PAT- General Information

Name of the Entity PEOPLE’S ACTION FOR TRANSFORMATION (TRUST)

Registered office No. 4, A-Block, 1st Floor, St. Paul‟s Complex, Bharathiar Salai, Trichy Corporation, Trichy District, Tamil Nadu – 620001.

Contact Details Phone / Fax : 0431 – 2413434 Email : [email protected] Web : www.pattrichy.org

Registration status Legal Status : Registered under the Indian Trust Act Reg. No. & date : 107/97 - 02/05/1997 Tax Exemption : Registered under 12A FCRA No & date : 076040280 - 28.09.2001 Details of PAN : AAATP4968N

Trustees of PAT Mr. K. Hirudayasami - President Mr. R. Stephen Francis Xavier - Secretary and Chief Functionary Dr. V. Iyappan Shankar - Trustee Ms. A.X. Anne Jose Patricia - Trustee Mr. R. John Rajasekaran - Trustee.

Funders of PAT 1 Ananya Finance for Inclusive Growth Pvt. Ltd, India.

2 Maanaveeya Development and Finance Pvt. Ltd.

3 Indian Overseas Bank

4 State Bank of India.

5 NABKISAN Finance Limited.

6 Micrograam Social Development Foundation.

7 ICICI Bank

8 IDBI Bank Limited.

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Dear Members,

We live in an India where economic history is non-conventional energy equipment, encouraged being written. Back in 1991, Dr. Manmohan by PAT, enable women to ensure better health and Singh started economic liberalization aimed at save on finance, time, energy, consequently accelerating the pace of economic growth and enhancing the quality of life at home. eradication of poverty. Now, the present government is making fast strides in financial Old age social security is a matter of concern for inclusion by the PMJDY initiative, which aims at India. A massive 88% of the Indian population do providing “one bank account for every Indian not have any social security in place to provide for household within a year”. their financial needs in the old age. In responding to this issue, PAT in partnership with ESAF, For the past 18 years, People‟s Action for continues to provide the PFRDA Swavalamban Transformation (PAT) has been involved in active pension scheme to its members. financial inclusion of the underprivileged, in conformity with the national policy on financial Speaking of climate change and environment, inclusion. After its registration on 02 May 1997, PAT has been able to make an impressive PAT started its social intermediation in the lives contribution to the protection of the atmosphere of women, children and the youth. In 1998, with a through the distribution of clean and renewable mission to empower women, PAT started forming energy loans. These together lessen the demand women‟s Self Help Groups (SHGs). Other for biomass fuel, prevent deforestation and reverse interventions were in the area of Children‟s climate change by reducing green house gas Development, educational programme for the emissions. We are glad to be part of the global children of the SHG members, vocational training movement against climate change. programme and health camps. In 2000, it started the SHGs bank-linkage in association with Tamil PAT is committed to the global crusade against Nadu Corporation for Development of Women the growing menace of climate change. As a part Ltd. of this initiative, PAT makes available energy efficient micro energy sector loans to SHG PAT‟s core business, which consists of providing members to procure clean energy equipment. customized micro loans to marginalized women Acting locally, we are proud partners of national through its 10 branches, spread across five perspective on environmental awareness. districts of Tamil Nadu state caters to the financial needs of 35,000 clients. Apart from providing The welfare and development programs continue livelihood opportunities for families, the activities to provide slum children with a foundation for of PAT influence the community and life, schoolchildren with an enhancement of their environment. learning abilities, the youth with better career opportunities and the elderly with better eyesight. The Business Correspondent (BC) model, which is the RBI regulated extension of financial and In the face of the currently global economic banking services through microfinance slowdown, PAT continues to be relevant to the institutions, done in collaboration with the ICICI un-bankable and under banked poor, which have bank and the IDBI bank, has proved a strategic no other means of sourcing funds needed for their approach to fund sourcing for loans to SHG livelihood. There has been a steady growth of members. This was a respite in the face of MFI loans to clients. Since the Microfinance national funds crunch. sector is showing a marked market growth PAT is bent on capitalizing on the growth opportunities to Women empowerment is a unique mark of PAT, fulfil the vision and mission of People‟s Action beginning with the notable feature that 64 of the for Transformation. 68 strong staff team of PAT are women. Girls get better job openings through the employability Thank you, skills programs. The use of energy efficient and

Secretary President

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Organizational Milestones:

1997 - Formation of the Trust 2010 - Second Loan from Indian Overseas Bank

1998 - Towards women empowerment, starts forming Self Help Groups 2012 - Indian Overseas Bank and State (SHGs) Bank of India gives further loans.

