ABOUT US

Resource Institute of Social Education was founded on the 13th of September 1982 by ROCHE Victor.

          The initiator of RISE was a Dalit who knew the economic and social problems of his community.

          RISE functions as a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-political and non-governmental organization to promote, in the field of conscientization, adult education, development and women’s liberation in our project.

So, at the beginning, RISE had to provide the main needs of the population:

  • Milch animals were provided to widows to make them self-reliant.
  • Drinking water. For 5 villages, RISE deepened well to provide more drinking water. Drinking water supply to 5 villages by arranging tap connection from over-head tanks.
  • Building houses. With financial help from the government, RISE built 48 houses for homeless Dalits.
  • Construction of 5 Burial ground for Dalits people in 5 villages.
  • Distribution of animals. RISE offered goats, ducklings, and plough bullocks. They were used to establish small scale industries, which provide livelihoods to 650 persons.

In the same time, RISE acted for awareness of the population. In this objective, RISE organized different camps, programs, and meetings:

  1. AGRICULTURAL LABORERS PROGRAM
  2. “Awareness Education Program” for 5000 agricultural labourers.
  • RISE organized 18 “Agricultural camps”, which covered 20 villages.
  • HEALTH CARE PROGRAM
  • “Cultural program on health awareness”: This program covered 20 villages for 8350 persons in Villianur Commune.
  • “Reproductive Child Health Program” in 48 villages.
  • “Community health program”
  • “Medical camps”.
  • HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM
  • “Awareness camps for Dalit youths” in 10 villages, to give information about human rights to young people.
  • “Skill development program in tailoring and embroidery”. Dalit Muslim Women of one village learnt to tailor and embroider.
  • “Community organization for Dalit Washer men”. This social organization was created to fight for Washer men rights.

Later, the community organization added 25 Women Organizations in 25 villages. Those self help groups were supported with micro credits delivered by RISE. These organizations were involved in bringing basic amenities to their villages.

In 2001, RISE joined a Network called DMK: Dalit Mannurimai Kuttamippu (Dalit land rights Federation). This Network is composed by 16 NGOs, and is supported by international agencies. DMK organizes regional and national level program on issues such as human rights, political rights of Dalit, Dalit empowerment and women rights.

Since 2001, projects are implemented. But, since 2004, RISE is involved in a big post-tsunami project to renovate a village of fishermen. This program required a lot of volunteers and money for the tsunami project. So, RISE’s activities have been reduced. But RISE is started now training center for computer and tailoring. Dalit people of the target area can learn computer or tailoring to find a employment.