ON
2nd August 1982
with 28 children of the Juanga (PVTG) Adivasi Village Banjhikusum, Ms. Veronica Dung Dung from Sundargarh District started a non-formal school under a barren Kusum Tree in Dhenkanal District of Odisha.
INTRODUCTION.
History
On 2nd August 1982 with 28 children of the Juanga (PVTG) Adivasi Village Banjhikusum, Ms. Veronica Dung Dung from Sundargarh District started a non-formal school under a barren Kusum Tree in Dhenkanal District of Odisha. (The name of the village draws its name from barren Kusum trees) She taught them through singing dancing in a joyful atmosphere. This Non-formal School was the beginning of an organization – “Samajik Seva Sadan (SSS)”. On 3rd July 1983, Mr. Emmanuel Pathil joined her and then onwards constantly rendering community development services to the nearby villages. A miracle took place that this barren Kusum tree started fruiting and still it is continuing fruiting. By 1985 we had 8 schools running for 16 Adivasi & Dalit villages. After registration in 1985, SSS extended its Developmental Intervention to far and wide both within and outside Odisha with commitment to the poor and downtrodden human beings within the society.
We began with Literacy promotion, Integrated Sustainable Village Development, Rehabilitation of 64 Families who were treated & cured from Leprosy by our effort, Promotion of community health, joining Govt. in its total literacy programme, Saving & Credit programme for all the women in the villages, venturing on poverty termination through User Group based approach in Agriculture, total sanitation campaign joining in hands with govt. and Group Organization. Capacity building of village women, social security and livelihood support initiatives for balanced and integrated development of the communities with emphasis on empowering women, entrepreneurs, rural artisans, Dalits and Adivasi for their rights to natural resources (Water, land, and forest), accomplishment of 5th Schedule, PESA & FRA in the District of Sundargarh and at large in the State of Odisha. Starting of an ITI (Gangpur Industrial Training Institute - GITI) in Subdega to promote skill development of youth is a mile stone for SSS. Starting of Anubhuti Ashraya Sthali (Old Age Home) for the elderly women is the latest addition to our dedication & commitment.
