About Us

In 1984, a group of 15 socially concerned young men and women, involved in a development discourse and contextual analysis of socio, economic and cultural situation, consequently decided act to create a platform for social change of the most marginalized and disadvantaged communities in Kanyakumari District. They have decided to concentrate on access to basic amenities, entitlements and claiming social security from the Governments both State and Union. The group had been operational solely on voluntary basis. The aim and objectives of HEAL is to mobilize, organize and empower marginalized communities in a collective platform and ensure sustainability.

HEAL visualizes an egalitarian society based on equality, justice and opportunity to all irrespective of caste, religion and socio economic status.

Facilitating people's organizations at the grass root level and coordinate to find solutions for the betterment of their life, marching towards egalitarian society.

1. To engage in social service/ action activities aimed at improving the living and working conditions and general welfare of the marginalized poor, working for the protection of children, child laborers, bonded laborers, sea shell collectors/workers, coolies, fisherman, Dalits, disadvantaged people and other people as well as indigent people of whatever occupation irrespective of caste, sex, race or religion.
2. To enable youth and women to acquire skills for employment and self-employment for ensuring subsistence and livelihood with economic empowerment programmes. To promote micro savings and credit among the marginalized poor women and create accessibility of various governmental social security schemes and programmes for holistic development.
3. To organize women involved in agriculture related activities under district level federations in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts and spread appropriate rural technology among the people in agriculture and cottage industries.
4. To promote environment and ecology in sensitive coastal and other regions by encouraging environment-friendly production processes and protect environment rights in disaster affected areas.

HEAL works in two different geographical areas adjacent to one another, i.e., villages in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts of Tamilnadu. HEAL works in 42 coastal villages in 5 Blocks of Kanyakumari District and 40 Dalit hamlets in Thisaiyanvilai, Radhapuram block of Tirunelveli District.

HEAL focused on holistic development of women and youth in rural areas with multipronged approach and programmes.

• Promoted a unit of 20 hand loom for women for supporting traditional craft work and textile sector.
• Promoted handmade Embroidery unit for self-reliance of rural women with 110 women and this unit have achieved several feats and accolades.
• HEAL also visualized an alternative employment for 10 women and initiated coir making unit in Kanyakumari district
• Empowerment of Dalit Community women as a collective enterprise or individual entrepreneurship in multiple small businesses and social enterprises. Women engaged in running Petty shop, sound system, engage in tailoring unit, a small outlet for renting cooking vessels, goat raring, weaving palm leave baskets and mending palm leaves.
• Facilitated and Organized Tsunami Rehabilitation Project for Women and Youth-Women were motivated to engage in Solar Fish Dryer, Spice Powder making, Hallow Bricks, Sea Shell Craft Making, welding work, Mobile repair mechanism, Beautician, Sari designing, value added products-in sea shell (using dead mollusks), promoted model Improved Scientific Kiln for women seashell collectors and workers for environmental-friendly production and gain decent wages with occupational health and safety. Developed a Low cost Scientific Model with indigenous design and processes for seashell workers and 2000 women engaged in this work.

Strengthening of Panchayat Raj Institutions, Consumer Rights, Conservation of Natural Resources- Wells and Ponds/ Coastal Sand Dunes, Legal awareness and Legal Literacy.

In collaboration with Equitable Tourism Options-Equations , Bangalore, engaged in Participatory Rural Appraisals on tourism development and its impact in Kanyakumari District from 1992-2002.

HEAL has been engaging with conservation and protection of Mangroves and Estuary in Manakkudy for the last three decades. HEAL organized planting of 50000 mangroves since 1992 in this sensitive zone in last five years.

HEAL had submitted a memorandum and Project Plan on January 9, 2016 to the Minister of State for Tourism, Government of India to form 'Educational Tourism Eco Park' in West side and the Central Government has sanctioned budget of INR 32 million under 'Swadesh Darshan' scheme for this project based on our petition.

HEAL has initiated efforts to establishment of Eco Park in Manakkudy East Side with the collaboration with the Fisheries Department of Tamil Nadu Government to the estimate of INR 10 Cores.

