India

 

Marists conduct three schools in Southern India (Tamil Nadu) at P. Udayapatti, a high school and a primary school, and the new St Marcellin High School at Mangamanuthu. There is also the Rainbow Project, which is to support families affected by HIV/AIDS.

The schools are 50km from the city of Trichy, in the centre of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The local economy depends on receiving the annual monsoon rains, and in recent times these have become unpredictable. The area around P. Udayapatti and Mangamanuthu is a particularly poor area and ‘off the beaten track’ as far as Government services are concerned. Most of the students come from the lowest caste, known as the Dalits. They are the section of society least likely to receive quality education.
Trichy is the location of the Brothers’ administration and training centre. It is in Trichy that the Operation Rainbow operates. Rainbow cares for families who have some, if not all, members who are HIV positive. They receive health and nutritional support with a major aim of helping the children attend school.

 

The diversity of India’s large population is reflected in the student population. 85% is Hindu, 10% Muslim and 5% Christian. Each day 200 needy students receive a free lunch (of rice and curry), provided by the Government. Most of the students are the children of small farmers, craftsmen, small businessmen and landless day labourers, people that have to find work from day to day.

 

A good number of students come to school by bike, others by local buses, others walk. Students have to be highly self-motivated, since life is tough and opportunities few. They are interested in sports: cricket and soccer for boys, volleyball and netball for girls. Cultural activities of traditional dance and music feature in many celebrations. A good number of graduates move on to higher education studies – undergraduate degrees, teachers colleges, nursing, IT and business studies – and some into the trades such as welding, carpentry, motor mechanics. Access to the better of these institutions and later, employment, is highly competitive, and further complicated by issues of caste, quotas and corruption.

 

Currently there are four Indian Brothers on the full-time teaching staff, including the headmaster of the primary school. Most of the teachers are Hindus, but they have a strong appreciation of the Marist Spirit and our international character.

 

Very little government assistance is provided for the running of the schools and no assistance for Operation Rainbow. Some teachers are on government salaries and the others receive their salary from the Marist resources worldwide. Australian Marists assist in maintaining the schools, providing water services, curriculum materials and in the case of Mangamanuthu providing furnishings, library and laboratory equipment. PU has received a small grant for operational costs from Australia for some time.