Trivandrum Social Service Society

Trivandrum Social Service Society has played a pivotal role in constructing numerous houses for those in need through several projects. A total of 4896 houses have been built across various regions since 1960, addressing the housing needs of the underprivileged. Additionally, TSSS has actively contributed to the construction of 2179 toilets for those in dire need. The society has also provided financial assistance for the maintenance of 357 houses, ensuring ongoing support for the upkeep of these homes.

Karunyapoorvam, initiated in 2016 by Trivandrum Social Service Society, stands as a family development project. Its primary objective is to guide impoverished, needy families, and destitute individuals toward integration into the mainstream of society by fostering self-sufficiency. Through this scheme, 234 families have embarked on various self-employment ventures, significantly improving their livelihoods and quality of life.

The health department within Trivandrum Social Service Society has proactively engaged in initiatives aimed at promoting the well-being of individuals. It has extended a helping hand to support the physical, mental, and social welfare of the people in the focal areas. The health activities encompass not only coastal villages but also the remote interior regions of Trivandrum and Kanyakumari Districts in Southern India.

The Kerala Labour Movement (KLM) serves as a platform dedicated to organizing unorganized workers such as tailors, masons, taxi drivers, and others, aiming to secure their welfare and development. Several workers' forums established by KLM have attained independent trade union status, equal in stature to other trade unions in the State. Operating across various regions of Trivandrum, KLM oversees 63 units actively engaged in this endeavour.
The primary focus of the organization centres on fish workers, encompassing both men and women involved in fishing, fish vending, and associated activities. Within the TSSS-KLM program, there are 1675 members who are part of this initiative, advocating for the rights and betterment of these working-class individuals.

TSSS initiates the GramaDeepam program, aiming to foster substance abuse-free village communities. The program employs various methods to achieve this goal, including exhibitions, dramas, street plays, rallies, house-to-house campaigns, medical check-ups, and awareness classes targeting children, youth, men, and women. With the collaborative support of the Excise department and local community leaders, TSSS successfully orchestrates these campaigns, reaching approximately 34,000 children. Annually, the program facilitates the rehabilitation and reintegration of nearly 1000 individuals back into their communities.

The Child Parliament serves as a platform for children aged 10 to 18 years old, providing them with an opportunity to learn about democracy and citizenship skills. This official forum empowers children to voice their concerns and propose solutions to both local and global issues. By participating in the Children's Parliament, students gain insights into the decision-making process and assume responsibility for some of these decisions themselves. Additionally, through this program, students actively organize environmental, social, and educational activities. This initiative aids students in understanding their rights and responsibilities as global citizens. Within the Trivandrum region, TSSS oversees 68 active Child Parliament groups, fostering active engagement and learning among the youth.

Self Help Groups (SHGs) consist of local groups comprising 10 to 20 women residing in the same area, united by a common objective of alleviating poverty. The primary goals include fostering a culture of savings among women, empowering them, and enabling their self-sufficiency in social and political spheres, aligning with the sustainable development goals outlined by the UN. These SHG members actively engage in charitable endeavours, serving as a pillar of support for the underprivileged and marginalized segments of society.
TSSS plays a pivotal role in educating and empowering these groups, focusing on gender mainstreaming and environmental conservation. Efforts are directed towards combating domestic violence, eliminating the dowry system, addressing atrocities against women and girl children. TSSS endeavours to equip these women with leadership skills, income generation programs, and entrepreneurial capabilities.

The Income Generation programs are designed to foster self-employment and cultivate a culture of saving within SHG groups. The TSSS initiatives provide awareness and training sessions for marginalized individuals in society, enabling them to initiate income-generating ventures. Presently, there are approximately 300 small-scale entrepreneurs engaged in various income-generating activities under the auspices of TSSS.
To support these endeavors, it actively encourages and motivates entrepreneurs by facilitating their access to bank linkage and subsidized loans from different financial institutions and funding agencies. It equips them with essential legal knowledge and offers necessary support, guiding them through the initial phases of entrepreneurship.

