SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND PASTORAL SURVEY A REPORT AND ANALYSIS THOOTHOOR FORANE LATIN ARCHDIOCESE OF TRIVANDRUM Vellayambalam, Trivandrum Vol. 8 THOOTHOOR FORANE 1 Thoothur Book 1.indb 1 9/5/2013 3:21:25 PM SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND PASTORAL SURVEY 2011 A REPORT AND ANALYSIS THOOTHOOR FORANE Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum, Vellayambalam Data Collection and Data Entry BCC & TSSS (Archdiocese of Trivandrum) Software Development Mr. Justus S. Data Analysis and Survey Report Dr. J. Mary John ADHWANA Resource Center, Thiruvananthapuram +91 944 797 1846 Design and Layout SKETCH +91 77 3650 2049 sketchtricks.com Survey Team Msgr. James Culas J. Fr. Sabbas Ignatius G.N. Fr. Edison Y.M. (Coordinator) Published by Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum Archbishop’s House Compound Samanwaya, Vellayambalam Thiruvananthapuram - 3 © TSSS & BCC 2013, May 2 TRIVANDRUM LATIN ARCHDIOCESE. PLATINUM JUBILEE SURVEY-2011 Thoothur Book 1.indb 2 9/5/2013 3:21:25 PM Contents Preface 5 Foreward 7 Map 9 Archdiocesan History 11 Forane History 15 List of Chart 19 List of Table 22 Chapter1 25 Introduction and Methodology Chapter 2 31 Presentation of Data Chapter 3 101 Summary of Findings and Recommendations Annexure Annexure 1: Tables 113 Annexure 2: Schedule 201 THOOTHOOR FORANE 3 Thoothur Book 1.indb 3 9/5/2013 3:21:25 PM 4 TRIVANDRUM LATIN ARCHDIOCESE. PLATINUM JUBILEE SURVEY-2011 Thoothur Book 1.indb 4 9/5/2013 3:21:25 PM Preface History always recalls National Census as one of the greatest achievements of any ruler who accomplishes it, precisely because it presupposes vision, systematic planning and sincere dream for sustainable development of his or her kingdom. 2012 was a milestone in the annals of the Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum which celebrated its Platinum Jubilee that year. One of the important events which added colour and grandeur and substance was the socio-economic, pastoral and civic survey of the Archdiocesan population. Though the diocese was not new to such surveys, the present one was special with its coverage and depth. It was this bold decision and constant encouragement of Archbishop Soosa Pakiam that enabled us to fulfill such a satisfying, though hard and challenging, task with commendable output. Preliminary discussions of the survey began in the beginning of 2011. There were many who enriched us to shape the survey format with solid support. The following ones deserve special mention of thanks: Fr. E.J. Thomas S J, Fr. Joye James S J, Dr. Irudayaraj, Dr. Charles Leon, Dr. Biju and Msgr. Eugine H. Pereira. It was also placed before the Diocesan Senate and other relevant Archdiocesan platforms, besides the directors of different ministries in the Archdiocese. A sample survey was carried out at Kochuthura, Nettayam and Thope during February – March, 2011. The format for data collection was presented in the Presbyterium held on 23rd August, 2011 along with the sample survey results. Suggestions were incorporated therein. A Training of Trainers (ToT) was organized at the diocesan level on July 17th and 23rd 2011, for personnel such as the parish BCC coordinators, animators of various ministries and other parish representatives on the methodology of enumeration. They functioned as a resource team for training the enumerators at the villages. By the end of July, parish level training was completed. The field level survey was completed in five months starting from the month of August 2011. Some 2050 people were involved in the enumeration. From September 2011 onwards parishes began sending the completed survey forms. The commendable efforts of the parish priests, parish councils and other teams deserve a word of appreciation and thanks. Meanwhile, a new software was developed on VB.Net with Mysql for data entry and report generation. It is flexible enough to generate any combination of options. This parish/user-friendly software would not have been materialized but for the hard work and skills of Adv. Justus who deserves special thanks and it is joyfully recorded here. Data entry which begun in November 2011 took almost eight months to complete. 