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Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Collaborators Issue 42 November - 2012

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A disability is an umbrella term and it can be anything from physical, cognitive, mental, sensory,

emotional and developmental or some combination of these. It may be present from birth or

occur during a person's lifetime. Therefore it is a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction

between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives.

The Census statistics shows us that 2.1% of the population is disabled and out of the total

population of disabled 12.6 million are males and 9.3 million are females. According

to September 2003 the statistics has alarmingly increased where roughly 10% of our population

falls under the category of some form of disability, out of which around 2% are people with

mental disability.

People with disabilities faced rejection or late

acceptance from family and relatives a decade ago

but today the scenarios has changed due to increased

awareness and now the acceptance awaited is that

from the Law. People with disabilities no longer have

to face the kind of rejection or discrimination in the

society as they did before but now it is more with

them adjusting and coping with the infrastructure

(roads, buses, buildings, schools/colleges and so on)

and system at large.

The changes to our system are only a matter of awareness and adaptation, but once made they

will go a long way to accommodate everyone in the general population. Children are very

adaptive in nature and welcome changes with ease. We have to take advantage of this and

facilitate normal children help and seek companionship with the special child and accept him/

her as a part of the group. A generation with a changed attitude is the pillar and beacon of hope

for many generations to come.

"The problem is not how to wipe out the differences, but to live together with

the differences intact."

DMI Development Desk

Issue 42 November - 2012

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Issue 42 November - 2012

Development Department conducted training for the 32 MMI deacons for a month. The resource persons were Mr.Micheal, Sr.M.Baby, Sr.Sasi Rani, Sr.Catherine, Mr.Saravanan, Fr.Jospeh Xavier S.J and Mrs.Malini. The training also included 16 days of first hand field exposure for the deacons who were put in groups and placed in different working districts of DMI namely Salem, Keechalam, Poonamalle, Nagapattinam and Kodaikanal.

Mungil pallam—Kodaikanal Salem

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Issue 42 November - 2012

Dengue fever also known as the breakbone fever has been consuming all our thoughts for several weeks now. Dengue starts with fever and without treatment leading to a person’s death.

Now with this fear worrying a huge population it only seems right to create awareness and that exactly is what the DMI working districts did conducted rallies in Thiruvallur, Nagappatinam and Chennai. Mr.N.S.Manimaran M.L.A, Mr.Jahid ahmed Minority secretary, in Poonamallee and in Nagapattinam Mr.Vijay - Family welfare Minister, inaugurated the rally in the respective districts.

Breast cancer awareness programme was conducted for the SHG members with the help of Apollo hospital. Doctors from Apollo hospital had gave a Powerful awareness programme to the people throughout the 6 districts namely Thiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Dindugal, Peramballur, and Pudukottai. More than 1,000 women benefited out of these camps.

More than 1 million children, mostly girls, are forced into prostitution every year worldwide.

Nagapattinam Poonamallee

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District level Children’s day was celebrated at Poonamallee with a long list of Guests namely

Mr. B.V.Ramana - M.P, N.S.A.Manimaran - M.L.A, G.R.Thirumalai Poovai - Chairman, Mr.Jahid Ahmed - Minority secretary, Mr.Samuvel - Sanitary Inspector, Sr. Sasi Rani - Assistant general, Sr.Sabeena - Chennai Provincial, Sr.M.Baby - State coordinator, Mr.Robert Rajan - St.Joseph School Principal Poonamallee. Children’s day was also celebrated as part of Children Parliaments in all the 9

districts by the PLF leaders. Most of the Parliament children participated in sports events and distributed prizes for the winners.

1. Nearly 250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are currently working, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Of this total, more than 120 million children are working full-time. 61% of child workers (153 million) are found in Asia; 32% in Africa and 7% in Latin America.

2. 2 million girls each year are at risk of genital mutilation - approximately 6,000 per day.

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Issue 42 November - 2012

Nagapattinam childline observed this day at St.Antony high

school. The childline - 1098 Nodal officer Sr.Vasanthi and

Avvai village Welfare society Project Manager -

Mr.Manivannan and Childline Coordinator participated in the

programme. Mr. Manivannan gave a talk on child rights and

Nodal officer explained about the roles and activities of

childline - 1098 and importance of child abuse prevention day.

Nearly 400 children participated in the programme.

An awareness programme was organized on ‘Right to food” and Sr.Sahayam - DCO spoke about the right to food. Totally 150 members participated in this programme and DMI Social Security Scheme assistance cheques were handed over to the beneficiaries.