2000 - Starts SHGs Bank-Linkage 2012 - As a sub-aggregator of ESAF Micro Programme in association with Finance and Investments Pvt. Ltd, Tamilnadu Corporation for Kerala started distributing NPS- Development of Women Limited. Swavalamban, the Government of India, Old age social security Scheme. 2003 - Commences direct lending through its Micro Finance Programme with the help of fund received from 2012 - Partnering with Bajaj Allianz Life Ananya Finance for Inclusive Insurance Company Limited for Growth Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad availing insuranceby its clients

2006 - Adds one more funding partner, M/s. 2013 - Becomes Business Correspondent for Maanaveeya Development and IDBI Bank Ltd. Finance Pvt. Ltd, Hyderabad 2013 - 3rd Rating was carried out by Crisil 2008 - Agreement with Birla Sunlife who awarded “mfR5” grade Insurance Co. Limited for insurance cover for SHG members 2014 - Micrograam Social Development Foundation, Bangalore based 2009 - 1st Rating done by M-Cril with Agency started lending to SHGs for “Beta” grading the purpose of consumer durables

2009 - Commercial banks like Indian 2014 - NABKISAN Finance Limited Overseas Bank and State Bank of sanctioning a term loan to Activity India start funding Based Groups

2010 - Karur Vysya Bank extended their 2014 - Partner with Mahindra Old Mutual term loan Life Insurance Limited for insurance coverage.

2010 - Installed a software called “mFinesse” supplied by Penta 2014 - Started its Clean Energy Initiatives Software House to handle the Loan Processing and Loan Tracking

2010 - 2nd Rating was carried out by M- Cril with “Beta Plus” grading

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The Leadership

Mr. K. Hirudayasami: He is the President of the Trust who supervises the financial programs of PAT. He has training in Strategic Business Planning and Governance in MFI.

Mr. R. Stephen Francis Xavier: He is the Secretary of the Trust as well as the Chief Functionary for the Microfinance operations. He has several years of experience working with NGOs and has training in MFI governance, Financial Management, Internal Audit and Controls, Microfinance Literacy, Micro enterprises development, Accounting and Auditing standards.

Dr. V. Iyappan Shankar: He is an Executive Board member of PAT and has been overseeing the Child Development Project of PAT. He has been specially instrumental in mobilizing funds from the commercial banks.

Ms. A.X. Anne Jose Patricia: She manages the finances of the Microfinance operations. She is a resource person for PAT and has been trained through various Microfinance related workshops.

Mr. R. John Rajasekaran: A Tax Consultant by profession, Mr. John provides advice in matters related to internal audit and controls of Micro Finance.

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1. Introduction

“Economic resources of the country should be The commercial banks had considered the utilised for the well-being of the poor. The poorun-bankable, in the past, since their change will commence from this point", noted resources were not considered stable enough the Prime Minister of India while launching to ensure profitability and repayment. the PMJDY in August 2014. PMJDY is the Naturally, these were the poor and the ambitious financial inclusion program working class who neither had the financial designed to provide banking services to the resources to maintain a bank account nor the over two-thirds households in Independent financial literacy about banking. The India that do not have access to banking consequence is that the poor are forced to facilities. depend on the services of the informal sector that are often predatory in nature. It is a great satisfaction for all of us that PAT‟s own vision for financial inclusion of For the poor the change has come with the the underprivileged is in alignment with the onset of microfinance, which refers to the national vision. In 1997, certain contextually practice of providing financial services to the relevant social issues had brought the poor with no collateral. The basic concept in visionaries of PAT together to respond to those issues. Since then, PAT, in line with its vision and commitment to the community, had undertaken welfare programs and continues its empowerment of marginalized women and families through development initiatives and business models designed to be sustainable and environment friendly. PAT focuses on microfinance, women empowerment, education, environmental microfinance is that if you give a poor initiatives and health care as part of its woman a very small loan for use in a self- financial and social intermediations. employment venture, the borrower will not

