Trust for Social Justice, Shanthi Nilayam, as a development organization has been doing significant service to the abandoned rural women, Adolescence girls, street children and the child labourers in some of the most backward areas of Villupuram revenue district in the State of Tamil Nadu. Trust for Social Justice, Shanthi Nilayam has been monetarily supported by Andheri –Hilfe, Germany and EF, Belgium for its activities which is permitted by the home ministry under the FCRA act. Being conscious on the dire poverty that beset the downtrodden Shanthi Nilayam has conceived the vision of “creating a society that respects the rights of children and women”.
Constant communal clashes and the observed suffering by the socially marginalized communities have prompted Shanthi Nilayam to establish a project in the Villupuram District. Besides the urban slums, life in remote villages that are totally neglected by the government was also miserable. Families in colonies/slums have more number of children with very few earning people who toil as coolies. The female members who outnumber males in the large families become the first victims to enter child labour. The prevalence of Child labour in the district is very common compared to other districts. Most of the families have large number of dependents and hence they are not able to send their children to schools as the contemporary school education entails financial commitments. The parents in the poor families are mostly illiterate who cannot appreciate the value of education due to ignorance and poverty. Most of the people work as daily coolies and it is very difficult for them to accomplish the family expenses. The parents mostly migrate to different places for work leaving their siblings at home for limited period and the education of the children are unsure. Clear in its vision and mission Shanthi Nilayam has adopted the following objectives to achieve its goal.
Child Based:
- Night Shelter
- Child Resource Centres
- Contact Centre
- Vocational Training Centre
Family Based
- Identifying the families in difficult circumstances
- Data Bank Creating
- Formation of Association
- Counseling
- Training
Community Based:
- Sensitization / Creating Awareness
- Lobbying & Advocacy
- Network with Medias/NGOS/Govt. Depts./INGOS/Industrial Partners
