What is the Coolie Sangha?
The Coolie Sangha is a 25 year-old membership based people’s organisation formed by small and poor peasant families (landed and landless agricultural labourers) in their respective villages.
The Coolie Sangha embraces all and every facet of its Member Coolie families' day to day living. It is not based on the principle of unity-at-times-of-need. It is much more than a "functional grouping" of the poor to solve pressing problems. Though born through ADATS' community organisation efforts, it is not a "beneficiary organisation" of the NGO.
Identity and Protection
The Coolie Sangha gives an identity and protection to it's Members and supports them in issues and struggles aimed at their empowerment.
The Coolie Sangha implements various grassroots planned developmental activities, including children's education, community and referral health, petty credit for Coolie women, activities to support young widows and deserted women, a village level decentralised credit activity, agricultural development, etc.
Membership Strength
39,070 small and poor peasant families formed village level Coolie Sangha Units (CSUs) in 899 villages. As on 28 January 2010 :
- There are 492 functioning village level CSUs in 5 taluks of Chickballapur district, with an active membership of 14,911 Member families.
These active families comprise of 61,994 adults and 22,068 minors. - 407 villages with 13,269 Coolie families stand as dropped out and cancelled, respectively. There are another 10,890 families cancelled in the functioning villages.
Self Finance
The Coolie Sangha is self-financed through a system of Sangha Fund contributions made by the Member families and the annual declaration of incomes and paying of Sangha Tax.
As on 28 January 2010, these Sangha Funds stand at Rs 76,251,582.