only work to end their poverty and repay the The various events and programs conducted loans, but they will also improve the life of through the many branches and outreach their family and strengthen their community. centres last year shows that PAT is in the right direction in fulfilling this call. This As women are more likely to reinvest their report has summarized the major happening at earnings in the business and in their families, PAT in the year 2014-15. they are the most favoured clients of micro

loans. Some of the outcomes of microfinance 2. Development Financing, the key are improvement of family health due to the to Women empowerment affordability to consume nutritious food, better education of children, improved shelters to live in, creation of more jobs for the community, women empowerment through literacy and capacity building and recognition of women as valuable members of their families and communities. NGOs have been in the forefront of micro lending and financial literacy and training of micro entrepreneurs.

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2.1 Development financing in PAT

Acting upon the universal principles of Women‟s Banking, now the Ananiya Finance microfinance, PAT started its own for Inclusive growth Pvt. Ltd.) during 2003. microfinance program in the year 2003. The program has been highly successful and Though the microfinance clients are primarily continues to impact the lives of the rural women in SHGs, PAT extended loans to community where PAT is operational. members in male groups on an experimental basis from the year 2008 onwards, which is Basic to the success of the Microfinance roughly 2% of the total loan portfolio. program is the SHG (Self Help Group) movement, which takes the process of women 2.2 Credit rating of PAT empowerment to rural region. Women‟s PAT, in the meanwhile, decided to identify its capacity building, key to SHGs and women strengths and weaknesses in social and credit empowerment, includes training in principles performance and to help the organization to of governance, participation in decision- think through their social goals and values making, financial literacy, financial planning, and build appropriate systems through credit and management of productive resources. rating. M-CRIL, in their rating awarded „β‟ and made several recommendations to PAT organizes socio-economically improve PAT‟s portfolio quality.In a homogenous rural or semi-urban subsequent rating, because of its high underprivileged women into SHGs, builds operating efficiency, improved staff their capacity for self-governance and productivity and strengthened internal audit supports them with microfinance to enable mechanism, M-CRILplaced PAT-MFI in the them to undertake various entrepreneurial „β+‟ grade. The third rating conducted by activities to combat their poverty. The loans CRISIL to rate its ability to conduct the are also used for various other purposes viz., operations in a scalable and sustainable freeing themselves from the informal lenders manner and its credit worthinessawarded PAT who charge exorbitant interest, paying for with a“mfR5” grade. children‟s education, house construction or maintenance and for purchase of essential 2.3 2014-2015at a glance durables or consumables for the homes.  `190 Crores cumulatively distributed In the year 2000 PAT started the SHG bank through 1.88 lakhs accounts over the linkage programme in association with years – registering 25% growth over the Tamilnadu Corporation for Development of previous year Women Ltd. In order to meet the increasing  `32.6 Crores outstanding with the borrowers shows 116 % growth over the previous year.  99% of its borrowers are women and 95% are rural - across 5 districts of Tamil Nadu.  53.34% increase in borrowers compared to last fiscal.  43% of the total portfolio spread in Ariyalur, one of the least developed six districts in Tamil Nadu.  Bank Borrowing is `59 Crores and credit needs of the SHG members PAT started outstanding is `15.5 Crores. its own microfinance programme with a  `20 Croresoutstanding to banks in BC loan fund from FWWB (Friends of World model.

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2.4 The Client Base and Portfolio distribution

polishing and dry fish as well as for street SHG % Bran Borro Loans District Memb Portf vending of textiles and scrap collection. Some ches wers (`Cr.) ers olio women have put up service centres for photocopying, bi-cycles, cell phone, tailoring, Ariyalur 2 11099 9053 14.09 43.14 computer typesetting, bag repairs and Trichy 2 4964 3235 3.02 9.25 telephone booths and beauty parlours. Yet Tanjore 6 14649 10021 15.01 45.96 others have gone in for small manufacturing units for soft drinks, incense sticks, weaving Nagapatti - 440 210 0.16 0.49 and carving, to name a few. nam