The inception of the first Fish Vending Women’s Forum in Thoothoor dates back to 1992. The Forum's primary initiatives involved offering awareness classes, advocating for the dignity of labour, lobbying to ensure security, justice, and basic amenities at marketplaces, and facilitating credit opportunities for its members' occupation. Across the six coastal foranes, a total of 47 Forum units were established, boasting a collective membership of 1533 individuals. Activities within the Forum included issue-based engagements at marketplaces.
Throughout the year, various fish vending groups in different markets identified several pressing issues such as unhygienic conditions, inadequate access to drinking water and restroom facilities, instances of misconduct by individuals, improper waste disposal, and a surge in market space prices. By submitting memorandums to the concerned authorities, the members resolved most of these problems.

The genesis of this idea traces back to Pope Benedict XVI's Message on the 'World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 2012.' The message emphasized the need for Christian communities to extend special attention and support to migrant workers and their families. It urged the fostering of mutual enrichment, solidarity, and Christian charity, along with promoting new political, economic, and social strategies that uphold the dignity of every individual, safeguard families, provide access to decent housing, employment, and welfare.
Additionally, the recent influx of labourers from states like Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, who regard Kerala as their "Gulf," akin to how Gulf countries were viewed by Keralites until recent times, further fuelled this initiative. The global economic slowdown coupled with geopolitical and economic uncertainties led developed nations to curtail labour and truncate various development schemes.

Karuna Nivas functions as a brief accommodation facility designed for women and girls experiencing distressing situations. Under the auspices of TSSS, this initiative aims to empower and facilitate these individuals in commencing a fresh chapter in their lives. The program provides shelter, food, education, character building, and personality development opportunities. The primary focus is on fostering the integral growth and well-being of these vulnerable girls and women who may have experienced distress or abandonment. Through these comprehensive measures, TSSS endeavours to support their journey towards a renewed and hopeful future.

Established in 1995, the Pratheeksha de-addiction centre was founded specifically for the rehabilitation of individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. Renowned for its expertise in de-addiction, the centre attracts patients not only from all districts of Kerala but also from regions such as Mumbai, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Male. Annually, the centre provides treatment and rehabilitation for around 200 patients, aiding them in their journey towards recovery from addiction.

TSSS provides care and support for individuals experiencing mental challenges, particularly those found wandering in streets, markets, and transportation hubs. The efforts focus on delivering comprehensive care—spiritually, psychologically, and physically—to ensure the overall well-being of these individuals. Collaborating closely with both governmental and non-governmental agencies, TSSS aims to address their needs effectively.
Additionally, it extends assistance to the families of these individuals, offering counselling and guidance to help them navigate and cope with the challenges associated with caring for their loved ones.

Capacity building is responsible for fostering human resource development through a series of engagements such as meetings, discussions, seminars, workshops, and trainings at three different levels—tri-level—for social service workers, members, and staff. The section operates within a tri-tier system, meticulously monitoring and evaluating the activities conducted. It actively encourages volunteers to engage in the day-to-day operations of TSSS. Additionally, the section provides essential training to individuals to enhance their participation in local self-government systems.

The community has been educated and made aware of waste management practices and the importance of energy conservation. Over the past several years, approximately 28,000 trees have been planted across various regions. The promotion of over 5,000 organic gardens in these areas has been a focal point, supported by the Haritha Karma Sena (Green Army), which actively engages in waste management activities.
Encouraging a cleaner and greener environment, it annually recognises and supports eight villages as "Green villages," promoting the upkeep of cleanliness and greenery in their regions. To combat plastic waste, collection initiatives are in place, with the Green Army taking charge of the collection and segregation of approximately 5000 tons of plastic waste annually in these areas.

The primary objectives of the project are centred around empowering economically and socially disadvantaged women in coastal areas, specifically in Puthukurichy, Anjengo, Pulluvila, Valiyathura, and Poonthura, employing an eco-feminist approach. The project conducts regular awareness classes for adolescent groups, benefitting approximately 30,000 individuals. Through street theatres, these adolescents are educated and sensitized on various pressing issues faced by women, encompassing domestic violence, violence against women and children, the dowry system, workplace challenges, as well as environmental conservation and waste management.
The project also focuses on strengthening forums of women involved in fish vending, offering classes and economic activities for their empowerment. Waste management awareness trainings and door-to-door campaigns, which covered 15,000 households within the project area, have effectively raised awareness and increased the visibility of SHG federations.