On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, religious sisters are trying to change the history of poverty in Musunuru, a village in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
Sister Florina José SCN
October 17 marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, declared by the United Nations in 1992.
Pope Francis marked the World Day in a message about Christmas: “We must not forget the poor. Let us dream of a world in which water, bread, work, medicine, land and a house are available to every person “.
According to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, “poverty is not inevitable. It is a direct consequence of the decisions that societies and governments make, or do not make.”
To mark the day, the village of Musunuru in southern Andhra Pradesh, India, shares their poverty alleviation journey.
There was a time when Musunuru was severely affected by poverty and depended solely on agriculture for its livelihood, creating challenges in sanitation, education, infrastructure and overall development.
Climate change has also devastated agricultural production, which has a direct impact on the financial stability of the local population.
systemic change
However, since 2009, with the arrival of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN) and the Inspiring Social Development Center (PSDC), systemic change is taking place in Musunuru.
To address the health challenges, especially the lack of toilets in Musunuru, the PSDC team has joined the “Swachh Bharat” campaign. Through street games, surveys and awareness raising, they encouraged villagers to build toilets, resulting in the construction of 267 toilets in 16 villages, led by the nuns.
In addition to cleanliness, attention has also been paid to education. Due to the demand for agricultural labor, a large number of children in Musunuru dropped out of primary school.
Recognizing this, the Development Center initiated training and skills programs, especially for women, including academic education. Today, both students and trainers are local people motivated to achieve higher levels of education.
The religious sisters have created employment opportunities through vocational courses in tailoring, computer skills and modern education. Additionally, girls also have access to hostel facilities, allowing them to continue their education and gain skills in a safe environment.
The sisters’ healthcare efforts have also been considered notable during the viral and dengue epidemics. In times of crisis, they collaborate with the local health department to conduct door-to-door surveys and provide timely interventions that save many lives. In recent years, environmentally friendly initiatives have also been launched. PSDC is educating villagers on sustainable farming techniques, including the production of organic fertilizers and the distribution of saplings.
This year he has distributed 147 saplings to the people.
become a growing community
Today, Musunuru is transitioning from a poverty-stricken taluka to a developing community.
With the continued efforts of the sisters, the cooperation of the villagers and the help of the government, Musunuru is truly moving towards long-term prosperity.