1. HEAL has formed Women Development Movement (WDM), Kanyakumari District in 1989 with 570 members
2. Federation of Rural Disabled Sanghams (FRDS), Kanyakumari District in 1995 (Reg no:35/2008) with 519 members,
3. Rural Women Awakening Movement (RWAM) was formed in Tirunelveli district in 1996 with 1130 members and implemented livelihood programmes.
4. Sea Shell Workers Federation (SSWF), Kanyakumari District in 2005 Reg no:114/2010) with 2234 members. Developed conscious leaders and active cadres among them.
5. Children Eco Clubs: 15 have been formed with 612 children, Youth Eco Clubs 14 have been formed with 370 youth, Women Self Help Groups 152 have been formed with 2930 women, Men Self Help Groups 7 have been formed with 126 members, Women Fish Head Load vendors 12 associations have been formed with 386 women to promote their fish vending business, Water User Committees have been formed in 17 villages for managing water bodies and apportionment of water with 196 members. HEAL has reached 5708 children in 42 Eco Clubs within the ambit of Ecological Child Rights.
6. HEAL mobilized 2461 youth from 14 target villages and 7 colleges and universities in Kanyakumari district. HEAL had engaged in Reclamation of 24 wells used by 2306 people and reclamation and restoration of 18 ponds in villages used by 13539 people. HEAL has covered 5200 people through water security interventions.

Founder of HEAL has four decades of experience and expertise in community development and women, youth and child rights empowerment programmes. HEAL has a rich resource of staff with ranging from 35 years of experience to 15 years and versatile talents such as trainer, street theatre artists, singers, community mobilizers, lyrics writing and strong passion for social change and community development.

• Admin Office Building (3700 sq. ft.)
• Well-furnished Training hall (4.350 sq. ft.)
• Vehicle Parking (700 sq. ft.)
• Toilets (5 nos. in 200 sq. ft.)
• Accommodation (2 Seat, 5 Rooms (20x15) with availability of clean drinking water and other wash facilities.)
• Vehicles (Maruti Swift Dzire VDI BS IV (1) Maruthi Wagoner (1) Two Wheelers (18))
• Office Automation ((5 nos. of PIV Pentium system with 2 HP Color Inkjet Printers and HP Scan jet with all required configurations and 1 HP Laser jet Printer. UPS with Battery having a capacity of 4 KVA)
• Audio-visual Equipment (Tape-recorder, Video Cameras, Slide projector, Mike system with amplifier-speaker, HP Digital cameras.)

1. Fr. V. Victor, M.A. Phd., President, Kovil Vilai, North Street, Marthandam, PIN: 629 165.
2. Dr. V. Sivaramakrishnan, M.E. Phd., Vice President, H.No. 20, St.No.20, NIT Quarters, Thuvakkudi, Trichy, PIN: 620015.
3. Mr. Y.Siluvai Vasthian B.A., Secretary, 10/20, Friday Market, PIN: 629 203.
4. Mrs. S.Mariya Reethabai, D.T.Ed., M.A.B.Ed, MSW., Joint Secretary, Vandavilai, Kuzhicode (PO) PIN: 629 167.
5. Mrs. V.Chandra Suja, M.A. B.Ed, M.Phil, MSW., Treasurer, 13/RB-1, Missiyanvilai, Kanagappapuram, Anjugramam (PO), PIN: 629401.
6. Mr. S.S. David, M.A., Executive Committee Member, 117, Deepam, Joseph Street, West Lutheran Road, Nagercoil, PIN: 629001.
7. Dr. A. Anandhy, M.A.M.Phil, PhD., Executive Committee Member, Grace Illam, 23A/10-4A, Near High Land Avenue, Scott Nagar, Nagercoil, PIN: 629003.

Profile of Chief Functionary

• Name: Y. Siluvai Vasthian, Founder/Secretary and Director of HEAL
• Office Address: HEAL Movement, 22C, Scott Nagar, Near Scott Christian College, Nagercoil, PIN: 629003, Kanyakumari District.
• Email: heal_m@hotmail.com and healmovement@yahoo.com.
• Web: www.heal.org.in
• Residential Address: Viji Cottage, 10/20, Friday Market & Post, Kanyakumari District, PIN: 629203
• Mobile: +91 88708 98141(WhatsApp)
• Email : siluvaivasthian@gmail.com
• Educational Qualification: B.A (Economics and World Politics).
• Experience: 42 years experience in Community Development field.

Positions held in NGO sector:

He is a former State Convener of:

• Social Action Movement (SAM) (NGO Network)
• Campaign against Child Labour, Tamil Nadu

He is a former Co Convener of:

• Tamil Nadu Child Protection Network (TNCRPN)

He is a former South Zonal Convener of:

• Tamil Nadu Environmental Council (TNEC)

He is a member of:

• Joint Action for Sustainable Livelihood (JASUL).
• Coalition for Climate Justice (CFCJ).
• Tamil Nadu Inter Agency Group (TNIAG).

