

DACA
ANTHEM
( RUN BY: MADURAI JESUIT DOWNTRODDEN PEOPLE WELFARE TRUST )
Service Since 1994
Reg.No. 126/BK4/1994


WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

DACA’S MAKKAL SAKTHI SANGAMAM:
‘I measure the progress of a Community by the degree of progress which women have achieved’ says Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. It means the growth of a family, a community or a nation depends on the growth and development attained by women residing there. Imbibing the spirit of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and understanding the truth of his statement, Rev. Dr. Antony Raj, SJ founded Makkal Sakthi Sangamam (MASS) in 2009 with the intention of eliminating rural poverty through the economic empowerment of rural women and creating sustainable livelihood. Today MASS makes women belonging to Dalit and other marginalized communities to move forward through Self Help Group activities with reference to health, education and socio economic status.
MASS movement has been the forerunner of many changes in the life of poor rural woman in southern districts of Tamil Nadu. It has provided financial support to women in terms of doing farming, starting small scale business, improving living conditions, etc. It also amply demonstrated that poor women save, use loans productively and do not default on repayment. Moreover the MASS has given women an opportunity to come together in small groups of 10 to 15 and get education about their constitutional rights and about entrepreneur skills.