About Us

Who We Are?

Nilgiris Development Society (NDS) is a registered catholic NGO with      Reg.No.148/2008, working for the upliftment of the rural and marginalized people who are residing in the Nigiri district of Tamil Nadu in South India. It does undertake various social welfare programs for the rural women and children and youth, working in the Tea Estates in the Nilgiris District. The functioning of the society began in 2008 under the direct patronage of the Bishop of Mananthavady Diocese. This society is the social service wing of the Catholic Diocese of Mananthavady, operating in the Nilgiris district of Tamilnadu in South India. The society is situated in Gudalur 100 kms away from the diocesan headquarters and is in the state of Tamilnadu. The area of operation of the society is rural and marginalized poor people working in tea estates and backward women and children. The mission of the organization is socio-economic, educational and cultural advancement of poor people, marginalized and disadvantaged section in the society, who are working in the tea plantations in Nilgiris. We support to enable them to achieve their full potential through self-help promotion, entrepreneurship training and development interventions. The Bishop of the Diocese of Mananthavady is the patron of this society and Vicar General of the diocese is the president.

Vision

We affirm the worth and dignity of all, realizing their potential by doing quality human development regardless of their cast, creed, colour and economic status.

Mission

NDS share in the Catholic mission to reach out, by giving and sharing our personal and financial resources to serve people in need, act for peace and justice, protect mother earth, participate in nation building, in partnership with local and national Government, international institutions and structures as well as other organizations with solutions that permanently improve life of most vulnerable people in our society.

Objectives of the Organization

• To perform works of charity for those in need irrespective of consideration of caste, race community or creed.
• To engage in social service and developmental works aimed at improving the living conditions and general welfare of the people as well as poor indigenous people.
• To engage in rural community development activities aimed at accelerating the overall development and progress of the people through education, awareness creation, trainings, people based participatory research and social action.
• To promote thrift and savings among the people through formation and promotion of their Self-Help Groups and to promote micro- finance activities aimed at the socio-economic development of the poor.
• To engage community development activities aimed at the welfare of the farmers    and farming communities with special focus on small and marginal farmers.
• To promote and propagate eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture and organic farming and to generate awareness on the need and relevance of organic farming and conservation of nature and eco-systems.
• To undertake and implement various projects, programs, schemes of either Government or Non- Government agencies that are aimed at poverty reduction, social welfare, employment generation and economic advancement of the people.
• To organize seminars, training programs, workshops, symposiums and such other relevant educational and learning programs to create awareness and to build capacities on different topics.
• To promote public health and sanitation and family welfare through promotion of alternative life-style, health-care, sustainable livelihoods and alternative learning.
• To help needy and destitute people, orphans, differently abled people, widows and aged persons.
• To establish, organize and support community organizations like Self Help Groups, Credit Unions, Farm Clubs etc. and to promote micro finance, micro credit and micro enterprises through savings and thrift programs and through bank-linkages in order to accelerate socio-economic development of the poor especially that of rural areas.