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Our
Founder
H.E. Mar Mathew Arackal |
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Peermade Development Society
(PDS) is a premier voluntary organization working for the
integrated and sustainable development of the rural poor
irrespective of religion, caste or creed in the backward
District of Idukki, in the state of Kerala, India. Established
in 1980, the Society is registered under the Travancore-Cochin
Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act of 1955
(Registration Number I.126/80 Dated 31st July 1980). It is one
of the social service wings of the Catholic Diocese of
Kanjirapally. Over the last two decades, PDS has grown as a
leading non-governmental organization (NGO) in India actively
engaged in various socio-economic development activities like
Integrated tribal development, agriculture development,
community health, community organization, environmental
sanitation, promotion of indigenous medicines, ecological
farming, production and export of organic spices, watershed
management, human resource development, development of women
and children etc. |
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More than two decades of dedicated
service; successful implementation of a good number of
developmental activities; increasing support and participation
from the people have made the tri-letter PDS, a name synonymous
with rural development. Located amidst a typical natural setting
at Peermade in Idukki District, Kerala, Peermade Development
Society (PDS) with its genuine efforts to address the rural poor,
has attained high reputation and phenomenal growth and today it
has become one of the largest voluntary organisations in India.
PDS was established in the year 1980 and was registered
as a nongovernmental organization under the Travancore –
Cochin Literary and Charitable Societies Act of 1955. Its formal
launch was the culmination of long interaction of its founder, Mar
Mathew Arackal, the present Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of
Kanjirappally, with the people of the High Ranges of Kerala during
which he got sensitized on some of the dire predicaments the
people suffered at large. The Society resolved to cater to the
development needs of the tribal people, marginal farmers and women
and children of the area by undertaking various developmental
activities. |
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Peermade Development Society is one
of the social service organs of the Diocese of Kanjirappally. It
keeps a broad humanitarian outlook by reaching out to the people
irrespective of the differences in terms of caste, religion,
region, language, sex and age. The virtues of charity and
philanthropy are well merged with the principles of development
and empowerment in every intervention by the Society. PDS made its
entry in the voluntary sector through tribal welfare and
development |
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programmes from an isolated tribal
colony-Vanchivayal in the year 1979. The vision of the Society is
“that they have life and have it abundantly”.
The goal of Peermade Development Society is derived from this
vision statement and that is “empowerment of village
communities especially the tribals, women, children and the
marginal farmers towards sustainable development by conserving and
enhancing local resources in order to have fullness of life”.
Twenty five years have gone by... PDS assumed different roles,
functions and status in all these years. All the way right from
the beginning to this very moment, PDS is committed to form
environmentally sustainable societies through implementing social
development programmes in a participatory manner. Our activities
are characterized by professional team work and a leadership
pattern aiming at self-reliant and empowered communities. |
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