Kirkspire june 2007
St Andrew’s Church Village Project
INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN 1977
Murdoch MacKenzie
Over the past few months I have helped us look back to some of the things which began while I was minister at St Andrew’s. We began with the Kirkspire itself, then moved on to the Riber Memorial Day Care Centre and recently we have been remembering the early years of the Village Project. This will be our final look at the latter. By the grace of God all three of these ministries continue some 35 years later and in this we rejoice.
By 1977-78 whilst we had begun work in 26 villages, in effect we were concentrating on 10. The following is a summary of the main achievements:
PASTORAL CARE AND EVANGELISM This was the responsibility of the Presbyters and Christian people in Ponneri Pastorate to whom we gave considerable backing as well as supporting the Christian Village of Kamalamadam where the villagers had been converted through the Church of Scotland Mission in 1912. It was with great joy and with tears in our eyes that Anne and I met some of the sisters and brothers in Kammalamadam during our visit in 2004.
DRINKING WATER 3 shallow bore wells, 1 deep bore well and 10 ring wells were installed.
SCHOOLS a Day Care Centre was started in Kamalamadam. 2 new schools were constructed and the Government School in Thirupalaivanam was assisted by the project. In-service training was provided for 25 teachers.
MEDICAL WORK At that time a team of doctors, nurses and para-medical workers visited Thirupalaivanam fortnightly. On average 150 patients were seen on each visit. In 1977 Dr Kirkpatrick began to visit weekly on Saturdays and he did this for many, many years – a true Christian witness and a real labour of love. The staff of Kilpauk Mental Hospital conducted a morbidity survey and thereafter medico-psychiatric social work was carried out by Mrs Kummidini Subhan and patients went to outpatient clinics in the General Hospital.
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 3 travis were provided for artificial insemination of cattle. Centrifugal Separators for milk testing were located in several villages enabling the producers to secure the proper price for their milk. 12 boys were trained at Katpadi and at Tambaram in animal husbandry and agricultural spraying. In December 1977 120 cattle were vaccinated, 28 dewormed and 28 buffaloes were artificially inseminated.
BANK LOANS enabled 6 farmers to obtain 12 bullocks, 113 farmers obtained crop loans, 90 farmers obtained high-yielding varieties of paddy, 50 people were enabled to purchase milch buffaloes and smaller loans went to self-employed barbers, dhobis, black-smiths, potters, basket-makers and various vendors.
TAILORING CENTRES 2 centres were opened with over 40 students being trained, 3 obtaining their own sewing machines and 1 running a sewing school of her own with help from the project.
BASKET WEAVING In Lighthouse Kuppam Village at Pulicat 15 ladies were taught to make export quality baskets from Palmyra leaves.
This was the current situation at the end of 1977. Over the years it has been a joy for us to revisit the villages in 1988, 1990, 1998 and 2004 and we remember this and all the work of the Kirk in our prayers each Monday morning. May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you, lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Murdoch MacKenzie
Over the past few months I have helped us look back to some of the things which began while I was minister at St Andrew’s. We began with the Kirkspire itself, then moved on to the Riber Memorial Day Care Centre and recently we have been remembering the early years of the Village Project. This will be our final look at the latter. By the grace of God all three of these ministries continue some 35 years later and in this we rejoice.
By 1977-78 whilst we had begun work in 26 villages, in effect we were concentrating on 10. The following is a summary of the main achievements:
PASTORAL CARE AND EVANGELISM This was the responsibility of the Presbyters and Christian people in Ponneri Pastorate to whom we gave considerable backing as well as supporting the Christian Village of Kamalamadam where the villagers had been converted through the Church of Scotland Mission in 1912. It was with great joy and with tears in our eyes that Anne and I met some of the sisters and brothers in Kammalamadam during our visit in 2004.
DRINKING WATER 3 shallow bore wells, 1 deep bore well and 10 ring wells were installed.
SCHOOLS a Day Care Centre was started in Kamalamadam. 2 new schools were constructed and the Government School in Thirupalaivanam was assisted by the project. In-service training was provided for 25 teachers.
MEDICAL WORK At that time a team of doctors, nurses and para-medical workers visited Thirupalaivanam fortnightly. On average 150 patients were seen on each visit. In 1977 Dr Kirkpatrick began to visit weekly on Saturdays and he did this for many, many years – a true Christian witness and a real labour of love. The staff of Kilpauk Mental Hospital conducted a morbidity survey and thereafter medico-psychiatric social work was carried out by Mrs Kummidini Subhan and patients went to outpatient clinics in the General Hospital.
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 3 travis were provided for artificial insemination of cattle. Centrifugal Separators for milk testing were located in several villages enabling the producers to secure the proper price for their milk. 12 boys were trained at Katpadi and at Tambaram in animal husbandry and agricultural spraying. In December 1977 120 cattle were vaccinated, 28 dewormed and 28 buffaloes were artificially inseminated.
BANK LOANS enabled 6 farmers to obtain 12 bullocks, 113 farmers obtained crop loans, 90 farmers obtained high-yielding varieties of paddy, 50 people were enabled to purchase milch buffaloes and smaller loans went to self-employed barbers, dhobis, black-smiths, potters, basket-makers and various vendors.
TAILORING CENTRES 2 centres were opened with over 40 students being trained, 3 obtaining their own sewing machines and 1 running a sewing school of her own with help from the project.
BASKET WEAVING In Lighthouse Kuppam Village at Pulicat 15 ladies were taught to make export quality baskets from Palmyra leaves.
This was the current situation at the end of 1977. Over the years it has been a joy for us to revisit the villages in 1988, 1990, 1998 and 2004 and we remember this and all the work of the Kirk in our prayers each Monday morning. May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you, lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Murdoch MacKenzie
