Background of the Organisation

Origin and Background

 Rural Uplift Centre (RUC) is working in Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, and Kanyakumari districts for enabling poor women beedi workers, agricultural labourers, Dalits, persons with disabilities, small & marginal farmers, and fish workers to assert their rights to life and livelihood. RUC has made significant progress in mainstreaming these excluded groups.

 RUC was initiated by members of All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF) in 1981. The founding members include Fr. Claud De Souza, S.J., Fr. L.A. Tagore, S.J., Fr. Pappuraj, S.J., and Mr. A. Maria James, who is currently the Secretary of RUC.

Vision

 Ensuring a resilient community that asserts the rights to life and livelihood of the marginalized and vulnerable in the light of the Millennium Development Goals and global warming.

Mission

 Ensuring equal rights, equal opportunities, equal access to resources, food security, and dignified life through direct intervention, policy advocacy, climate change adaptation, and facilitating self-reliant communities.

Objectives

  • To undertake rescue, relief, and rehabilitation during hazard events and disaster risk reduction measures, including climate change adaptation.
  • To engage in social service activities aimed at improving the welfare of marginalized groups like Beedi Workers, Palmyra Workers, Fishermen, differently abled, transgender persons, and the poor.
  • To establish and manage educational and development institutions.
  • To enable the youth to acquire skills for employment and self-employment.
  • To run crèches for the children of working women.
  • To promote organic farming among small and marginal farmers.
  • To collaborate with the government on health programs and community development schemes.
  • To provide legal aid, care, and support to vulnerable groups and establish refuge centers for women in distress.
  • To collaborate with other NGOs, corporate organizations, and resource systems to achieve these objectives.

Legal Status of the Organization

  • Registered under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act 1976.
  • Recognized under 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
  • Registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) 1976.
  • Registered with NITI Aayog, Unique ID: TN/2009/0006845.
  • Registered with Provident Fund Organization (Reg. No: MDNKL0079068000).

Donors of Rural Uplift Centre

MISEREOR, Germany
Jesuit Mission, Germany
Sisters of the Holy Family, London
Azim Premji Philanthropic Foundation
Government of India
Government of Tamil Nadu
Guidehouse, India

Contact of Chief Functionary

Maria James, Secretary of RUC
Phone: +91 4652 231110
Mobile: +91 9443177824
WhatsApp: +91 9443177824
Email: majames22@yahoo.com, jamesruralupliftcentre@gmail.com