History of Tribal Salvation Society
Origins and Motivation
The Tribal Salvation Society was established in the year 2000, spurred by the alarming conditions of extreme poverty, rampant migration, and distressing reports of child selling and sub-human living conditions endured by indigenous tribes, Dalits, minority communities, and the rural poor in various districts of Odisha, with a particular focus on the KBK (Kalahandi, Bolangir, and Koraput) districts. These marginalized groups, including orphans, impoverished children, physically challenged individuals, widows, women, and youths, have long been victims of systemic social injustices and emerging socio-economic challenges.
Foundational Principles
The organization originated in the remote village of Bidabaru, a cluster of small hamlets under Urladani G.P. in the Kalahandi District of western Odisha. Inspired by the principles of divine love, sacrifice, dedication, and brotherhood, our founders sought to create a platform dedicated to the upliftment and holistic transformation of the most vulnerable sections of society. Our guiding philosophy is rooted in the belief that every individual deserves dignity, equal opportunities, and the means to achieve a sustainable livelihood.
Early Registration and Expansion
On September 29, 2003, the Tribal Salvation Society was formally registered under the Society Registration Act XXI of 1860 by the ADM (Society Registrar) Kalahandi, Bhawanipatna. This registration marked a significant milestone, providing the organization with legal recognition and the ability to expand its activities more systematically.
Legal and Financial Framework
Further solidifying our operational framework, on July 16, 2010, the organization obtained registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) of 1976 and 2010. This enabled us to receive international support and contributions, bolstering our financial resources and capacity to implement large-scale projects. Additionally, the organization secured registration under sections 12A and 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which facilitates tax-exempt status and allows donors to avail of tax benefits, thereby encouraging more philanthropic contributions.
Aims and objectives of the Society
- Empowerment and Advocacy: To transform the lives of widows, women with disabilities, vulnerable women, victims of discrimination and gender-based violence, and destitute girls by advocating for freedom, gender equality, dignity, security, women’s rights, social justice, and inclusion. This includes initiatives such as digital literacy, computer education, skill training, capacity building, empowerment, pension provision, eco-friendly livelihood programs, environmental enterprises, Self Help Groups (SHGs), socio-economic development, and poverty alleviation.
- Education and Nurturing: To provide quality education and nurturing for early childhood, girls, orphans, street children, and other needy children through scholarships, sponsorships, digital literacy, computer education, skill training, and career development. This is facilitated through orphanages, arts schools, English medium schools, schools for children in labor, childcare institutions, daycare centers, technical and vocational training centers, libraries, residential schools, and colleges, fostering their bright and promising future.
- Youth Empowerment and Social Justice: To empower and build the capacity of youth while advocating for social justice, equal opportunity, entrepreneurship, and transformative living, and safeguarding the constitutional fundamental human rights of tribal, Dalit, minority, and OBC communities, with a specific focus on women, girls, and child rights. Foster diversity, tolerance, and community cohesion through the integration of arts, music, rural sports, workshops, inter-caste and inter-faith dialogues, digital legal education, legal aid services, and other innovative initiatives aimed at disseminating positive messages, cultivating unconditional love, and promoting socio-economic growth and nation-building.
- Environmental Sustainability: To champion clean energy initiatives, support eco-friendly livelihoods, alleviate poverty, tackle climate change, and spearhead environmental and biodiversity conservation efforts. This includes promoting sustainable agriculture, afforestation, and the protection of endangered species, aiming for poverty alleviation and the upliftment of individuals below the poverty line, migrant laborers, and small-scale farmers.
- Healthcare and Well-being: To raise awareness about health concerns, various contagious diseases, pandemics, and chronic conditions, and to improve healthcare services for newborns, children, maternal health, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Implement mobile healthcare initiatives and diverse health projects by establishing community healthcare centers and hospitals, ensuring comprehensive support for the well-being of the community.
- Educational Opportunities: To spearhead a contemporary educational revolution for talented students from tribal, Dalit, minority, and OBC communities by offering scholarships and sponsorships for quality education, higher studies, degree programs, skill development, and professional training for equal opportunity and transformation. This includes coaching for competitive exams, ensuring promising career prospects and transformative opportunities for a brighter future.
- Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation: To provide relief and rehabilitation to individuals affected by natural or man-made calamities such as cyclones, droughts, floods, riots, vandalism, pandemics, and more. Ensure swift recovery and restoration of normalcy in their lives amidst adversity, demonstrating solidarity and support for those in need.
Strategy of the Society
- Holistic Empowerment: The organization focuses on holistic empowerment by addressing various dimensions of individuals’ lives, including education, healthcare, livelihoods, and social justice. It employs a comprehensive approach that considers the interconnectedness of different aspects of well-being.
- Partnerships and Collaboration: Recognizing the complexity of the issues it addresses, the organization emphasizes partnerships and collaboration with governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, community groups, and other stakeholders. These partnerships help leverage resources, expertise, and networks to maximize impact.
- Community-Centric Approach: Central to the organization’s strategy is a community-centric approach that involves active participation and engagement of local communities in decision-making processes, program design, and implementation. This ensures that interventions are culturally sensitive, contextually relevant, and sustainable in the long term.
- Innovation and Adaptation: The organization fosters a culture of innovation and adaptation, continuously seeking new and creative solutions to address emerging challenges and opportunities. It remains agile and responsive to changing needs and circumstances, leveraging technology and best practices to enhance effectiveness.
- Advocacy and Awareness: Advocacy and awareness-building are integral components of the organization’s strategy. It advocates for policy changes and societal attitudes that promote inclusivity, equity, and sustainability. Through targeted campaigns, education, and media engagement, it raises awareness about key issues and mobilizes support for its cause.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: The organization prioritizes rigorous monitoring and evaluation to assess the impact of its programs and initiatives accurately. It collects data, measures outcomes, and solicits feedback from beneficiaries and stakeholders to inform decision-making, improve performance, and ensure accountability.
- Financial Sustainability: Financial sustainability is a cornerstone of the organization’s strategy. It adopts diversified funding sources, including grants, donations, social enterprises, and income-generating activities, to ensure long-term viability and autonomy. It also invests in capacity building and resource mobilization efforts to strengthen its financial resilience.
- Adaptive Leadership: Leadership plays a critical role in driving the organization’s strategy forward. The organization cultivates adaptive leadership that is visionary, empathetic, and collaborative. Leaders inspire and empower teams, foster a culture of learning and innovation, and navigate complexity and uncertainty with resilience and agility.