SADDOW | Events

Consumer awareness campaigns are conducted regularly, which would help the rural population to be aware of their rights as consumers. The rural community is educated on Reuse, Reduce and Recycle of articles. Consumer awareness programmes were conducted at Manakatoor on August 21, 2006 and at Sendurai on August 22, 2006. In this programme the consumers were explained about consumerism, Maximum Retail Pricing [MRP] of products, importance of bills, ISI, ISO standards, consumer forum and consumer legal proceedings etc. This makes the rural public more knowledgeable about the various products available in the market and also help them to identify spurious products.

Due to the invasion of allopathy, drugs and treatment methods are more expensive and also have side-effects in the human body. Hence we encourage traditional medicines like Siddha and Ayurveda, as an alternative medicine for the well being of the community. We promoted Kitchen Herbal Garden, Medicinal Plants cultivation, School Health Garden Activities in the project villages of Natham and Sanarpatti Blocks, Dindigul District. So far 817 Kitchen Herbal Gardens, 12 Sidha training camps and 3 school health camps have been promoted in the project villages. In this regard we seek grants and donations from the local Government and abroad.

The rural population is unaware about the traffic rules due to their poor education and are facing accidents and deaths, which can be avoided. Road Safety Education Camps were conducted at Manakatoor and Sirugudi villages. In these camps the rural public were educated about traffic rules, accident claims, existing rules and regulations etc.

Reproductive Child Health Knowledge Training Programme was implemented at 12 villages in Natham Block. Around 12 AIDS cases were identified in and around Natham Block. It was also ensured that they attended periodical counselling, periodical check up and follow up.

A one day programme on World Aids Day and Awareness campaign was organized at N.P.R. Arts and Science College, Ulluppagudi on December 19, 2006 with grant and support from APAC, Chennai and also facilitated by Nodal Agency of IHN and PACHE Trust.

In this programme, Mr. Sonaimuthu, Director of SAADOW NGO, delivered the welcome address and insisted the importance of students, public and voluntary organization in creating awareness to fight against HIV / AIDS. Mr.S.Raju, N.S.S. Coordinator, Madurai Kamaraj University, presided over the function and delivered the presidential address about the present situation of HIV / AIDS, prevalence of sexually transmitted infectious diseases and the precautionary methods to be adopted. Dr. M.V. Ashok Babu, Consultant APAC V.H.S., Chennai who delivered the special address spoke about hazards of smoking, avoidance of sexual thoughts among the students and how they can help in creating mass awareness campaign among the general public. Mr. M. Raja Mohamed, Director of Meera Foundation and other special delegates delivered the speech about the HIV / AIDS, its prevention and control methods to be followed among the participants.

In the programme, a pre–knowledge assessment and a post–knowledge assessment questionnaire was distributed and collected to understand the awareness among the college students. On processing the questionnaire, it was found that more than 500 students were in favour of creating awareness about AIDS / HIV. A quiz competition was also conducted to assess the knowledge of students on HIV/AIDS after the orientation. It was also clear that the knowledge of students on usage of condom, safer sex, control methods and role of society were strengthened.

This programme enabled many of the participants to gain a proper understanding of AIDS and also about the physical, psychologyical, social, economical and other related issues surrounding AIDS. It also gave way to positive interaction among the participants. The students raised a lot of questions with regards to spreading of AIDS, and available treatment methods. It was also realized that the AIDS affected patients need to be cared for, recognized and supported by the society. Mrs. Selvi, who is affected by AIDS, presented her case history and clarified her social needs, treatment needs and care and support for her child. This experience gave more knowledge to the students for helping the Aids affected / infected children and families through for the on going N.S.S. camp at 10 villages of the Natham Block, Dindigul District.

Further there was an exhibition on HIV / AIDS, in which around 400 students were involved. There was also a cultural programme presented by Meera foundation. They sang and enacted about prevention of HIV / AIDS. Finally, the awareness campaign ended with all the participants taking an awareness oath, carrying the candles. The students took a pledge on the prevention of AIDS. They took an oath not allow AIDS into their life and society. The College Principal gave his vote of thanks. He said he would strive hard to stop AIDS from that day onwards.

A National Environment Awareness Campaign 2006-2007 was conducted at the Block Development Office, Natham. This campaign was attended by our women SHGs, Panchayat leaders and the general public. We focused on following areas in the NEAC programme:

Presently we are working with ECOTEC consortium for solving the problem of local solid waste management in the project villages. On solid waste management activities we are approaching local Government and Non Government bodies for strengthening of the programme.

Drug addiction is one of the biggest menace in our project area. Due to ignorance and poor guidance people are becoming addict and the women are facing social, economical, physical and psychological problems in the project villages. Drug awareness programmes were conducted at Kalathupatti, Sirugudi, Samudarapatti and Ammapatti. In this camp how drugs affect the physical, social, psychological, economic and family status of an individual were discussed. The drug addicts were counselled and referred to the de-addiction centres for futher treatment and rehabilitation.