Thiruvarur - 550 482 0.38 1.16 2.5 Efficiency Analysis

Total 10 31702 23001 32.66 100 The active borrowers of PAT are 23001, which is roughly 73% of the total SHG PAT has a client strength of 31702 members members. in 2104 SHGs served through its 10 branches, catering to the members in Ariyalur, Trichy, Tanjore, Nagapattinam and Efficiency Analysis Thiruvarur districts of Tamil Nadu. Forty one Average Loan Size per 18,257 field staff interact with the SHG members Borrower (`) spread over 258 Panchayats. Nagapattinam Number of Borrowers / Credit and Thiruvarur are in the expansion stage. 561 Officers Portfolio Per Credit officer (`) 79,66,192 Sector wise allocation Borrower Per Branch ( Nos) 2,300

Portfolio Per Branch (`) 3,26,61,387 The sector wise allocation of the loans are, Agriculture and allied services - 64.9%, Petty Total cost to Total income % 102.33 trades - 14.9%, Service – 10.6% and Total Income to average 16.73 Manufacturing - 9.6%. portfolio %

Operating expense (exclusive of Loan Allocation financial expense) to 7.53 average portfolio % Total expense to average 65% 16.35 portfolio % 10% Agri/Allied

Petty Trades The repayment rate is 99.66 %. Portfolio at 10% Service Risk (PAR) > 60 days on Gross Loan Manufacture Portfolio is 0.03%. 15% PAT strives at maintaining responsible

financial performance. Considering the fact Agriculture and allied service loans go in for that tiny loans are more expensive to make cost of cultivation of cereals, grains or than large loans, PAT’s Operating Expense horticulture. Many women use the loans for Ratio (OER) of 7.53% is a remarkably running shops for grocery, fruit and outstanding performance.’ vegetable, idly and tea, fuel retail, jewel 7

2.6 Fund Mobilization Lending Funding impacts on plant, animal and human life. Fund Outstanding Institution 2014-15 Globally and nationally, governments are Ananya Finance taking active steps to reverse the effects of for Inclusive - 16,66,664 climactic change through reducing emissions Growth Pvt. Ltd that produce global warming. Indian Overseas 5,00,00,000 9,23,09,293 Bank The decision to encourage the members to use energy efficient consumer durables, viz. the State Bank of 4,00,00,000 4,53,99,257 improved cook stove and the solar lamps India demonstrate the commitment of PAT to MICROGRAAM 65,10,000 23,84,233 reduce the carbon footprint that the NKFL 130,00,000 1,30,00,000 community leaves in the wake of a Total 10,95,10,000 15,47,59,447 „developed‟ lifestyle. Besides awareness ICICI (BC) - 87,74,930 creation, PAT also provided loans to members IDBI (BC) 20,26,95,000 19,28,32,378 who desired to procure these durables from Total 20,26,95,000 20,16,07,308 distributors.

The needs of clients are supported both through on lending of funds sourced from financial institutions as well as through BC lending.

Currently there is an outstanding of `15.5 Crores to the banks as Term Loan. Additionally the BC exposure is `20.2 The use of improved cook stoves and solar Crores lamps facilitates lesser time spent on sourcing biomass fuel, healthier working atmosphere, Banking Business Correspondent freedom from power outages and low voltage, better light to work extra hours at will and PAT has successfully implemented the better light for children to study. Business Correspondent model for financing Economically the use of these equipment the needs of the clients. In the current year, reduces the cost of purchase of Biomass fuel IDBI has released a loan of ` 20.25 Crores to and electricity and environmentally there is borrowers and the cumulative IDBI less demand for biomass fuel and hence disbursement stands at ` 30.75 crores. releases pressure on the environment.

2.7 Clean energy lending Microgramfacilitates clients with their loans Global warming and the consequent erratic to procure clean energy equipment viz., environmental behaviour,is causing adverse improved cook stoves and solar lamps that reduce dependence on fossil fuel.

