TAMIL NADU – FELICIATION PROGRAM
On August 23, 2024, the Tamil Nadu Partners of Lok Manch hosted a state-level felicitation program for the
empowered community leaders from the Ensuring Social Protection (ESP) project operational areas. The event was
held at LS Hall, Loyola College, Chennai. These leaders were selected based on a baseline study conducted a few
months prior to the program, which aimed at gathering realistic ground-level data about their significant
contributions to their communities. The selection also took into account the capacity-building support they received
from ESP project staff through monthly training sessions. The empowered community leaders were evaluated for
their valuable contributions, which included securing adequate housing and land titles (housing land patta),
improving infrastructure in government schools, enhancing road and drinking water facilities, ensuring access to
burial grounds and drainage systems, procuring new Anganwadi Centers, and promoting entrepreneurship programs
and other social security benefits.
The event was graced by the presence of the Joint Director of the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Tamil
Nadu, Mr. S. Suresh Kumar, who was as the Chief Guest. Special Guests included Fr. Jabamalai Iruthayaraj, SJ,
Provincial of Chennai Province and the PDD of the Province. Fr. Xavier Soreng SJ, National Project Director of Lok
Manch, Fr. Jeyaraj, the Secretary and Fr. A. Louis Arockia Raj, SJ, Principal of Loyola College, Chennai were some
of the esteemed guests who graced the occasion by their valuable presence. Each empowered community leader was
honored with a shawl, memento, and a certificate of appreciation. During the event, a short documentary film
featuring community leaders from each partners operational area was screened. Following this, a handbook
containing success stories of 40 community leaders was released by the dignitaries present.