By Matters India Reporter
Kolkata, August 25, 2019: Jesuit social activist Father Irudaya Jothi has been nominated for this year’s “Nation Builders Award 2019”.
“I am indeed happy to convey to you, that Rotary International (RI) Dist 3291 has decided to confer the prestigious ‘Nation Builders Award 2019’ on you at Rotary Sadan, in an event organized by Open Arms Educational & Charitable Trust (OAECT),” says ” a message from Lovina Khan, managing trustee, OAECT.
The award function will be on September 7. A musical program Dhoom Night will follow the award ceremony to raise funds for humanitarian projects.
“The award is given to the persons who made committed efforts for the betterment of society. And who can provide strategic perspective and build relationships, mobilize effective and sustainable resources to support programs and project works.”
Father Jothi had on February 17, 2017, bagged the “Social Activist Award” at Taj Land Mumbai, western India, from the Economic Times Now group along with World Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) groups. The award was given in the individual category as social activist.
The Jesuit priest also has received “NGO’s leadership Award” given on November 8, 2017, at Taj Bengal-Kolkata. The criteria for selection are a person’s ability to incorporate ethical values, develop responsible leaders and communities in environmental protection.
Father Jothi was born on February 28, 1967, at Nangathur in the Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. His father Lieutenant Subedar B Anthony is a decorated officer in the Indian Army. His mother Pakisha Mary is a homemaker. He has three sisters and three brothers, one of them a Capuchin priest.
He joined the Calcutta province of the Society of Jesus in 1987 at Dhyan Ashram. After completing B.A. Political Science (honors), he studied philosophy at Sacred Heart College, Chennai, and theology at Vidyajyoti College, Delhi. He has a Master of Social Work from Bombay University.
Father Jothi was ordained a priest on December 22, 2002, at Nangathur. Since 2003, he is actively involved in the social action commission of the Society of Jesus.
Since very beginning he used ‘Human Rights Based Approach’ to Social Change. He formed Self Help Groups (SHGs) among the most disadvantaged groups of Dalit and Adivasi women of rural Bengal.
He worked in Burdwan, Hooghly, South 24Pargana and Bankura districts basically among Women, children and youth of this focused groups.
He educated the rural women with the newly introduced laws of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), Right to Education (RTE), Right to Information (RTI) and tried to make these legislations work for the people.
When he found it difficult to get these acts implemented for the most in need people, he opted for alliances building and networking with likeminded groups in Bengal in 2007. He took over the directorship of Jesuit run Social Action center named Udayani Social Action Forum.
By this time the women SHGs grew in hundreds. He has now formed a disciplined force of women who understand and live with daily struggles, they support any action to demand their basic rights as citizens.
Since 2008 the SHG women took out rallies and protests to get their food rights as directed by the Supreme Court of India. They also demanded legislation for food by the federal government.
Father Jothi was appointed a member of the Vigilant and Monitoring committee of the West Bengal government for Burdw and Hooghly districts. The committee has the responsibility to revitalize ration shops that were non-existent or ill functioning. This irked local powers who resisted the committee.
In 2009 he was invited to be a steering committee member of the national team of the RTF (Right to Food) Campaign India. He hs co-convened the West Bengal RTF Campaign since then.
After many years of protest in the national capital and in other state capitals along with thousands of women and men and meeting the national law makers in groups as part of the advocacy and lobby work in 2013 the National Food Security Act was passed in the parliament.
He then took up the challenge of getting the RTF implemented in West Bengal. Many meetings with administration and protests at districts and Kolkata were held. In 2016 the Khadya Sathi Scheme was enacted in West Bengal.
Under this scheme, almost 90 percent of the state’s population get rice and wheat at 2 rupees a kilo.
The women Self Help Groups all along were trained to have self-identity. They were accompanied towards total empowerment of ‘Sangatan’ (organization) and registering into NGOs.
Udayani guides now these five independent women ‘Sangatans’ in five blocks with around 550 Self Help Groups. These NGOs have been formed and managed by Dalit and Adivasi women from the villages of rural Bengal.
The Jesuit priest says he always encourages his people telling them, “If Jesuit run schools and colleges are the best in the country, there is no reason why an NGO run by the order should not be the best.”
The priest says he has dedicated the awards to the Dalit and Tribal women “who give me strength and courage to move ahead. I thank the Lord who has been guiding us through all the risk.”