Chithra Buys a Smart Stove Chithra, 35, and her 2 children live in a small house in Thiruneelakudi. Looking for means to improve her living, she stumbled upon PAT, which extended loan to members of SHGs. Bestowed with a natural capacity of organizing people, she got a group of 20 women from her place to form a group, 8

which soon became eligible for taking loans when I purchased it. I use it in my kitchen, from PAT. my children use it for their studies in the Once, when she was interacting with PAT staff, came to know of the benefits of the energy efficient improved bio-mass cook stove. She, hooked by the benefits like its portability, low intake of fuel, better heat output and the low emission of smoke spared no time in procuring one for her family. A year has passed since Chitra purchased the stove from a distributor. She has no reason to regret, she knows that she has made an excellent choice.

evenings and my husband used it to tend the The versatile Solar - Philomena‟s story cows at night. My neighbours, having seen Thirty five year old Philomena Mary, a our multipurpose use of the lamp, have homemaker, is full praise for the solar begun using the solar lantern. PAT has taken a great step to introduce this useful equipment to people.”

Vermicompost for organic farming In pursuit of increased productivity and profit, farmers have shifted to indiscriminate useof chemical fertilizer and pesticides. However, such aggressive farming has caused a risk to

lantern that she purchased through a clean energy loan from PAT. She is the mother of two boys, both students of high and higher secondary schools. She and her husband, struggling to find enough resources for their livelihood and to educate their children, had purchased two milking cows using a loan animals, people and the environment. from PAT. They were living in a small Restoration of the health of the soil through thatched hut that was not electrified. During provision of organic manure and nutrients is one of the meetings with PAT she came to an urgent environmental need. know about the usefulness of a solar lantern. She says, “PAT staff informed me about low PAT has taken the positive step to introduce cost solar lights, which, apart from the organic farming to the farming sector. PAT initial cost of the equipment, does not incur has set up demonstration and production any recurring cost for its operation. I plants of vermicompost that ensures better immediately approached a distributor and crop productivity, while lessening the adverse purchased one. I had not anticipated the effect of chemical fertilizers on the diverse ways in which the lamp can be used environment.

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2.8 Old age Social Security and insurance

Due to low birth rates coupled with long life During a visit to a nearby village, she expectancy, the population of citizens 60 stumbled upon an all women SHG meeting years or above is projected to rise to 12.4% of conducted by PAT. She had never seen or population by 2026 and to 25% by 2050. Yet heard of a SHG, neither its function nor only about 12% of the population have any purpose. After a discussion with the PAT saving explicitly for retirement. To counter staff, she left for her village with this very serious problem, the government of determined mind. She soon assembled like- India has started the Swavalamban pension minded women in her village and sought scheme, implemented through PFRDA. the help of PAT to formalize the group and provide them with loans. PAT has continued to be part of the nationwide enrolment of citizens to this old Her very first loan of `5000 supplemented age social security scheme in partnership with the deficit in her own funds that she had ESAF Microfinance. The total enrolment by saved for the purchase of a milch cow. The PAT in NPS is 12229. proceeds from the sale of milk were enough for her to take care of the basic needs of the family and repayment of the loans. Micro insurance coverage has a reasonable acceptance by the community. Towards The second loan of `7000 added another providing insurance coverage as social cow to her herd. She was now not only able security, PAT has three partnerships; with to meet all her needs and repayment of Bajaj Allianz and Kotak Mahindra for group loans but also save money for planned insurance and with Birla Sun Life for expenditure. She continued taking loans of individual insurance. Over23028 persons are higher amounts to improve her business, covered during the fiscal. without ever defaulting on her loan repayments. ‘Her house leaks no more’ Story of how micro financing She took on lease a small plot of land to do helped Savithri her own farming activities. This has further enhanced her earnings and savings. Savithri, a mother of a son She has now enough funds to provide a and a daughter, is a comfortable life for the family and better middle-aged widow from education for her children. A tiled house the Kotiyal hamlet in has now replaced Savithri’s thatched hut Ariyalur district in Tamil and she now moves about with confident Nadu and the family had only a dilapidated steps and dignified bearing – thanks to the thatched hut to live in. loans facilitated by PAT’s microfinance programme”.

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2.9 The Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report

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Each centre has a teacher and an assistant 3. Development Programs teacher who supports in the chores of the 3.1 Children Development Program centre.

Children born in poverty have tales of sorrow, privation, suffering and rejection and slums are not the best place for a child to grow! Children who are born and brought up in an underprivileged and marginalised atmosphere, when provided with opportunities, a little handholding and care, will capitalise on their innate potential for growth and become productive citizens of the nation.