Awareness programme on Differently abled

An awareness programme was conducted for

Sensitizing School teachers and children at GP

level Upper primary school on Disability

programmes that was conducted in Manavur

where 62 members participated and in

Arichanrapuram where 70 members participated.

1. 79 per cent of the indigenous people in Peru are poor, and more than half live in extreme poverty.

2. Women comprise 70% of the world's poor.

3. Disabled persons constitute ten per cent of the world’s population.

4. At least 500,000 children a year are left motherless by death during childbirth.

Human Rights Factsheet

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Issue 42 November - 2012

Eye camp was conducted in Saidapet in

collaboration with Sankara Nethralaya, 167

members participated, 35 members were asked

to undergo operation while 41 people were

given spectacles.

Chudidar embroidering has been initiated in Saraswathy SHG from Walajabad Block with loan for Rs.3, 00,000 from October. Their turnover from this new initiation of economic activity is Rs.7, 500/- per month which is good and that of a profitable one which only fulfils our purpose of starting economic enterprises that is to increase the income of the women.

HIV/AIDS rally and awareness program was organized in Walajabad Block. It was an eye opener which made the society bewares of this deadly killer disease as well as to think of their individual behavior and character for a healthy, happy and safe life. Mr. Ganeshan MLA inaugurated the Rally and nearly 386 SHG members participated and other officials such as BDO, SP, Dr.Murally and Panchayat President were also present at the rally.

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Issue 42 November - 2012 Answer to the previous Puzzle

Facts for the month

1. Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication and by restricted and repetitive behavior. It affects each individual uniquely, In fact very few autistics have the exact same issues.

2. Autism is now more common that Down syndrome, Mental Retardation, and Cystic Fibrosis combined.

3. Autism often strikes boys more often than girls – roughly four times more common in boys. 4. 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with autism in the USA

We heartily congratulate all the readers who not only read the e-magazine that we put together at the Development Desk but also for taking part in this little activity with enthusiasm and for replying to us with the right answers. The winners for this month are:Sr.Antony Mary – Malawi , Sivakumar B - Field Executive , M.Julie DMI – DFT ,Joana Velankanni – Chennai provicialate , Sr. A. Ramona,DMI-St.Eugene University, Zambia, Sr.Leema - Thirusulam, Sr.Philo – Salem We hope that you will continue supporting us and our small efforts in letting you all know what we do at the Department.

He was born in to a family who served long tenure as pastors in Atlanta, starting with his grandfather. He too completed his Theological study and went on to finish his bachelors and Doctorate. He was a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race and was a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation those days.

Our question to ‘Light to Life’ readers is to identify the name of the person in the above picture

and send it to dmisociety@gmail.com, your answer will be expected on or before the 15th of December, 2012.

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Issue 42 November - 2012

Reader’s Outlook

Dear and loving Sr.Baby and her team,

Thank you for sending me Light to life magazine

Though we are a continent away from you I still feel happy to see all

your good work that is happening in the DMI mission areas. You are

all doing a wonderful job in the field which is evident through the photos.

God bless you all and grant you all good health to continue the work.

We are praying for you

With prayerful wishes

Sr.J.Antony

Malawi.

Dear sisters I wish you and congratulate you for the

good efforts you undertake and in mirroring out the

good works of the DMI sisters from various districts.

Sr.Velankanni

I appreciate your hard work and

creativity. Thank you for bringing up

all the information about DMI

Development mission through light to

life. Thank you A. Philo DMI

Salem

The Light to life magazine is very good so all the activities and development in the 9 Districts. You have also mentioned the important days. Thank you very much. SR. Jesi. – Kodikottai

Dear sister,

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Date Events Highlights of the Day

01.12.2012 World AIDS Day

This Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has claimed millions of lives in just over a few years time making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history.

02.12.2012 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

It is annually observed to remind people of the tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade. It gives people a chance to think about the historic causes, the methods and the consequences of slave trade.

03.12.2012 International Day of People with Disability

This Day aims to promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and well-being.

09.12.2012 The International Day Against Corruption

Corruption is a serious crime that can undermine social and economic development in all societies. This Day aims to raise public awareness of corruption and what people can do to fight it.

10.12.2012 Human Rights Day This is an occasion for people worldwide to know and consider the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this day we pay tribute to all human rights defenders.

18.12.2012 International Migrants Day General Assembly of UN adopted the international convention on the protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families. This day is observed in many countries through the dissemination of information on human rights and designing actions to ensure their protection.

25.12.2012 Christmas It is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by billions of people around the world.

Issue 42 November - 2012 Important Days in the month of December

Published by, DMI Development Mission

Amala Bhavan, Rudra Road, St.Thomas Mount, Chennai 600016