MUKTI, Tenali, Andhra Pradesh

Contact Details
MUKTI
Angalakuduru P.O.
Tenali, Guntur – 522 211
Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
(+91) (0)8644-233 102
E-mail: MUKTIin@yahoo.com

Statistics
Year of Foundation: 1988
Mission:                     Tribal Development Programs
                                   Residential School for Yanadi Children
                                   Community Development Projects
                                   Leadership Training, Social Awareness Camps etc.


Inception and Development
Yanadies are one of the most downtrodden tribal groups of Andhra Pradesh. There are more than 1,500,000 Yanadies spread all over the state, especially in the five costal districts. These people survive by fishing and hunting in the thin forests on the sea shore and lakes but they were pushed out of their habitat by the affluent and lost the means of livelihood. Now they are engaging as coolies in agricultural works and also in menial jobs. Most of them, settled near the villages and towns eke out their living by cleaning the streets, toilets and houses, cleaning after meals in connection with various functions, pulling cycle rickshaws, collecting recycling materials from the streets and waste dumping areas and so on.

Only seven or eight percent of them are literate, with the lowest rank in social status. The root causes of their problems today are disunity within the tribe and lack of able leadership and so they are exploited and oppressed by others.

Claretians came into contact with the Yanadies in Bhattiprolu parish where there were Yanadi Catholics. The Missionaries realized that unless this group is united and have effective leaders, they would not develop or resist the oppressive forces. Claretians under the visionary initiative of Fr. Thomas Thazhathuveetil ventured into this ministry. The project was launched with a district-wide socio-demographic survey in 1993 in the district of Guntur. The MUKTI Society for Tribal Integration was registered in 1994. MUKTI means ‘liberation’ in English. The diocese acknowledged the efforts of the Missionaries by permitting to open a Centre at Angalakuduru, Tenali on 25 November 2000. The hostel for Yanadi children was started in 2001 and opened a residential school in 2003.

The Methodology used:

  • Organising Yanadies from colony level to Mandal, District and State levels
  • Promotion of leadership at various levels and imparting training to them.
  • Education of children and adults
  • Improving basic facilities
  • Providing Economic and legal suppor

 

Activities

  • Colony level meetings
  • Mandal level meetings
  • Annual celebrations, general body meetings, rallies and public meetings
  • Leadership training, staff training programs
  • Children’s camps and summer coaching classes
  • Formation of women’s self-help groups
  • Income generation schemes, securing government loans, financial support, technical assistance etc.
  • Literacy centers for children and adults
  • Technical Training; (tailoring, embroidery, sweet making)
  • Awareness programs (street plays,demonstrations, rallies etc)

At present, the project covers almost the entire Yanadi population in Guntur district. The Missionaries have succeeded in linking the people of 35 mandals by registering Mandala Yanadi Aikyatha Sangams, incorporating every adult Yanadi as a member. The Missionaries are hopeful of completing this process for the whole district and to create a district committee with in a short time. Now the MUKTI is recognized in the district as the only organization working specifically for Yanadies.
Around 300 boys and girls reside at the Centre. The Centre also attend to other activities like village school for children, adult literacy programme, leadership training programme, social awareness camps, legaleducation and taking up cases,staff tra
ining programme, community health workers’ training, HIV awareness camps and street plays, assistance for housing and sanitation and promotion of culture and traditional art forms. In spite of all the best of intentions and dedicated hard work, MUKTI is not spared of opposition and struggles. Caste discrimination, oppression by the upper class and corrupt politicians and government officials are major hurdles in its way. The project was mainly financed by the Euskal Herria Province of the Claretian Congregation.