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“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap…”-1Samuel 2:8. Overview about MCCSS. NGO working in the slums of Chennai for more than 4 decades. It is an ecumenical organisation working for the urban poor irrespective of caste, creed and color.
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“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap…”-1Samuel 2:8
Overview about MCCSS • NGO working in the slums of Chennai for more than 4 decades. • It is an ecumenical organisation working for the urban poor irrespective of caste, creed and color. • An organisation which evolved from charity to empowerment and human rights perspective. • Pioneers in the Prevention of Trafficking, awareness education in the field of HIV& AIDS, people’s movement, counseling centre & Short stay home for women and girls in distress.
Kodungaiyur the dumping yard… • Kodungayur is the biggest waste dumping yard in Chennai (400 acres ) • dumps nearly 3,200 tones of garbage every day. • This garbage consists primarily of organic waste, • different kinds of plastics, packaging waste, paper, metal, glass, construction debris, bio-medical waste and slaughterhouse Waste
The main targets of the pollution are the residents, especially children. • Even bio-medical waste from the Hospital, is regularly dumped • The Columbia Analytical Services in California, analysed the air and had found 69 volatile organic compounds and 20 sulphur gases. • Of the 9 chemicals found, 8 chemicals target the eyes and the skin, 7 target respiratory and central nervous system, 5 target the kidneys, 4 target the liver, 2 target the reproductive system and the Cardio Vascular System, 1 targets the bone marrow and Peripheral Nervous System.
How we started… • In order to help children of rag pickers and rag pickers who are children, the Chennai Corporation launched a project to provide night shelter for street children in 2009 • MCCSS did a survey under the leadership of Mr. Alexander and found more than 100 children in the dumping yard. • MCCSS was awarded the project for 2yrs (2009-2011)
India’s booming urbanization brings the problem of waste management. • migration towards the cities, increases the amount of waste. • waste management is likely to become a critical issue in the coming years. • Rag pickers play an important, but usually unrecognized role in the waste management system of Indian cities. • They collect garbage in search of recyclable items that can be sold to scrap merchant (paper, plastic, tin...) • This activity require no skills and is a source of income for a growing number of urban poor.
Our journey… • More than 60 enrolments. • 16 children in the process of mainstreaming into formal education. • Few came out of addiction and rag picking as profession. • The rag picker project also included children at risk. • Life skills education and personality development training was imparted. • Awareness to the general public to reduce stigma and discrimination. • Closure of project due to change of government. • MCCSS started its own children’s home to continue the project. • The slow change among the rag pickers sustained our motivation to continue the project with local funds. • Recognition of the children’s home as “FIT Institution” by the Govt. of India. • Collaboration with little lambs school.
Challenges… • It was an eye opener • The very first day no rag picker turned for the inauguration • Bathing was considered as a torture. • Brushing and hygiene was not part of their daily routine. • Shelter’s proximity to the dumping yard posed a huge challenge. • Addictions like solution sniffing was very new to us. • They loved the dumping yard making rehabilitation difficult • Lost childhood • Petty thieving like stealing the brass taps, bulbs and pipes.
Challenges… • Rowdies interference in the project • Irregular attendance. • Lack of sustainable donor. • Interference of brokers, middlemen of the rag pickers. • their hate for school or any type of formal education. • Huge difference between migrant rag pickers and local rag pickers. • Health related issues. • Bullying of small children by the bigger boys • Difficulty in sticking to a routine • They hate supervision or monitoring • No understanding of hierarchy .