Positions held in institution sector:

He is a member of:

• Ethics Committee in Dr. Jeyasekaran Hospital Trust, Nagercoil
• Academic Council Holy Cross College, Nagercoil
• Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage(INTACH)

Positions held in government sector:

Central Government:

He is a member of:

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India.
• Railway Station Consultative Committee in Nagercoil Station

State Government:

He is a member of:

• Multi Disciplinary Grant in Aid Committee (Schedule Caste, Govt.of Tamil Nadu).

District Level:

He is a member of:

• Local Complaint Committee on Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place. (Vishaka Committee).
• Lok Adalat Committee (Judicial).
• Advisory Committee for Care and Protection of Children.
• Advisory Body for Immoral Trafficking Prevention.
• Advisory Committee Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act 2000 implementation in Kanyakumari District.
• River Bed Management Committee (Mines Department).
• Rehabilitation of Prohibition Offenders Committee (Police and Judiciary).
• Protection of Civil Rights Committee since 1996.
• Complaints Committee on Sexual Harassment of working women at work place in the Kanyakumari District Cooperative Spinning Mills Ltd

He is a District Coordinator of:

• Enumeration of Bonded Labour
• Advisory/Nodal agency to coordinate and support the district administration, Kanyakumari, assigned by NITI Aayog for COVID -19

Founder of People's Organizations:

He is a Founder of:

• Women Development Movement in 1989 (SC agriculture daily wager women of Kanyakumari District).
• Federation for Rural Disabled's Sanghams in Kanyakumari District in1997
• Rural Women Awakening Movement, Tirunelveli District in 1998 (SC agriculture daily labourers women).
• Sea Shell Worker's Federation in Kanyakumari District in 2005.
• Consumer Form in Kanyakumari District

Achievements:

Action on Bonded Labour:

• Identified and released 6 bonded labour families consisting of 17 members in 1998 in Kanyakumari District.
• Two child bonded labourers were released from Kannur, Kerala.

Environment Field:

• Under took a base line survey and assessment on the impact of tourism in coastal villages of Kanyakumari District in collaboration with Equation, Bangalore in 2003.
• Campaigned on the threat to the coastal environment and indigenous culture caused by tourism promotion activities in 2004.
• Contributed to the publication of environment hand book of Tamil Nadu in the year 2007 published by Tamil Nadu Environment Council (TNEC) in the capacity of south zone convener.
• De-silted and Restored 18 Ponds, 24 Wells and have been formed Eco Clubs and Rainwater harvesting in 44 schools since 2013.
• Planted 50,000 mangrove saplings in the back water of Manakudy estuary and also established an Eco park.
• Due to the initiative of HEAL, District administration and Govt. Fisheries Department have recommended to the State Govt to make it a tourism center and the Hon. Chief Minister has announced Rs. 10 crores to develop tourism. Out of Rs. 10 crores, Rs.4.50 crores has been allocated through notification.
• Submitted a project proposal to the Tourism Department , Government of India for the development of Eco tourism in Manakudy Estuary, and the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 3 crores and 27 lakhs for the project.

Publications:

He functions as an Edirot of:

• Thisygal magazine (a quarterly magazine published by Social Action Movement (SAM)).
• 'Valar Kumari' magazine (a quarterly magazine published by NGOs in Kanyakumari District).

He Published books on:

• Climate Change in Tamil and Coastal Sand Dunes in Tamil, English
• GOOD BYE TO KUPPAI.
• Handbook on Child Activity Center to ensure the Child Rights.
• Articles, Poems

Appreciation:

He received Certificates and appreciations from:

• Collector and Magistrate, Kanyakumari District for best Social Service
• Superintendent of Police, Kanyakumari District for the work on bonded labor.
• District Revenue Officer, Kanyakumari District for the good work done among SC people.
• Assistant Director, Fisheries for the excellent job done post Tsunami among fisher community.
• Assistant Director, Fisheries, Kanyakumari District for the role in the consumption and development of Marine Eco Park in Manakudy.

Foreign Trip:

• Exposure cum Exchange 7 days Visit to Indonesia with TdH (Germany) Team in December 2008.

Awards:

• Thanga Mamani Award for the Best Social Worker in the year 2006 by the Cultural Academy of Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Gold Star Millennium Award and Gold Medal for Star Achiever 2012 presented by National Integrity and Cultural Academy, Chennai
• Life Time Achievement Award granted by SIGNIS, Tamil Nadu in 2018.
• Swachh Activist award granted by Field Publicity Office, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ,Government of India on 2, October 2018 in appreciation of Swachh Bharat activities in 42 coastal villages.
• Nagercoil Municipality granted appreciation memento for active participation by HEAL NGO in Swachh Bharath Mission in Nagercoil Municipality in 2018.