PAT has cherished memories of its The activities for each year follow an annual involvement in the lives of many of these syllabus, which takes care of helping the child little ones, who presently, as adults occupy observe the various natural phenomena, the responsible positions in the society. Through sky, the plants, animals and birds, fruits and vegetables, colours and shapes, human body, family, festivals and social institutions.

The innovative spirit of the supervisor and teachers has resulted in making teaching aids by recycling throwaway things like seeds, lids of carbonated bottles, PVC pipes, thermocol and stones.

When children leave the centres to join the CDP program PAT aims at the holistic regular schools, an equal number of children development of the child and hence the are added to the centres in order to maintain a activities take care of the physical, strength of 125 children. This year 75 intellectual, emotional and ethical children joined regular schools a similar development of the child. Attention given to number have been taken in. The average building interpersonal relationships, attendance of the children is 90 per cent. interdependence and creating civic sense facilitates seamless integration of the child to Nutrition, hygiene and health: the adult world. Spiritual nurture strengthens the trust in God, gratefulness to God and The routine of the child centre includes other human beings and brings purpose for wholesome lunch followed by a time of sleep existence and meaning for relationships in the until 3.30 when the children return to their child. homes after having a nutritious drink. Each child‟s health records are maintained at the centre, the weight is measured every month Learning through activity: and the records are updated. The centres give immediate attention to any medical The five centres, each running at its full emergency. capacity of 25 children, are located in slums of MGR Nagar, Ramamurthy Nagar, Kajapet, Infusing national pride and Bells Ground and Kemps town around the patriotism: town of Trichy. Under a supervisor for all the centres, each centre functions between 9.30 Celebrations of national special days create a a.m. and 3.30 p.m. runs five days in a week. sense of national cohesiveness in the child. 28

The hoisting of the national flag to the tune of financial struggles that accompany the the National Anthem on the Republic day and running of the centres. The little ones that we the Independence Day are memorable for the serve are not „just a child‟ but people with a child, for they get a pair of uniform and future and uncountable possibilities. These breakfast on each of these days. Gandhiji‟s little ones drive the India of tomorrow. birthday, the teachers‟ day and the children‟s day are also celebrated at the centres in the 3.2 Education Empowerment Centres same manner. Higher education in India is currently very Stories of Change: competitive and only the fittest survive! In a The parents meetings conducted to evaluate competitive world, the underprivileged, often, the progress of the child gives encouraging find themselves the losers because few reports. There have been many stories of the opportunities come their way and when they positive sway that the centres have on the come, they are not fit for it. children. Most of the influences are in the area of personal habits and discipline at home – a good sign that they would behave well in Coaching Centers (with 30 children each) the society. Adichanur, Suthamalli, Nayaganaipriyal, “Devadarsini attends the MGR Nagar Kodali, Porpathinthanallur, Cholamadevi, Centre and her mother describes the Kodalikaruppur, T.K.P. Natham, influence of the centre. “She was in the Edankanni, Chinthamani, Thathampettai, habit of using vulgar street language picked Sripuranthan, Govindaputhur, up from her surroundings. We had a great Vikramangalam, Kadambur, difficulty to make her obey us and her Periathirukonam, Karaikurichi, character was becoming bad. After attending Venmankondan, Nagamangalam, the centre, she is very polite in her behaviour Sathambadi and obeys us. She is also well disciplined in her habits and takes bath every day”. For the past 16 years, PAT has been

providing special coaching in Tamil, English “We had a great difficulty having her brush and Maths to the needy students from PAT‟s her teeth before eating and quite often she project area, to prepare them for a better start would not brush at all. The influence of the in their career. Starting with just a couple of centre on her is so great that she now centres, the program has seen an annual brushes her teeth twice a day without fail‟, increase in the centres to the current Twenty, says the mother of Malathy who attends the each having 30 students. The centres, Ramamoorthy Nagar centre. approved by the local Assistant Educational

Officers and run in co-operation with the Another story reported by the teachers is Heads of schools cater to the needs of about Vinchiya, an outstanding student of students of fourth and fifth standards. Bells ground centre. She used to throw things about at home and tried to do the Each working day, the students spend two same at the child centre when she came in hours at the centre, from 4.00 p.m to 6.00 first. Once the habit of replacing things in p.m. A qualified supervising teacher helps their appropriate places insisted by the them revise the lessons that they have learned teacher in the school, she continued doing and administers periodic tests to assess their that in her home as well.” knowledge. Skill development through

competing for a prize in public speaking,

writing, recitation, arts and fine arts are part These stories encourage us to press on with of the activities at the centre. the activities of the centre despite the

