Author: Xavier
Date: 2003-04-05

Hello Friends
Once again with a grateful heart we share with you the happenings of the past one year from April 2002 to March 2003.
Through out the year the encouraging active participation of people in the different programs of PCTC was the key factor which kept us going .
The severe drought which is said to be the worst in the last 10 years had its own impact on people's lives. We admire the people of the area who still live with the hope that it will be raining soon. The monsoon has failed for the 4th consecutive year.
The PCTC team felt the need to have an in depth study on the strategies for sustainability of PCTC's programs, which has given us required pointers to develop an action plan for coming years.
Every group with whom we associate which had actively participated in this exercise which has made the job so easy and participatory
We continue our journey with the hope that you are always with us.

Special points of interest:
House to house enumeration in 50000 house holds to identify 3251 people with disability.
508 people with disability benefited from our ortho workshop.
A close surveillance on the incidence of disability by careful follow up program for high risk pregnant women
3930 women and their families built up viable micro credit programs. The turn over in the current year was Rs: 6 million .
The volunteers from Changing worlds have developed a sensory room for differently abled children
70 adolescent girls had participated in the Family life education program.
An action research project on anemia prevention is going on in partnership with TNVHA
96 parents have taken the pledge to manage their child with disability at home. We support them with a package-training program for parents, medical check up, Special education, therapy and assistive devices for the children.
23 herbal gardens in the noon meal centres in Thurinchapuram block.

This year the rehabilitation workshop had a busy schedule and reached 508 people with Disability to meet out their various mobility and other needs.
32 assistive devices were delivered to the children affected by Cerebral palsy and mental retardation in the Thurinchapuram Block
6 children were assisted for club feet correction.
72 persons approached us for repairs and maintenance of their assistive devices.
Through District primary education program (DPEP) 358 children were screened and 208 assistive devices were delivered covering schools in 12 blocks.
We were able to share the technical know how to start and maintain two day care centres - JEEVAN at Arni and JEEVA JYOTHI at Devikapuram.
We render our services as District Facilitation Centre (DFC)on Disability for TNVHA to promote Community Based Rehabilitation. The facilitation work was with 6 NGOs from 3 Districts.
We have started utilising local artisans for the fabrication of Special seats, and rolators.
Another area we are developing is the educational aids and toys. A toy bank will become a reality during next year

The community based Rehabilitation(CBR) program had a major boost this year. Support for the 70 Community Based Rehabilitation workers(CBRWs) at the village level through the National Program for the rehabilitation of Persons with disability (NPRPD), helped us to consolidate all our effort in the last 10 years. Our CBR Staff team has shrunk in size leaving more responsibilities to the CBRWs. They will be the local resource to sustain community interventions and ultimately a major resource with in the community.
5 day rehabilitation camp in 2 blocks has identified persons with disability for 2474 rehabilitation interventions.
276 high risk mothers were screened and counseled for prevention of disability. After the delivery the child was screened for early identification and early intervention for childhood disabilities
With the support from National Trust 10 Care givers were trained for a period of 6 months, who are now employed in day care centres for children with Cerebral palsy and mental retardation.
New born screening clinics have been initiated in 7 primary Health centres. Our trained staff are available every Tuesday .
The parent training for 96 parents of Children with cerebral palsy and mental retardation is able to motivate the parents to own their children

Rehabilitation Workshop

Page #

The dispensary at the centre treated 1217 patients. Patients with skin disorders, and other chronic ailments like asthma, diabetes had greater satisfaction from the treatment.
As part of our promotional activity 27 workers from the noon meal program of Government of Tamilnadu were trained for 10 days during the year on Community Herbal Gardening and the direct use of Herbals for common ailments. 23 herbal gardens exist in the noon meal centres. The entire block will be covered in the coming year.
33 students are enrolled in the Kutti maruthuvar (Student Doctors) thittam-14 in the first year and 11 in the 2nd year. 8 students are completing the course this year.
All the children with disability have medical screening every month and their growth regularly monitored. The children are treated with sidha system when needed.
In collaboration with TNVHA , we were part of a action research program to assess the impact of worm infestation on anemia. This scientific study is being done in 5000 population. 174 adolescent girls were part of the program.

Along with the regular family life education courses at Kariyandal and Nookambadi, three more places were identified at the request of the Self help group members to enroll 27 adolescent girls.
The self help groups took the responsibility for providing space and day to day monitoring.
70 adolescent girls completed this 6 months course.
The entire course curriculum will reorganised and the involvement of Parents of adolescent girls and the self help groups will be ensured as per the recommendation of the study to have the desired impact of the program.

Family life education

Women Development-Self help Groups(SHGs).

Page #

Annual Report

Consultancy and support to other NGOs

We continue to function as the secretariat for the Tiruvannamalai District Forum for the Rehabilitation of People with Disability (TDFRD). With the support of District administration and in collaboration with members of the TDFRD network, the house to house enumeration to identify the PWDs was done and the data is compiled. A comprehensive rehabilitation plan is evolved and is published as REHAB VISION 2007. The Joint effort of the 10 NGOs is to be appreciated.
For Tamilnadu Voluntary Health Association (TNVHA), our role as District Facilitation centre for disability continues. Two training programs were organised for the health workers. Supportive visits were provided to these health workers in the field for successful integration of Rehabilitation interventions in their on going activities. For the present the support is also given to the adjacent districts Dharmapuri and Vellore along with Tiruvannamalai.
As District Resource Centre (DRC) for TNVHA, resources are shared for health promotion.
Exposure program was organised for CRUTCH, Kottagiri and POETS Gudiyatham on Community Based Rehabilitation Program and self help groups.

Community Based Rehabilitaiton Program

Community Health Program

The steady progress by the Self help groups adds new dimension to this women's movement
The 3980 member strong Self help groups (278) had received revolving fund for 83 groups and 75 groups are identified for Direct linkage with the banks. 24 groups have been given Economic assistance. The federation structure for the management of Self help groups is becoming progressively viable.
The micro credit activity is sustaining itself as a local bank. During the reporting period 1721 have availed credit facility to the tune of 59.19 lacks, which takes the cumulative total to 81.98 lacks in the last 4 years.

532 Self help groups members were trained management of SHGs. 324 have participated in the entrepreneurs development program.
3 Students who stood 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the School final have been awarded cash prizes from Thurinchapuram Block.
The SHGs have contributed Rs: 30000 for the Rehabilitation program of PCTC.
The monthly planning meeting for the executives and the Block level coordination committee meeting for the leaders of SHGs have become the monitoring bodies of this Self help movement.

Our Financial Status during April 2002 to March 2003

Kariyandal , Via-Nayudumangalam-606802, Tiruvannamalai District, S.India.
Ph: 04175-246464 / 246206. Fax: 04175-246215. Email: pctcxavt@sancharnet.in

Care Givers (National Trust) at work-Therapy and support to Parents

Staff Training :
As most of the staff members are from the area of operation, constantly they were given additional training input depending on the need expressed by them and requirement in the program. During the reporting period, the staff members had additional input on inclusive education, Community intervention for people' affected by mental illness, tools for assessing CP/MR children, Entrepreneurs development Trainers' program and so on. This helps us to build the resources locally.
The journeying with the people continues trying to develop opportunities
which will enable and bring out the potentials in people.
We are happy that you are always part of this process.
Thank you Friends