MICDAMOTHER INDIA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

ASSOCIATIONPUTTUR, Chittoor District, A.P.. INDIA

MATHAMMA ERADICATION PROGRAMME

Mathamma alias Madhavi, aged 35 with Mr. Babu, a Malayali

quarry worker. The Mathamma had four girl children. Mr. Babu

is the father of the youngest child of the Mathamma.

Madhavi underwent Sterilization before getting married to Babu,

her partner for the last one year. The marriage took place

on 21-6-2004.

Mathamma alias Madhavi aged 35 years with 4 girl children, prior to

the marriage.

Mathamma alias Manjula, 19 after marriage with Madhavaiah, 23. Both had been friends for

sometime before the marriage. The marriage was arranged

by MICDA on 6-5-2004.

Mathamma, now Devi, 19, marrying Desaiah, 22. MICDA facilitated the marriage between the two who had been partners for about six Months. The

marriage was solemnized on 7-3-2004.

Mathamma alias Venkatamma, 18

immediately after her marriage with Venu, 22. A quarry worker, Venu lived with Venkatamma for two years. MICDA facilitated the marriage on 18-2-

2004.

Mathamma alias Subhashini, aged 25 with two girl children

after her marriage with Mr. Bhaskar, aged

27, a tractor driver who had lived with Mallika for seven

years. Mr. Bhaskar, the biological father of the two children has

now become the social father w.e.f 21-6-2004 the date of marriage

Chandramathi, Mathamma of Thummalagunta village, Renigunta Mandal receiving bank pass book with a deposit of Rs. 5,000/- under Girl

Child Protection Scheme. It was facilitated by the Social Worker

A handicapped Mathamma alias

Renuka aged 18 years, a victim of polio,

belongs to Chinnapuram of

Varadhaiahpalem Mandal. The MICDA helper her procure a

handicapped certificate, a tri-cycle

and a pension.

A child Mathamma, a pre-mature baby, was dedicated and named Mathamma, as she did not

cry immediately after her birth. The MICDA intervened to get her admitted into a Paediatric

Department and after a month of incubator care, she has become normal. The parents have

renamed the child as Maheswari.

Child Mathamma with her Mother. The child was

dedicated due a chronic heart disease. The Social

Worker Sr. Vidya facilitated a medical check up of thechild at a super-specialty

hospital. The child is diagnosed as Mitral

Stenosis.The hospital has registered her for a surgery after four years, she is renamed as

Lahari.

Mathamma aged 40, of Renigunta, was arranged a bank loan of Rs. 20,000/- with 50% subsidy to set up

a flower shop with the support of the S.C. Corporation. The intervention was facilitated by

social worker Mr. Jyothi Kumar.

A Mathamma with her infant child. A virtual destitute, the Mathamma has no support. She was persuaded to undergo Tubectomy. Efforts are being made by Mr. Munikrishnaiah, Social Worker to arrange her

marriage with her long time partner.

A child mathamma suffering from hypo thyroidism. MICDA intervened and arranged for the prolonged treatment of the child renamed

as Ishwarya,The child is under the close monitoring of

MICDA.

Mathamma alias Saraswathi aged 30 years, having 4 children had undergone tubectomy operation. Mr.

Neelakantam, Social worker, Ramachandrapuram mandal motivated Saraswathi to undergo sterilization.

Mathamma alias Swetha, aged 13 years, an orphan child under the care of her grand parents, was forced to discontinue her studies

(VII class) when she attained Puberty. The

MICDA intervened to re-join her in the school and de-dedicate her. Swetha has passed her VII class and is

now regular to school.

Commencement of Kolupu (Dance festival) at Parameswara Mangalam of Puttur Mandal

Our social workers facilitating dance by a male youth member in lieu of the Mathamma at

Parameswaramangalam of Puttur Mandal. This was a transitional arrangement to ensure that the practice is

eventually eradicated. This is done due to strong preference of the community for the dance.

A newspaper clipping

highlighting the project efforts in

eradicating the

Mathamma practice.

Social workers of the project with the Revenue and Police officials persuading with the Madiga community of Rachapalem of Puttur Mandal to give up the practice

of staging the Mathmmas dance in the Kolupu festivals.

Project staff trying to prevent the public dance by Mathammas at the Sriharipuram of Vijayapuram

Mandal.

Police and Revenue people counseling the community elders to not to encourage the dances

in the festival.