiaries are brought under the cover of IGP with a view to bestow them self sufficiency in a period of time. 79 women have availed a total of Rs.184,273 as compensation under different heads. “God's own Country” is heading to a crisis of opportunities. Kerala stands apart in the national fervour to create a climate for Sustainable Development. As we complete forty-four years in the various vistas of development we renew our pledge to be the voice of the underprivileged. “We worked hard all night long and caught nothing”(K.5.5) the words of Simon Peter chocked with depression on the shore of lake Gennesaret re-echoes in our times. Our seas, lake and rivers are now barren. We cannot be deaf to the cry of the people on the shores. We have a dream for the people a dream woven in the pattern of the dream of the Kingdom of God announced by Jesus Christ. The concept of integral development seem to be so insufficient poverty is a stable of deprivation consequent to negation of physical facilities as well as opportunities. The frontiers of poverty extend from the negation of basis living conditions to denial of access to resources of native, infrastructures and services provided by the state. Development interventions must begin with the struggle against socio economic structures that perpetuate discrimination on the basis of caste, gender and occupation. In the reporting year we have been able to resource new approaching to development and strategies towards sustainable development. We have also been able to enlarge the spheres of co-operation and participation of people. We have been able to dialogue with people about their hopes and aspirations and reorient our priorities and strategies. We have found new for the people we serve. And we have so keep…
	Eravipuram Rehabilitation Housing
		In July 2003 19 fishermen families Eravipuram coast lost their houses due to Sea Erosion. We are implementing a Rehabilitation housing Scheme as a joint venture of Norbertine Fathers, Kollam Municipal Corporation and QSSS (assisted by CIDA)
	Inland Fishermen Survey
		Development interventions are response to the problems encountered by people. Planning and planning of realistic programmes and strategies demand compiling base line data and resoure mapping. Adequate lobbying cannot be initiated unless we are able to identify basis issues that concern the people. It is in this backdrop that we have embarked on a survey of the fishermen communities of our reference group. In the reporting year we have been able to compile the survey and analysis of the inland fishermen communities engaged in fishing in Pampa , Anchankovil rivers and the backwaters of upper Kuttanad. A total of 704 fishermen and 701 fish vending women have been covered by the survey. The concerned families live in 13 fishermen villages in Karthikappally, Mavelikkara Taluks, two villages in Chengannoor taluk in Alappuzha District and one village in Pathanamthitta District (Parumala). Survey Report has brought out compile data and information about fishing craft and gear, types of fishing, fish landing and marketing, ecological issues, educational and health status of the families etc.
	Networking of Fishermen Sangams
		Networking has assumed an important role in the struggle of the weaker sections to gain justice. We have been able to build a network of 17 Sangams of fishermen groups engaged in fishing operations in rivers and backwaters of Alappuzha District. Joint council with representatives of the Sangams meet regularly to address the common issues and to put up a joint response.
	Natural Resource Management TOP
		The high density of population and the clustered living (almost an extended slum) conditions add to the prevailing environmental hazards hosted by the coastal conditions in the form of sea erosion floods etc. the dampened interiors of the hutments are a perennial health hazards. Lack of proper drinking water facilities as against nil utilization of available natural resources (rainwater) make the environmental problem more complex. Waste disposal has turnt out to be a major challenge. In the reporting year we have been able to negotiate the following scheme which are to be implemented in the year 2004-05. Rainwater Harvesting Prigramme for 50 families in Chitumala Zone with assistance from CAPART. Rainwater tanks for 169 families in Karunagappally Zone with assistance of German Government and Indian Kries, Germany . During water scheme at Kanjiracode with assistance of CAPART.
	Shreyas
		The Development Education centre (Shreyas) was established with the objective of providing training to fishermen groups in alternative occupations and to accord development training to grass root level leaders
	Diary
		The model diary has augmented its milk production of effort are in to fishermen families to take up diary as a source of supplementary income.
	Coir Technology Park
		Mechanizations of coir industry have now been accepted as a means of livelihood then most favourd traditional employment sector of Kerala. We have pioneered in this process by setting up coir Technology Park at Shreyas with financial assistance of Coir Board. Following facilities are available in the centre. Besides a common facility centre has been set up for eco friendly setting of coir for the benefit of coir yarn producer.
	Fish Marketing Centre, Thangassery
		Animation of 66 fishermen for joint action in credit mobilization and collective bargain has given a step further.
	SPED
		The innovative scheme of SAFP India with assistance of CIDA has unfolded with a package of scheme.
	Skill Development:- Following programmes in skill development has been implemented. TOP
		COIR TECHNOLOGY CENTRE - CHEMMAKKAD : Training cum producation Centre in coir – based goods have ben set up at Chemmakkad 20 women are employed in the Centre. KOCHUTHURUTHU: Fishermen of this inland has been grouped into a cluster for resource mobilization, credit linkages and collective auctioning of fish produce reselling in successful avoidance of middlemen and access to credit in easy terms.