Jeevan Jyoti Social Centre (JJSC), Piriaponch
The adivasis of Jharkhand face systemic marginalization, discrimination, exclusion from all the development processes in the country. They continue to be over- represented among the poorest, the illiterates and the dispossessed. They are denied their constitutional rights. They are displaced and expelled from their ancestral land and face environmental disasters. In the name of development, many of them are robbed of their properties, often innocent people are killed in fake encounters by security forces.
It is in this context that the Religious of the Assumption responded to the invitation of His Lordship Joseph Minj, the Bishop of Simdega to start a mission in Piriaponch. The sisters reached Piriaponch on 8th February 2004. Then they started visiting the villages walking miles after miles tirelessly, through the lonely forests climbing mountains and rocks, crossing rivers and valleys: slipping, falling on the way but no turning back. On the way they came across some shepherds and greeted them ‘jai Yesu.’ and thus tasted the fatigue of the people. They encountered the people, stayed in their homes and shared their food listen to their joyful and sad stories. Though the people were poor, they were hospitable and generous. Sisters slowly entered into the world of this new cultures, languages, beliefs, customs and costumes by participating in the various activities in the villages like marriage celebrations, festivals etc. The tribal people are of great caliber and power. Due to lack of education or poor quality of education, there is poor quality of leadership among the women in the family and in the community. They are voiceless about the atrocities and injustices inflicted on them. What is becoming clearer is the need for the empowerment of the whole community .Only then would the tribal community can march ahead shoulder to shoulder with all the other communities with true sense of equality and solidarity without losing its distinct culture.
Accepting and appreciating their capacity and self-worth as dignified human beings, we channeled this power to make right option to build up their life, their families and society at large. With the vision and mission for an empowered tribal society started organizing the tribal women, men, youth and children at various levels and selected some local leaders who would carry the tribal society to the heights of life, the ‘Jeevan Jyotis Social Centre’ (JJSC) was formed and registered under Societies Registration Act 1860 in 2012.
The Jeevan Jyotis Social Centre’ (JJSC) aims at the empowerment of the poor and marginalized tribals and dalits especially the women and children: to be self-reliant, through quality education and sustainable development. The main activities are formation and strengthening of Self Help Groups (SHGs), empowerment trainings, capacity building, health and nutritional care, village health committees, sanitation awareness sessions, information about government schemes and facilities, providing technical assistance to the farmers in view of improving the agriculture and organizing livelihood training programs etc.
In addition to that there are supplementary literacy classes for school going and school dropouts and skill development training programs for the unemployed youth. Besides this, the Centre net-work and collaborate with other NGOs, government and other likeminded organizations for integrated development of the target population. Above all they provide legal knowledge through training programs and a justice based approach in all their interactions, awareness about human trafficking, migration and the ill-effects of alcoholism and other social evils that are prevalent in the area.
In the words of the sisters who really identified with the poorest of the poor in Piriaponch life is very challenging and inspiring. Sr. Lissy recounted, “Our journey of accompanying the poor has been exciting and challenging moments for all of us. We have a sense of fulfillment in our mission when we see the poor and marginalized have become the agents of their own change. It’s our option to be with the excluded, marginalized, less privileged of our society that paved the way for this social center. We have been siding with the target group, entering into their life issues from a close range by staying in the inserted community.”
Today, we are filled with gratitude to God, to the Province and to the Congregation for being an instrument of God’s project for the people over here. The initial enthusiasm and pioneering spirit continued all throughout and continues even today. A community constantly conscious of its call to listen to ‘God and to life, on the path of communion, wisdom and prophecy’ is continuing its missionary activities being accommodative to this particular culture accepting and being attuned to, being ready to face the challenges and inconveniences for the sake of the mission in solidarity with the people. They continue their journey towards their vision with great hope and trust to witness the awakening of the tribal society in the values of the Gospel.
