1. O verview: HHI-IRDCS project to build 25 housing units for former bonded laborers, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu

2. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 2 Regional Focus: India Despite the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act 1976, there are millions of bonded labourers in India today.

3. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 3 Projects & Initiatives Most bonded labourers begin working as debt slaves from the age of 4 and can spend their whole lives knowing nothing but enslavement, abuse, hunger and penury.

4. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 4 Overview of Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu, a state in Southern India, has almost 10,00,000 bonded labourers.

5. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 5 The Fight Against Bonded Labour From January 2003-April 2006, the Integrated Rural Community Development Society (IRCDS), was an implementing partner of the International Labor Organisation (ILO) for the Prevention and Elimination of Bonded Labour in South Asia (PEBLISA) project.

6. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 6 The Fight Against Bonded Labour Under PEBLISA, IRCDS rescued 25 bonded labor families from the rice mills of Red Hills and restored them to their home village of Bangarampettai, Tiruvallur District. The freed bonded labourers belong to the Irula community.

7. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 7 An Overview of IRCDS Established in 1986 Operates in 235 villages in Tiruvallur District and 4 villages in Kanyakumari Activities include: Women’s Empowerment Set up 1,035 self help groups comprising 14,886 women Started Family Counselling Center and Short Stay Home for women in distress Child Development Provided shelter and education for 136 abandoned children Helped reunite them with their families Secured release of 423 child labourers and enrolled them in school Healthcare Functions as a District Resource Centre for Tamil Nadu Voluntary Health Association which promotes healthcare and HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness

8. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 8 An Overview of IRCDS Persons with Disabilities Set up self help groups among 1,234 disabled persons Set up community-based rehabilitation programs Promotes awareness of the rights of disabled people Housing and Sanitation Constructed houses for 98 Dalit (low caste) families Built 3,720 toilets by enlisting local help and using low cost technology

9. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 9 Rehabilitation Efforts Pooling their rehabilitation funds of Rs. 10,000 per person, the released bonded labourers established their own rice mill at Bangarampettai as a means to earn their livelihoods.

10. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 10 Rehabilitation Efforts IRCDS partnered with the NGO Shivaraj network and obtained a grant of Rs. 3,40,000 from Geneva Global to buy flocks of sheep for the 25 families.

11. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 11 Habitat for Humanity India-IRCDS Habitat for Humanity India is partnering with IRCDS to build 25 houses in Bangarampettai village. At present, the Irula community live in small, flimsy thatched huts with poor sanitation facilities.

12. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 12 Overview of the HHI-IRCDS Project Justice issue Rehabilitation and housing of former bonded labourers Program summary Construction of 25 houses on sites, each measuring 1,035 sq ft, granted by the Government. Funding The Government has provided Rs. 34,000 per family per house. This amount is insufficient and HHI-IRCDS through JVI hopes to raise an additional Rs. 20,000 per family per house.

13. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 13 Projected Impact Shelter for a people group that has lived in dire poverty for generations. Increased levels of hygiene and sanitation causing a reduction in diseases. A settled way of life which will allow schools and medical facilities to come up.

14. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 14 Specific Areas of JVI Support to HHI JVI anticipates providing Rs. 5,00,000 to HHI for constructing housing for 25 families in Bangarampettai village, Tiruvallur District. JVI is interested in collaborating with HHI to develop up to 100 units of rehabilitation housing in the slums of Chennai over the next 12 months.

15. Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 15 Conclusion The mission of Justice Ventures International is to secure freedom, justice and restoration for the poor and oppressed by strengthening ventures that protect human rights and promote development.