I am Mr. Gopi (40). I am from Nerkunam in Vanthavasi Taluk, Thiruvannamalai district. Nerkuanam is a very small village that has 21 families. The families here have been living for more than 45 years. Most of the people in the village are illiterate and work as woodcutters and daily wage earners. Some of us go to the distant lands for various works as contract workers. The people here are landless and have their settlement in the watershed areas with huts. The most basic facilities are deprived by the local panchayat. We have been fighting for a proper land with houses for many years. But our voices are not heard by the government officials.

At that time, PALAVAI (Jesuit Irular Mission) (a Jesuit Social Initiative to support the downtrodden) came to our village to work for the welfare of our people. The team selected me as one of the community leaders. I was motivated by them to lead our people to claim our rights. As a community leader, first step I took was to demand a piece of land and free house for 24 families. A petition was given in the collectorate in 2018. After continuous follow up and perseverance, we could get 10 free houses and pattas on October 26, 2022.

I am so grateful to PALAVAI and ESP (Ensuring Social Protection) trainings that kept me going to get houses and pattas despite a hopeless situation.