Datas about Archdiocese

Diocese - An overview

It is half a millennium since Christianity had taken roots along the coastal area of Trivandrum, from Eraimmanthurai in the South to Ayroor on the north. Starting with foreigners, the mission is still ongoing process in the Diocese of Trivandrum. The details of the Diocese are as follows:

Patroness St. Theresa of Child Jesus

Area 686 sq. kms
Population 17,52,867
Catholics 2,53,262
Parishes 70
Sub Stations (Mission Stations) 52
Basic Christian Community Units 1512
Languages Malayalam, Tamil and English

Trivandrum is categorised to be one among the most populous dioceses in the country. More than 90% of the population belongs to the socially challenged community of the fisher folk. It is a fact that the diocese has been able to progressively maintain the faith of the people, but with the pass of years the gains or advancement the Diocese could make in social, economic and educational sphere are only peripheral. Because the marginalisation and economic deprivation of the community has been so intense, carried down through centuries. Still, many of our brethren live in abject poverty and distressing conditions. It is high time that concerted efforts are made for the total emancipation of the community by all of us concerned joining together, particularly those who are better off and the privileged taking the lead.

2. Socio-Economic Background.

It has already been highlighted that as much as 90% of the laity in the diocese hail from the traditional community of the fisher folk. The community as a whole is impoverished and is classified to be backward. In Social stratification the fishermen find their place at the lowest rung of the ladder of social setup. It is paradoxical that another identical traditional community living in the forests (tribal) are loaded with welfare schemes and reservation benefits whereas the Christian fisher folk community which is five times larger in size is negated of the same. Social discrimination is explicitly expressed towards the target population.

Fishery is the single source of livelihood for 80% of the people. Primitive methods are still employed in fishing by the vast majority viz, traditional crafts and canoes. In a competitive age when trawlers and mini ships with hitech devices have conquered the marine fisheries, our brethren are destined to be statisfied with the left over. Owing to indiscriminate trawling and other mal-practices in vogue, the quantum of fish net by the traditional crafts is decreasing steadily on the one hand and on the other, the expenses on fishing have stepped up out of proportion as necessitated by the use of out-board engines. Indebtedness has assumed alarming proportions and the people are still in their spending spree for celebrations and socialisation. It may be opportune to recall that the persistent campaign held in the diocese few years ago could progressively arrest alcoholic consumption and illicit distilling of liquor by our people. the changed situation has progressively contributed to peace in the colonies and better inter-cooperation among the families. Systematic promotion of Basic Christian Communities and the fraternal prayer gatherings thereof also have significantly contributed to the change.

The age old' landlessness of the community that is attributed to traditional reasons, appears to be beyond redemption. The ancestors who had remained wedded to the sea kept off from the bargain for our share of land. The culmination is that the colonies are so congested without sanitary or waste disposal outlets and not to speak of the ever-increasing demand for housing. In addition to the nutritional deficiency, health problems are rampant all along the coastal belt. Incidence of communicable disease is inordinately increasing with the net outcome that the family budget gets inflated providing additionally for the medications.

While all the contemporary segments of the people have found tangible advancement in education, our community is deplorably lagging behind. Given against the proclaimed cent percent literacy in the state, the actual situation in the coastal area is that only 30% do have the functional knowledge of reading, writing and simple arithmetics. The ensuing paragraphs shall dwelve deep on this point.

3. Educational Scenario

Not less than 30% of the state's population as of now, come under the category of students attending regular educational institution. But in the case of the reference community this is not more than 12% as can be seen from the students placement as below.

It is quite revealing that the vast majority of the children are denied of opportunities for coming up in life through education due to both self and community imposed reasons. If we keep the figure at 80000 all over the diocese only 35% get through schools and other educational institutions.

With the changing times, the parents have developed a desire to enroll the children in schools. But the vast majority fail to prevail upon their wards to go along with a purpose or they are not in a position to provide supportive learning at home to the children. The children whose minds are pre occupied in domestic affairs find schooling uninteresting and become dropouts.

The Social psyche also is such that the pre mature discontinuation is not mattered. The elders seldom realize the virtue of education on the foundation of which only, any community can progress. It may be important to highlight further the extent and incidence of school dropouts. Take for instance the case of St. Thomas Higher Secondary School at Poonthura. The number of pupils admitted in Standard I is between 400-500, whereas those appearing for the school final exam is only 25%. The situation may be slightly better in other areas. However, our assessment is that not more than 30% of the children from the coastal villages reach up to school final class and are enrolled for the SSLC examination. Again, not more than 40% qualify the examination and that too with lowest percentage of marks. To put it differently, very few obtain the eligibility for higher levels of studies and prospects of employment. In more absolute terms, about 1000 students pass SSLC examination and not more than 500 of them find their way for further studies, and that too, thanks to community quota reserved in the Catholic Institutions.

4. Reflections

By all means the diocesan establishments have clamored for the development of the community. Practically there is no area of social welfare where the diocese has not laid its hands. The constitution of Basic Christian Communities becomes a turning point to bring amity and to pave way for a virtuous Christian life. Educational institutions opened up accessibility to all for primary and secondary education. Parish Priests in their individual and official levels have initiated various model schemes towards betterment of the people unfortunately the level of absorption of the people to new openings and the facilities offered have always remained at a low key. Perhaps, only the salaried class has gone up the poverty line with the vast majority still reeling under. Equation between manpower and material resources is so disproportionate that the community has very little with them in terms of physical assets. This lacuna can be off-set only through enhancing the resourcefulness of the individuals and directing it towards productive sectors of services and occupation. Obviously, education and training in skills are the accepted tools to transform the population as resourceful beings.