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In addition, once a year Annual day is being 3.3 Employability Skill Training Institute conducted assembling all the beneficiaries and their parents in one place and encourage TAILORING CENTRES them by distributing prizes to the winners in PAT initiated its developmental activities the competitions conducted. eighteen years ago, through a Tailoring unit at

Vikramangalam village, as a first step towards “When I was in my fourth standard, I the welfare and uplift of women and children remember that I was just surviving in my in the downtrodden area of Ariyalur district. studies. English, Tamil and Math were my PAT, then, was addressing a major issue of most feared subjects; however much I tried, adolescent school dropout girls and jobless I could never score more than 35% when the young women who had completed their result of each exam came out. schooling whiling away their time at their homes; the tailoring skill might be of use to That was Seven years ago, when I was a them in the after years and may even bring in pupil in the elementary school in my village some needed funds to the family. Suthamalli, in Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu. It is here that my college-going brother and I live with my farmer father and my mother, who supports him in the farming actives.

My class teacher who knew my struggles told me one day, „Vijay, an organization called PAT is running a tuition centre in your village for two hours in the evening after school hours. I will tell your parents to send you there for your studies‟. I joined the PAT issues a certificate to those who tuition centre and remained there until I successfully complete the six-month‟s course. finished my primary school, two years later. In due course of time, when the enrolment dwindled in Vikramanagalam the centre was The teacher was quite friendly and shifted to Aduthurai besides opening another understood the struggle I am having with my centre at Thiruppandhal. A hundred and studies. Her very attitude to the students eighty three girls have successfully completed created in me a desire to redouble my efforts. their training through these centres. She made all subjects easy to understand, gave regular exercises, and conducted tests The runaway success: in all the subjects. It might be a matter of co-incidence, but the boom of hosiery export from „Bunyan City‟ The coaching at the entre eventually Tirupur was synchronous with the functioning improved my knowledge and skill, which is of the tailoring centres. A few of the girls got proved by the 96% marks that I scored in the jobs at these factories and when news about final exam at the high school. I am now in these job opportunities spread, interested girls the 11th class and I am not ashamed to say took training and moved to Tirupur. that my academic achievements are based on the foundation laid at the Tuition centre. I At home, in their own towns, many of the am grateful to PAT and hope that the tuition girls successfully employed their tailoring centres would continue to offer its great skills to augment the family income. The services to other students in need.” - Vijay, project thus has become a model of financial Suthamalli. inclusion and empowerment of women in the areas where PAT operates.

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“Sudha, a final year Courses Course postgraduate student of the Trainees Government College, offered Duration Kumbakonam, is the eldest of JCP 1 1/2 Months 18 three siblings who live with DMO 1 & 1/2 Months 23 their daily-wage labourer parents. The family had to DCA 3 Months 253 suffer great deprivation, as the meagre DTP 3 Months 49 wages earned by the parents were sufficient HTML 2 Months 2 to provide for the needs of the family. Sudha decided to undergo the tailoring training to DCCP 3 Months 6 try to ease the family burden, and enrolled PGDCA 1 Year 30 herself in the PAT run Tiruppandhal TALLY 3 Months trainingcentre. 36 INTERNET 1 & 1/2 Months 98 She remembers, “It was six months course. I C 1 & 1/2 Months 1 regularly attended the class and sincerely ENGLISH learnt the trade. The instructress was very 1 Month 6 kind to me as she taught me and cleared my TYPE doubts. Within three months, I could cut the TAMIL 1 Month 1 cloth, stitch and make garments. Now, I TYPE stitch my own blouses, churidars and skirts Total Students 523 besides those of my family members. I am also able to make a reasonable income by PAT‟s own vision of „digital inclusion‟ making dresses for my neighbours. I am started seven years back, through the happy to be able to ease the financial burden of my parents and am able to support my computer-training centre for rural students, brother and sister in their studies. I am started at Thirupandhal village in Thanjavur grateful ...” district. Following the success and the utility of this centre, another centre was started at T. COMPUTER TRAINING Palur. The aim of starting the centres was to While launching the PMJDY program, our facilitate job availability for rural youth. The Prime Minister has indicated the coming of training, given at concessional rates, is „Digital India‟ that would define how available for boys and girls willing to employ financial inclusion and financial transactions their spare time profitably. In the current year, would happen in the future India. The young five hundred and twenty three students took generation is already a part of the digital training at the PAT computer training centres. world where communication, transportation, medicine and entertainment has gone digital. I am Abinaya.... “I work as computer instructor of students under training in a social service organization. I have a good salary and I am very happy that I am able to support my family in its financial needs. For this achievement, I owe my gratitude to PAT which ran the computer training at Thirupandal” says Abinaya.

