In the caste-ridden Indian society, it is mainly the Dalit sub-castes that are engaged in menial jobs like sanitation workers, manual scavengers, cleaners of drains, garbage collectors, and sweepers of roads. Their occupation is associated with the social stigma. Till the arrival of the Corona Virus, these people were treated as virus, dirt and were called ‘scavengers’. The COVID 19 pandemic has changed the attitude of the so-called discriminative high caste. Even though it is momentary and unavoidable, the opportunists have started to recognise the conservancy workers as saviors and associate them with cleanliness. The principle of interdependency has come to the fore now.

Being true to its commitment, Chengalpattu Rural Development Society (CRDS) since its inception has been doing yeomen service to the discriminated Dalit community. During COVID 19 emergency response, the preferential option given for addressing the food security of Dalit community especially the most oppressed among the Dalits namely the conservancy workers (100 families) and dhobi (350 families) communities living in the peripheries of society is worth mentioning.

With human dignity at its center, a holistic approach to development, founded on the principles of Catholic Social Teachings (CST), is what Pope Paul VI called ‘authentic development’. During the COVID 19 pandemic relief response CRDS is working with dignity of the affected poor as the core.

“When Dr. John Arokiaraj, Caritas India Manager called me over the phone and requested to help about 50 migrant workers stranded in Adikesava Perumal Nagar, Sriperumbudur in Kancheepuram district, I was skeptical that when our own sons of the soil are suffering, how can I extend relief support to strangers with limited resources. But when I saw their helpless condition, I really got shattered and decided to do our best to maintain the dignity and rights of workers” recalls Fr.Antony Raj, Director of CRDS. As on 7th of May, CRDS has reached out to 3915 migrant families in the SIPCOT area of Theresapuram, Balanallur and Pondur in Sriperumbudur of Kancheepuram district.

Fr. Antony Raj is grateful to the Diocesan leadership with the Visionary Bishop Most.Rev.Neethinathan spearheading the response supported by Msgr. Backiya Regis, the Vicar General. “We received a benevolent relief grant of 3.32 million rupees from our diocese. We work as a team and I am happy to have the committed team of staff and volunteers. The support, guidance and accompaniment given by Caritas India need to be placed on records” said the Director. He continued saying ‘ I acknowledge the commitment of our Disaster Risk Reduction team led by Barath. They are instrumental in reaching out to the unreached’.

The neglected, starving and unreached 200 gypsy community families sheltered in Puthur village of  Acharapakkam block were not only provided dry ration by CRDS but also learned about the importance of social distancing, orderliness, wearing face masks and restricting their mobility during this pandemic.

CRDS ensures efficiency through community participation.  Ongoing programmes, volunteer base, likeminded associates, village-based public address systems and use of communication technologies are instrumental in reaching out to the most needy and who live in remote areas. The directory of community leaders is maintained both at central and field offices. It becomes handy to quickly contact them and receive their help to get the relief distribution organized. This facilitates to strengthen the ties with the community leaders and local leadership.

Before the distribution, with the support of the community leaders, CRDS identifies the possible bottlenecks in each of the distribution centres such as the exclusion of vulnerable and marginalised. It helps to go prepared with possible solutions for smooth distribution. As on 7^th May 2020,  the organisation could reach out to 12480 families out of which 3915 are migrant families. 3300 dry ration kits are distributed along with 1750 hygiene kits that included sanitizers and masks. Through 14 panchayat level community kitchens, an average of 6140 members were fed daily for 30 days.

Co-ordination with Christian Ecumenical Commission and distribution of food to the 300 elderly and deserted poor Hindu and Christian Dalits in Temple premises of Sogandi and Melamayur villages is the witness for secular values of CRDS and its inclination for interfaith dialogue. The inclusion element could be seen at its best through the reaching out of  890 PwD, 60 transgender, 200 Baira and 600 tribal families.

The organisation’s solidarity with the suffering and securing their safety was witnessed during the lockdown. A family of 8 members from Tiruvannamalai was working at Chennai as construction labourers. They got stuck there because of the lockdown and non-payment of wages.  Desperate to reach home, they pledged their jewels, hired a van at an exorbitant price to go back. As they did not have permission, they were intercepted at Chengalpattu toll plaza and FIR was filed. The whole day they were under police custody. Through the negotiations of Chengalpattu Diocese and CRDS, the Deputy Superintendent of Police issued travel pass at 23.00 Hrs on 23/04/2020 to these innocent laborers to reach their village safely.

The timely, appropriate and relevant response, strengthening local capacity, avoiding negative feelings, maintaining good coordination among stakeholders, complimenting Government response and avoiding duplication, effective execution of responsibility, treating everyone fairly and equitably without caste discrimination and stewardship in managing resources for the intended purpose is proving that CRDS is following Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS). A silent revolution is created by those who work and practice CST and CHS with full understanding and commitment towards establishing just social order.