On 23rd June, we had a meeting with the organization Janodayam in Chennai (Madras).

In the Hindu tradition, society is organized into different castes. From one’s birth, each one belongs to a caste that gives him or her a specific role. In decreasing order in terms of ritual ‘purity’: the Brahmins are the priests and men of letters, the Kshatryas are the warriors (and policemen), the Vaishyas are the traders and agriculturists, and the Shudras are the artisans. What is left is all the ‘outside caste’, called Pariahs or Dalits (or ‘untouchables’), who are confined to the tasks considered as the most impure.

Each caste is itself divided into a large number of sub-castes (there are about 3,000 in India), corresponding to specific jobs. The Arunthathiars have inherited the job of ‘scavengers’. These Dalits’ task is to take care of everything in relation to garbage and human faeces, in conditions that are often degrading (in particular, they are in charge of cleaning the toilets and the sewage bare-handed). There are about 1.6 million of them in India. They are despised by everybody, even by other Dalits. The objective of Janodayam is to help these ‘scavengers’, the pariahs of pariahs, in the state of Tamil Nadu.

We were welcomed into the offices of Janodayam by G. Israel, who is the director of the programme. All the people in charge of the association were gathered for the occasion. Jayanthi, one of the organizers, welcomed us with a song. Altogether, the association has 22 full-time and 30 part-time workers.
             The team of Janodayam


Janodayam is an NGO founded in 1983 by the reverend Claude D’souza, a Jesuit. G. Israel joined the organization in 1984. Himself son of a ‘scavenger’, his studies allowed him to escape the destiny attached to this caste, and he wants to lead the rest of his community behind him.

The organisation counts on the education of children to put an end to the ignominious conditions of the Arunthathiars. It is with this aim that Janodayam supports almost 1,000 children by giving them free evening courses. In addition to that, each year, the children from 10th and 12th grades can follow a month of intensive classes before the exams. Thanks to this programme, about 70 children each year join the neighbouring Loyola College, one of the best universities in India. With a diploma in engineering or a doctorate, their social condition changes automatically. Since 1983, 2,000 Arunthathiar children have thus been joining this university.

                     Loyola College in Chennai

Janodayam also leads actions for the Arunthathiar women. In 2000, the organization created the APMS, whose objective is to help women reach social and economical autonomy. Support groups meet every week to help these women gain self-confidence. The APMS organizes short professional training (3 to 6 months): dressmaking, embroidery, computer science, medical care, etc. Thanks to this programme, women can find a job and increase the family income. And above all, they regain their dignity within a society that considers them ‘untouchables’.


The same year, G. Israel founded a citizen movement, the TAAMS (Tamilnadu Adi Andhia Arunthathiar Mahasabha). It has for its objective to organize the Arunthathiars in order to put pressure on the government to satisfy the most important needs of the community and make its rights respected.

In 1993, a federal law was promulgated in India to eradicate the scavenger’s manual work: human faeces could not be picked up by hand anymore, and every offending employer exposed himself to a year in jail and a fine of 2,000 rupees. But this law was easily bypassed by the companies, and the administrations often resorted to ‘independent’ scavengers who do not have social welfare. In 2002, the TAAMS spoke in favour of the Arunthathiars to the governor of Tamil Nadu. The payment of the ‘independent’ scavengers, who are hired from time to time in the administrations and schools, was increased to the same level as the legal minimum wage.

The TAAMS continued to campaign with other organizations for the defence of Dalits. In 2007, they managed to obtain social welfare for the ‘independent’ scavengers in the state of Tamil Nadu. As soon as 2008, public funds gave these workers insurance for health and accidents at work, as well as help in case of pregnancy, marriage or funeral (funerals are very expensive in India). Janodayam is setting up the new administration created to run this system.

In India, 18% of the places in universities and of the jobs in administration are kept for the Dalits in order to encourage their social integration. However, within the Dalits, the Arunthathiars are discredited too much to be able to benefit from it. In 2008, the TAAMS obtained from the government of Tamil Nadu a quota within the quota. 3% of the places are now kept solely for the members of the community of ‘scavengers’.


The interview was over, and G. Israel offered us to stay for lunch. Which we did with pleasure! While waiting for the trays of dishes, we were invited to participate in a small improvised songs concert. Why not? The song ‘Les filles des forges’ was successful.


How to help

The resources of Janodayam come mainly from international NGOs, especially the CCFD (Catholic Committee against Hunger and for Development) in France or Coordaid in the Netherlands.

To help Janodayam, it is better to contact these organizations directly. Financing and school equipment are welcome, as well as volunteer help.


Contacts

CCFD
Website : http://www.ccfd.asso.fr
Telephone : +33 1 44 82 80 00

Janodayam
122, Sterling Road
Nunggambakkam
600 034 Chennai
INDIA
•    E-mail : janodayams@eth.net


François
(Translation: Yolene Dabreteau)