Shaping lives via self-help

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been added. Among the Malayali tribals, a number of students are already pursuing subjects like law and commerce. Even young members of the trust are engineers and anthropologists. “Getting to work and live in my own region is the best employment I could have got,” says Senthil Kumar, the engineer in charge of constructing homes for the tribals.

Higher up in the region, towards the village of Malsenbagai, the trust, along with the villagers, has already completed a two-kilometre jeep track from the nearest motorable road. SST has already evinced an interest in developing this area as a rural tourism spot and Rs 84 crore is awaited for the development of the region. The Vandil nature trail is already a part of it and is set in motion by the logistical support of the SST.

The SST also runs the only health centre in Padavedu. Even though set up for diagnosing minor ailments, the only doctor, Balamurugan, is also constantly on visits to the 33 tribal hamlets advising and training necessary health methods and practices. “In the whole region, anaemia is severe, so we have started a programme called the “Feast”, whereby, every 15 days we organise a mass meal, where the tribals cook for themselves,” says Balamurugan. “We have also started to train some members in performing roles as health workers or guides” he adds.

Through the region, one thing that is commendable is the degree of cleanliness — the roads, backyards and the town square are remarkably neat and tidy. Garbage is rather invisible. If not whole, an impressive faction of it can be attributed to the Trust’s Vermi Compost site. This site turns much of the garbage and waste into natural manure, which is again sold.