Be it any where in the world, education holds the key to development. Knowledge is power. Examples are several that the power of knowledge establishes command over material resources cutting across the border's. Even within the state, regional disparities are apparent in wielding power and positions, commensuration with levels of educational competence.

In the context of the foregoing reflections and relaxations, what may be pertinent for the coastal orchestrated programme of education for the children and the youth culminating in perspective careers and potential leadership. Only through a process of formation from the lower level this desired goal could be achieved. Systematic and orderly life style brings a lot of improvement both in intellectual and moral abilities of children.

Present status of women in Trivandrum Diocese.

Women and children are considered as the vulnerable sections of the society. But the development of a nation is almost related to the progress these groups and still it lies as the underdeveloped area. The Indian constitution ensures equality, fraternity, and liberty for all citizens of the nation, especially for women, but there is a great difference between the real situation and the conceptual position of women in the society. Women are facing hazardous situations over their whole period of life. The violence and harassment towards women are increasing day by day. Lots of incidents like suicides, murder due to domestic problems, financial insecurity, educational and employment problems, alcoholism and drug addiction, dowry problem are common among backward communities both in APL (Above Poverty Line) and BPL (Below Poverty Line) families. Women in the society are the real victims of all social problems.

In such context it is very necessary to think about the poor and marginalised women belongs to Fishermen, Dalith, Nadar, Ezhava, Muslim and all other backward communities in the diocese. The women need adequate assistance and appropriate ways of living to cope up with such complexed and competitive life points.

Status of women in all sectors is minimum satisfactory level. Their progress is not accountable even in the family. It is related to number of factors. Majority of women come under below poverty line. Discrimination, un equality, unwanted allegations make the women more slavers in front of other members of the family and most of them face prolonged and intensive starvation. This is reflected in all areas of their development and the backwardness is still existing in educational and employment sector, health and awareness sector and political field in which male domination and participation in higher. Majority of the women are unaware about their rights and duties, legal matters, social scenario, right familial job and responsibilities, equal partnership etc. They need a helping hand for personal growth and improvement.

Problems of women belongs to Fishermen, Dalith & other Backward Communities

Fisher women are the one who exploited more and being exploited in our society due to several causes. These women have to face more social problems than other backward women. They are backward in all aspects of social, educational, economical, political, employmental, and communal. The only reason is that qualititative life and good habitation are still unfamiliar to them. The girls in these communities are tend to follow the instructions given by the mother during their schooling due to utter poverty and unemployment. So most of the girls are not getting proper educational facilities from the family. They are doing household works and looking after their siblings when their parents out of the house for daily work. Dowry problem and alcoholism are high among these communities. Because of this number of mentally stressed women are also high.

Women become the most victims of all social problems in fisheries sector. Employment related issues and problems are common in the market and women have to suffer lots of pressure for doing the traditional jobs. They are having no job security and protection and they are being exploited by intermediary and powerful people. They face so many troubles while on the journey to fish markets, and in the occasion of fish wholesale because of anti-socialist and other political interference. Absence of welfare projects, and schemes affected their social progress and this can be taken into account for strengthening the women.

The Dalith women are also facing negligence and inadequate support from their family and society. At the same time promotion of these women comes as a major subject in majority of the discussion on backward women upliftment. They face communal crisis only in the label as Christians and all the benefits provided to a Hindu Dalith women from the government is reduced and cut off for Christian women mainly in welfare measures. Familial issues related to alcoholism, dowry, finance, etc are the major problematic factors for these women. Proper employment facilities and educational opportunities are still lacking among them. They also need to be strengthened and empowered for the progress of society.

The backward women from other communities like Nadar, Ezhava, Muslim, and Hindu are facing the same kinds of problem. On the whole it can be said that women are the direct victims of social, political, religious, and all problems in the new aspects of globalization, liberalization and privatisation.

4. TSSS Intervention in Women Development Programmes

The women and Child Development Commission started in 1990 with an object to support women and their families by providing adequate support in all means of growth and development. There was a remarkable task done by TSSS to improve the condition of oppressed women group in the community. Eventhough there are number of areas remain to cover and focus. With the effort of TSSS number of forums and women groups were emerged. As part of it 65 village Vanitha vedies, 37 fish vending women forum, widows forum came into existence. Some of these fish vending women forums in Thoothoor, Valiathura and Puthukurichy foranes were converted into fish vending women co-operatives and it was a good access to the challenging thinking and action for the poor and needy women. In addition to this nursery schools were formed in 23 villages to involve women members from that places itself for development programmes.

The women forum addressed several issues and problems affecting women employed in the organised and unorganised sectors and the forum have been handling crucial problems occurring among these vulnerable groups. Awareness creations on various aspects are continued under the commission.

The training programme like Jeeva Vardhini was helped a lot to increase women membership in the forum and also helpful to improve the knowledge, awareness, and increase motive and self-confidence. Gathering of women in 1998, and 2000 made a successful enhancement in the activities of women forums. Some of the women members were selected to local bodies and it shows the emergence of women in political leadership.

Some of the self-employment programmes were started to support the women and their families. These programmes were helped to some women in our villages. Pension and insurance scheme for women were also implemented for long-term care. Eventhough there was limitations and scarcity adequate resources to meet all the needy families. In such situation need for new schemes and development projects are inevitable to provide basic support and adequate services.