Kalahandi Mission field
Kalahandi Mission field
Mar Thoma Mission Kalahandi is an outreach Mission endeavor of the Ranni
Nilackal Diocese of the Mar Thoma Church. It is emerged as a response to the people who are indire need of help and support. Through its wholistic approach, the Mar Thoma mission engaged in the strengthening and development of a sustainable community and for building people. A glimpse of the major activities of the mission is as follows.
I-Education Programs
Education is one of the key components that bring growth and development into society.
The more people are educated, the more they can provide a beneficial contribution to their
environment. As there are no such educational institutions in and around our tribal villages, Mar
Thoma Mission is very particular to ensure basic education to all children in the villages through
the following means
1. Balawadis-
Balawadis are centers where alphabets, numbers, nursery rhymes and songs are taught to
children under the age of 10. Nine such centers are functioning. About 30-35 children are
benefited at each centre. It aims at creating an interest in the children for learning and also
making the parents realize the need to educate the children.
2. Gramjyothi School
Gram Jyothi means “Light of the Village”. A Gramjyothi school (tribal) is functioning at
Biripadi village. Two dedicated teachers are giving leadership to the school. Classes are
conducted from 1 st std to 3 rd std in Odia medium. Mid-day meal is also provided to the children.
3. Hostels
Hostels are run for tribal and dalit children from villages where there are no proper
schooling facilities. We have two hostels functioning at Mission campus, with 35 children (15
boys and 20 girls). The hostel aims at the overall development of the child – educational,
spiritual and physical. Special tuitions are provided. The children are fairly doing well in school.
The children take active participation in the mission activities.
4. Mar Thoma English Medium School
Our mission is stationed at Turlakhaman which is a village situated 25kms away from the
town area. There was no English medium school in the vicinity of 25kms. The government oriya
medium school does not provides good education. So, it was the request of the people to mission
to start an English medium school. As a response to this need Mission started an English
Medium School in 2011 with 18 students. Now the school have grown to the strength of 380
students from Nursery to 8 th Standard. A dedicated team of teachers ensuring quality education to
the children who are mostly comes from the poor agrarian families.
5. CARD Light to Life Project
With the help of CARD Thiruvalla a day care center is functioning in the Lubengarh
village. 150 students taken care under the program. Study materials, Nutritious food, Health and
hygiene materials, uniforms and other educational aid have been provided to the children.
II-Health Care Mission- MTMPHCC
The Mar Thoma Mission Primary Health Care Center started in 2011 with a view to
provide quality medical care at the lowest cost. It is the only hospital in the vicinity of 25 km and
thus it’s a blessing to the people around the mission. One doctor and 4 paramedical staff serves
here, A well-equipped lab and a medical store functions along with the clinic. MTMPHCC
conducts medical camps, awareness programs on contagious deceases like malaria and dengue
etc
III-Village Development Programs
The Mar Thoma mission is involved in the village development activities like
family planning awareness programs, house for houseless, digging well for the drinking and
cooking purpose, creating awareness on sanitation and hygiene, cattle farming, providing seeds
for farming, creating awareness on the harmfulness of tobacco, etc. We are entered into another
phase of development activities by starting Self Help Groups, Community Based Organizations
& Child Focused Community Development with the support of Christian Agency for Rural
Development (CARD) and Holoistic Child Development Centre , Pune. 21 villages has been
taken care under the Gram shakti CFCD project. The focus of the project is education, health
and nutrition and livelihood development.
Kalahandi Mission began in the year 2000.
At present we have Two Achens & family: Rev Shibu Thomas Skaraiah and Rev. Jobin E T Abraham, along with 40 staffs including Evangelists, Teachers and Social Workers.