SHORT HISTORY - PATANCHERU
Patancheru, located in Telangana state in the northwestern part of Hyderabad, was a prominent industrial hub. Originally a rural town, began its transformation into an industrial hub in the 1960s.The industrial boom with industries ranging from automotive parts to electrical equipment brought significant economic development and is attracting families and professional to settle in Patancheru. It’s evolution from an ancient market town to a modern industrial centre showcases a blend of cultural heritage and economic development.
Patancheru attracts people from all other states for better job opportunities and decent living. Hence it is an multi linguistic and multi-cultural town.
The town boasts excellent connectivity to Hyderabad and other major cities in Telangana. The development of highways, roads, and public transportation systems has made commuting more convenient for residents. Patancheru offers a promising future, with a range of residential options including apartments, villas, Malls and shopping complex, Food Courts Educational institutions, healthcare centers, and recreational facilities have also mushroomed, providing residents with a well-rounded lifestyle and independent houses. As of the 2011 census, Patancheru had a population of approximately 159,191 people, with a literacy rate higher than the national average.
Also well connected to neighbouring states through the national High Way 65. Developmental work progressing for extension of the High way and the Metro upto Ptancheru and Sangareddy.
ABOUT US
Patancheru mission was born as a brach community of Velvarthy initially in 1986 then later as a second community in Andhra Pradesh. The Initial Objectives were to collaborate with the SVD in education along with a socio pastoral, health and evangelisation. The Divine Word Missioonaries SVD established St. Joseph’s parish in 1991 and St. Joseph school in 1984 which serves the local Christian community and stands as a symbol of the town’s religious diversity
Sisters started looking for catholics to evangelize and to deepen their faith who had migrated from different states and cultures. Also health hazards were the other important area medical ministry took up its initiation. In the same way social ministry evolved to empower women in all its aspects for their economic and social development. Along with these mission the house served as a study house for the students for their Intermediate studies in BHEL with the Holy Cross sisters.
The phase of the community was turned to formation house in the year 2006 where candidates and students were part of the house yet the socio pastoral work continued. Meanwhile the social work took its shape by working for the Domestic workers by collaborating with the Montfort Social Service centre at Uppal, Hyderabbad in the year 2013.
Initially the pastoral work was to really search for the lost sheep as the faithful were scattered around Patancheru. Slowly people established themselves as a parish in the year 1991. But it has grown, people are stable, and has become residents of this parish having 130 families who are regular for church activities and yearning for God and spirituality at present.
PASTORAL MINISTRY
Activities done by the sisters for the Pastoral Care
- Catechism classes on every Sundays
- Bible study in the small groups
- Family Counselling.
- Visit the sick and elderly
- Reaching out to the sick – HIV children through HSMA Members.
- Attending marraiges, Ordinations and Baptisms.
- Family Visits on wednesdays and Sundays.
- Preparing the Altar for conducive atmosphere for prayer and worship.
- Participating in BCC group prayers.
- Counseling for the Retreatians at Divine Word Center- Muthangi.
Achievements :
- Increase in the membership.
- Increase in participation of the members in Hloy Mass.
- Individual Testimonies of their God Experience helps in our own faith journey and the people.
- The HSMA group formation. The members visited our mission station at Valigonda and celebrated Christmas with HIV Children.
- Positive feed back of our presence by the people.
- Our Cordial relationship with the priests and parishnors.
- Sisters participation in the English singing on Sundays first Mass.
- People do trust us and confide their inner struggles and family matters.
- BASIC CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FORMATION : The parish divided into 8 zones for BCC Prayers. Every Sunday 6 to 8 pm the BCC meetings are conducted. All the parishnors are very enthuciastic and attend the Basic Christian community prayer. This is the step taken to promote the synodal church concept and to unite the catholics to deepen their faith journey.
PAVITRATMA PLAY HOME
Began in the year 1995 in view of taking care of the little kids when their parents, the children are safe and taken care. Until today 934 little toddles have passed out from Play home and many of them are doing well in their lives.
At the end of the year they are able to recite and sing simple rhymes, alphabets, Identify colours and numbers confidently. They were given opportunity to display their talent through play way method and activities on every Friday. Every major feasts Like Deepavali, Christmas, Birthdays, and the National days Independence and Republic days were celebrated with the children. We do get few children who are unable to speak. But happy to note that at the end of the year these children are able to recognize, speak few words and follow the instructions of the teacher. Hence being together with other children made them different.
The parents and the local residents are happy and satisfied with our play home and have made an impact in the locality. Admissions are already coming for this year.
2.LSAP : The community continued in promoting LSAP activities, through our domestic workers and parents. Segregation of wet and dry waste, Conscious use of electricity and water.
Plastic Free area:
- The community practices the 4Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
- Promotes Chemical Free Enviornment Eco Enzyme and vermi culture compost.
- Vermi culture compost is used for the plants. .
- Saying No to plastic old bedsheets are designed for the vegetable bags.
- Segregation of wet and dry waste. The wet waste is made as enzyme and is used for the vermi compost.
- No plastic flowers but a sapling, steel items are given a s a token.
- Vermi Culture Pit is made.
Sessions are given to domestic workers, our staff, and parents. Topics such as – environments and its effects of our health and well being, plastic free patancheru, use of cloth bags and other materials for our daily use,
Domestic workers Collectives : 1060 Domestic workers are enrolled in our union. The hard work and the committed service of Mrs. Padma the field coordinator along with Sr. Jessie Mary, the DW workers have built a rapport with us. We are working in 23 slums ( 4 Towns ) 106 groups, members at Patancheru, Ramachandrapuram, Beeramguda and Indrasam. Still many are joining the Trade Union.
ACHIEMENTS
Particulars | Value | Particulars | Value | Particulars | Value |
No. of Existing slums | 23 | Aadhar Card | 25 | Capacity building Trainning | 303 |
Total No of Groups | 106 | Ration Card | 248/120 | leagal &Housing Rights Training | 426 |
BasthiMeetings/participants | 3511 | Pan Card | 11 | Engagement with Employers for DW | 79/64 |
No of Executive Meeting |
| Voter ID | 2 | Wommen s Day celebration | 305 |
Case Study | 24 | Zero Account | 43 | Internaional Domestic WorkersDay | 295 |
E-Shram Card | 99 | Health Card | 77 | Distribution of Bi-Cycles to DW Girl students | 41 |
Labour Card | 5 | Livelihood Support | 85 | Planting of plants | 200 |
Widow Pension | 52 | Caste Certificate | 9 | Press Meet | 59 |
Old Age Pension | 23 | Income Certificate | 16 | ESI/PF | 110 |
Disable pension |
| Human Righti Day | 270 | Rajiv yuvavikas Shakthi | 168 |
Single Women Pension | 25 | Skill trainning – Tailoring |
| Widow Children scholarship | 12 |
Missinvastalya | 4 | 2BHK Housing | 75 | Sevings Account | 13 |
Education Scholarship | 80 | Sukanya samruddi | 60 | No of Awareness Campaigns Trade Union/Labour provi.Government schemes | 3511 |
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IMPACTS & RESULTS
During the year when the domestic workers face problems among themselves or from the employers we the staff step in and bring justice to them. Dws gained confidence in us that they are able to raise the problems and together we are able to settle the issues. Two of the dws were able to continue their work in the same household. Two other dws got their wages back after the negotiation with the employers. Hence we feel we are able to bring about justice among them.