Tripura Adivasi Mahila Samity (TAMS) is one of the reputed
NGOs in Tripura, established in 1959 to promote and safeguard
the interest of women, children, and the destitute, particularly
of the tribal communities. Gender equality is the main
issue and the organization is trying to achieve this through
social awareness and sensitization. It promotes technology
for the development of landless poor artisans, the physically
handicapped and the unemployed. The Samity is dedicated
to social, moral, educational and economical upliftment
of the people.
The basic philosophy of the Samity is to bring back the
completeness of life, facilitating a process of self reliance
for the people and to make rational and judicious use
of local resources for sustainable and holistic development
of the people. The main objectives of the samity are to:
-
Promote aspects of social
work throughout the state.
-
Create social awareness
amongst the under privileged groups and promote self
reliance, community development and assertion of democratic
rights.
-
Promote better economic
conditions for the weaker section of the society, in
particular women and destitute people, through self
supporting and income generating, economic and other
welfare projects.
-
Promote gender equality
through social awareness and awakening of social consciousness.
-
Promote social service
and community development, without discrimination of
poor artisans, physically handicapped and unemployed
persons.
-
Conduct seminars and
training to create awareness and educate people and
to help them in their efforts and to improve economic
condition.
The Samity has been actively engaged in various activities
and has taken up several projects including construction
of low cost houses, rain water harvesting tanks, installation
of Mark-II water handpumps, training and weaving for the
welfare of the tribals, especially women.
Harvesting Rainwater
Though Tripura is famous
for lakes, the fact remains that there is an acute shortage
of water for drinking and even washing and bathing purposes.
Non availability of safe drinking water poses a serious
threat to health. Besides people have to trek long distance
to collect it spending quite a long time in the process.
The burden falls mainly on women. Drinking water scarcity
is common in the area and about 57% of the population suffers
acutely from it. The dug well were found to be four to nine
feet deep. They are unprotected and unguarded. Infestation
by intestinial parasites is common largely because of unsafe
drinking water. Water borne diseases take a heavy toll in
Tripura with alarming regularity. Tripura has a sub Tropical
climate and receives about 2,100 mm of rainfall annually.
Rainwater is good and reliable resource, if collected properly
can be used for drinking, irrigation field and kitchen gardens,
giving boost to agriculture and income.
Tripura Adivasi Mahila Samity took the effort for the construction
of rain water harvesting Tanks in two villages, Sipaipara
and Sri Hari Bari, under Mohanpur block of West Tripura
district, inhabited by the Debbarma Community. Both the
villages are poor and severely affected by the water scarcity.
The houses here had thatched roofs. To improve the quality
of life, the samity provide roofs of galvanized iron sheets
for the houses of the poor people. Both the villages have
scattered settlement with 2-4 houses in each cluster. The
Samity identified 24 beneficiaries from Sipaipara and 16
from Sri Hari Bari village, planning was done in such a
way that one house from each cluster was identified for
construction of rain water harvesting tank and the benefits
of the rain water harvesting tank would be shared by the
entire village. After the construction of the tanks the
Samity also gave the tips on maintenance to all the beneficiaries.
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