KSSS
Kottayam Social Service Society
Kottayam Social Service Society
Around 150 farmers under the leadership of Fr. Sunil Perumanoor assembled in front of the Collectorate and put up a hunger strike as part of advocating for Farmers’ Rights. More than 1000 farmers from various parts of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, ldukki and Ernakulam districts gathered on the day under the auspices of the Kottayam Archdiocese. The Archdiocese convened the meeting through its social service wing the Kottayam Social Service Society – to demand government intervention for uplifting the agricultural sector, setting fair value for agrarian products and ensuring farmer’s rights. The meeting highlighted the plight of the farmers and the apathy of the ruling party. The meet and hunger strike was inaugurated by Shri. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan MLA. The Archbishop of Kottayam – Mar Mathew Moolakkatt – lighted the first candle to open the Farmer Rights Protection Candle lighting event. Various dignitaries from diverse political backgrounds and priests, religious sisters, laity leaders from the Archdiocese’s religious institutions delivered felicitations and expressed their solidarity.
Every human is born free and equal in dignity and rights. Everyone is entitled to all the right and freedom set forth in this declaration without any distinction of any kind. In this context KSSS organized “MUGHAMUGHAM” a face to face interaction on disability-a right based discussion. The interaction helped the CBR educators, CBR group leader and parents of defablind children regarding the modification on Disability Act. The program was organized at Kadathuruthy (St. Mary`s Church, Parish Hall) with a participation of 70 people. The programme was inaugurated by Smt. Annamma Raju (President, Block Panchayath).
The State Level Advocacy Meet on Deafblindness was organized on 29th August, 2017 at Srothas Centre, Thiruvananthapuram under the coordination of Malankara Social Service Society and Kottayam Social Service Society with the support of Sense International India and financial support by Azim Premji Philantrophic Initiatives. 20 participants from various Departments working with Differently-abled Persons attended the meeting. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Mohammad Asheel (Director, State Initiatives for Disability) and presided over by Mr.Rajan M. Karakkattil (Chief Programme Coordinator, MSSS). Mr. Sam John (State Coordinator, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) Mr.Parag Namdeo (Sr. Manager, Sense International India), Mr. Zamir Dhale (Advocacy Consultant) Ms. Brahada Shankar & Mrs. Shaila Thomas were the other speakers. Project Coordinators of Partner Organizations, Parents Network members, Adult deafblind and Special Educators also participated in the programme. During the Interface meeting with the Senior Govt. officials, the Deafblind project officers advocated for systems and services for the welfare of deafblind persons such as SSA staff to train deafblind children etc. and initiatives to be taken by the Government to ensure better living standards for the Deafblind Persons and their families. The Sensitization session informed the audience on the needs of Persons with Deafblindness. A Memorandum was submitted by the Network Members to the officials regarding the issues and needs of the deafblind persons.