39 people at different locations and times committed themselves to make it a reality. Though the names of all the members involved in the data entry are impossible to be mentioned here, the names of Mrs. Dayana, Mrs. Mercy, Miss. Jimmy Mole, Mr. Nandu, Mr. Sumesh, Bros. Ajith, Shijin, Immanuel, Marthoma and Lawrence can not go without mentioning. Their committed efforts are thankfully remembered here. Sr. Mary Vaz, the BCC office secretary, along with the animators and staff of BCC made all efforts needed to coordinate the entire process of data collection and entry. They together do deserve gracious thanks. On 1st July 2013, the day of the Platinum Jubilee celebration, we could release the forane-wise family directory before the public which represented the source of this data base. After clearing errors the final data and its results were presented in the Presbytarium on 14th August, 2012 and priests were introduced to the use of the software. This introduction was given for the parish – forane representatives also. The complete data were then handed over in November 2012 to ADHWANA, a State Level professional NGO, in order to bring out the report of the survey with the findings and recommendations. The volume in your hands with lot of information in tables and charts, along with analysis, findings and recommendations generated from the THOOTHOOR FORANE 5 Thoothur Book 1.indb 5 9/5/2013 3:21:25 PM supplied data is the result of sustained hard work of Dr. J. Mary John and his team of experts and staff. A big thanks to them. A special word of appreciation and thanks is due to SKETCH TRICKS for accomplishing the designing and printing works beautifully. We thankfully acknowledge the contributions of Fr. Stansilaus in drafting a brief outline of the forane background of Thoothoor. We are indeed indebted to the Fr. Lenin Raj, the Secretary and Director, Trivandrum Social Service Society and to his staff in extending all possible supports throughout the process of survey, besides the financial assistance to carry out this task constraint- free. Archdiocesan Synod, one of the great events of the Platinum Jubilee, discussed and suggested plans on various sectors and fields of activities. Further planning in detail, taking into account the ground realities of the parish communities needs to be done, yet. The plan will be SMART plan: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. The survey and the report generated certainly will have its impact on that. The Report may serve as a historical data on our diocesan community and can form basis of comparison for future social analysis and planning, whenever necessary. However, the findings of this survey shall better be used with constant and serious inputs from people’s active participation at all levels of interventions– parish, forane and Archdiocesan. It is our modest expectation that it forms the basis for future planning. We, the members of the Survey Team, take this opportunity to thank you, one and all for your share in making this a reality for the service of our valiant people who dare even the elements for sustenance and survival. Survey Coordination Team 6 TRIVANDRUM LATIN ARCHDIOCESE. PLATINUM JUBILEE SURVEY-2011 Thoothur Book 1.indb 6 9/5/2013 3:21:25 PM FOREwORD “To know thyself is the greatest knowledge”. The aims of “Latin Archdiocesan survey 2011” are: to know our Archdiocese in a better way; to know our strengths and weaknesses; to know the exact population; to situate ourselves with other communities; to find the areas of our development; to focus our ministries to the real needs of people. This is an eye opener to all members of our Archdiocese. The survey results reveal what we are and where we are today after 75 years of journey as a faith community rooted in Jesus and his principles. “Latin Archdiocesan survey 2011” attempts also a study of each individual family and person in our Archdiocese. This effort taken in view of reaching substantiated inferences about our community has now reached to the present stage through expert guidance, participatory and collective action and thought, group discussions, well designed interview schedule, effective training sessions, tedious home- to- home data collection, tailor-made software preparation, patient data entry and intelligent data analysis-interpretation and high standard of organizing various factors. This survey reports are arranged in two levels, namely Archdiocese-Forane level and Forane-Parish level. This is a very helpful tool for the decentralized planning in our Archdiocese which is a key principle of our first synod. Different ministries and commissions have to make use of this survey analysis for their entire planning of the ministry and could reflect in the annual plan and budget at least for the next 5 years. The forane which has regional preferences and priorities should make use of these survey findings for their long and short term planning of various ministries and concerns they face. As pastors and leaders of the community, they should make use of these results and analysis for their parish ministry. The parish councils, finance councils and other bodies in the parishes have to see their priorities and levels of different areas and should make efforts to improve them by planning and executing different programs for the target groups. I sincerely appreciate this great task and all the persons who toiled to make this dream a reality. We are on our way to an improved situation not only in terms of our socio-economic progress but also in terms of our skills to understand the reality. I love to state here that undertaking such an exercise should not be stopped with this one.