A Short Profile of Director Mr. V. Antony Cruz
Mr. V. Antony Cruz, M.A., Founder Director of Shanthinilayam trust for Social Justice from 1990 at Villupuram, did his schooling at St. Xavier’s higher secondary School, Palayamkottai, Undergraduate studies in Commerce at St. Joseph’s College, Trichy and Post Graduation studies at Annamalai University. He is a well-known social worker and activist for the last thirty years.
Mr. V. Antony Cruz through his organization has been worked for the unprivileged weaker sections of the society in the form of community interventions.
Mr. V. Antony Cruz through his organization, “Shanthi Nilayam”, has been doing significant service to the abandoned rural women, Adolescent girls, youth, street children and working children and the child laborers in some of the most backward areas of Villupuram revenue district in the state of Tamilnadu. Being conscious of the dire poverty that besets the downtrodden, Mr. V. Antony cruz has conceived the Vision of “creating a society that respects the rights of children and women”.
He has adopted the following Strategies to serve the community through his organization.
- Identify and rehabilitation of the runway children.
- Community college (Formal and Non- Formal technical training center) for school dropouts and child laborers.
- Women organization for the deprived women.
- Income generation programme for women through micro credit finance.
- Child development
- Non-Formal education for school dropouts/child labourers at the respective villages.
- Supplementary education for the school going children at their respective villages.
- Special coaching classes for the 10th direct and dropout children.
- Extra coaching classes for the 10th standards school going children.
- Residential summer camp for the 10th standard going students.
- Child hood festivals at their respective villages to enjoy and celebrate child rights.
- Campaign and awareness against child labour and women issues.
- Networking of local NGO’s of the area.
He has been an active member/convener in the following forums
- Social workers since 1988, working for the downtrodden people.
- 28 years of experience as an educationist.
- Member of All India Catholic University Federation.
- CACL Tamilnadu, Villupuram District convener.
- Member of National NGO forum for street and Working Children.
- Dalit Theatre forum, Tamilnadu Member.
- Regional coordinator of Land rights Forum.
- Member of Tamil Writers Association.
- Tamilnadu Environmental Forum Member.
- District Member of Sarva Sikshia Abyan.
- Member of District Child labour Forum.
- Member of district Health Forum.
- Joint secretary of Christian Social Justice Forum.VCK
AWARDS:
- Best Social worker Award by Lions Club of Villupuram – 2002.
- Vazhum Varalaru Award by Vazhikatti, Tanjur – 2004.
- Ambedkar Award by Dalit Panthers of India – 2005.
- Life achiever Award by Rotary Club of Villupuram – 2007
- Live Award by Loyola Institute of Vocational Education, Loyola College, and Chennai – 2008.
- Best Child Rights Worker by child Rights Coordination Committee – 2009.
- Kalvi Vazhikatti Award by Makkal Kalvi Kottamaippu, Villupuram Dt – 2012.
- B. R. Ambedkar National Service Award by Catholic Bishops New Delhi -2016