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Abinaya, a B.Com. student from Nearly 100 group members from Kannarakudy, had successfully completed Govindhaputhur and Sathambadi participated her six month computer training in DCA, in a training session directed to group Internet and Tally from the PAT training members involved in animal husbandry. Ms. centre. With the certificate that she received, Jayanthi and Ms. Vasugi, both veterinary she applied for the job that she is currently doctors trained the participants on providing holding. proper attention to their cattle. Subjects

4. Awareness Programs included fodder, both green and dry,

vaccination, quality improvement of milk and PAT uses all avenues to give awareness on diseases and treatment for cattle. opportunities and use of appropriate technologies for livelihood, environment, Mr. Srinivasan and Mrs. Rajam provided climate change and ecology to rural instruction on the need, process, cost and communities. Awareness on financial claim processing of animal insurance. inclusion, social security, risk, energy and food security are part of PAT‟s intervention. 4.1 Health Care Programs Training on vegetable cultivation:

A training session on vegetable cultivation, A large number of marginalized elderly men conducted with the support of Mr.Palanisami and women suffer from visual impairments. and Mrs.Jothi from state agricultural The underprivileged groups living in urban department, provided training and information slums and rural villages have poor access to to over hundred group members from health services and hence many of them live Naduvalur and Kasankottai villages. with unoperated cataract and other visual problems that can be treated to restore normal The educative sessions included preparation vision to the elderly. of seeds and seedlings, manuring, weeding, irrigation, pest and disease control, harvesting, processing and marketing.

Milk production Animal husbandry plays an important role in ensuring the welfare of rural population, on which, a majority of farmers depend for their livelihood. For many small and marginal farmers animal husbandry provides supplementary employment and a sustainable source of income. In its health care interventions, PAT has given special attention to the visual needs of the elderly who have no one to support them. As in the previous years, PAT conducted three eye camps this year, in Ariyalur and Tanjavur districts in partnership with the Lions Club,theAravind Eye Hospital, Madurai and the District Blindness Eradication Society. PAT staff mobilized the beneficiaries through displays, flyers and public announcements through audio, besides word of mouth advertising. 32

The doctors and medical staff conducted the staff and their families, the financing investigations, tests and made the diagnosis, institutions, the leadership of PAT and the whereupon medicines or glasses as needed government departments deserve a word of were supplied to the patients. Arrangements thanks. for referrals were made where needed. Transportation, food and accommodation As we present, this report we know that there were free for those who opted for surgeries, is no place for complacency except gratitude which was done at Madurai. and indebtedness to the community that has gratefully received, used and valued the Eight Hundred and Seventy Eight men and services of PAT. This acceptance by the women attended the camp, of which 449 had people, in turn, brightens the prospects for their vision corrected surgically by having continued involvement in the lives and needs their cataract removed. of people. God eternal has graciously PAT plans for a wider intervention in the permitted the organization to be useful to His health care of the elderly in the days to come created world and hence we bow before Him and plans to attend to the common health with respect and gratitude. problems of the elderly poor. Hope and confidence, about the future of the people whom we serve, the future of the 5. Looking ahead … nation we belong to and future of the Trust 2014 -15 has been a promising year despite and its activities – these are the drivers that the difficulties faced in sourcing funds. We motivate us, as we strive and commit wish to thank all the stakeholders of PAT for ourselves to the programs and activities for the support that they have rendered in the the coming year. year. The SHG members and their families,

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