INTRODUCTORY & TARGET POPULATION

CHALLENGES WE FACE & HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

THRUST AREAS & INTERVENTION STRATEGIES, PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS, FUTURE

Working for the empowerment of Dalits & Landless

Muzaffarpur Diocesan Social Service Society (MDSSS) is
the official organization for promoting Social Welfare and
Development in twelve civil districts of Muzaffarpur Diocese
in Bihar. Since 1980, the diocesan social work department
has been striving towards integral development of the
marginalized and underprivileged people of Bihar,
particularly of the dalits and landless. Community
Mobilization and Participatory Development are the twin
pillars of our social work activities. We are committed to
participatory, community owned self sustainable models
of development.

VISION
ISION
Promotion of a Just and Humane Society based on human
values of equality, love and peace.

MISSION
ISSION
To uphold the human dignity of the marginalized, oppressed
and displaced of Bihar through a process of socio-cultural
value additions, economic and political empowerment.
 TAR GET
ARGET
POPUL
PULAATION
TION
Bihar remains one of the poorest states of India with a
large chunk of the population belonging to traditionally
under-privileged sections. Bihar witnesses constant
struggles of existence between the haves and have-nots.
Muzaffarpur Diocesan Social Service Society’s (MDSSS)
target population consists of these marginalized, oppressed
and poverty stricken communities in 12 civil districts of
Bihar namely Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Samastipur, Sitamarhi,
Sheohar, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Khagaria, Begusarai,
Saharsa, Madhepura and Supaul.
Communities we serve
● Dalits and Landless
● Scheduled castes like Mehatar, Harijan, Lohar,

INTRODUCTORY & TARGET POPULATION

Malhar, Sardar
● Socio economically marginalized groups like Dusad,
Ravida, Paswan, Sadaya, and Musahars
● Scheduled Tribe : Santhals
● Less privileged backward castes like Muslims
● Unemployed, displaced, discriminated and
unorganized groups
● Underprivileged , malnourished women and children
● Destitute, differentially abled
● People exposed to health hazards
● Forced labors, migrant labors and
victims of trafficking.

Working for the empowerment of Dalits & Landless

CHALLENGES
WE FACE
Social life of the people is conditioned by caste arithmetic. Economic
status of the landless poor and dalits depends upon the high caste.
Social relationship of the high caste with the dalits is merely a verbal
communication to engage them in their agricultural fields. We face
the herculean task of tackling various economic as well as socio-cultural
impediments to the development of these traditionally oppressed and
backward communities. Dalits, who make up 85 % of Bihar’s population,
are often referred to as untouchables or outcastes. They are excluded
from the privileges of the
society and treated inhumanly.
Bihar popularly known for
various local religious festivals
has made people economically
poor and busy.

Haves make use of them as

bonded agricultural labors,
who are treated with physical
and verbal abuse. Migration
and the anonymity in the
urban environment have in
some cases resulted in upward
occupational mobility among
Dalits, but it has not resulted
in savings or economic security. Such unsafe migration has always
contributed to health hazards that lead them to non productive
premature ageing. Due to over work, unhealthy food practices,
submission to alcoholism and exposed to extreme weather conditions
they are prone to acute illness either earned or acquired through
companions. Hard labour sets them in search of pleasure which in turn
exposes them to Human Immune Virus.

Lack of exposure to alternative skills and trades has kept them ignorant
of innovations against their traditions and their hereditary practices.
Traffickers make use of Bihar as entry point for trafficking from
international routes and vulnerable communities of Bihar also flow along
with the traffickers.
 HUMBLE
BEGINNINGS...
In 1980 along with the formation of diocese of Muzaffarpur the social
apostolate got organised with the pioneers, Sr. Maria Therese (MMS)
along with Sr. Grace of SND under the leadership of Bishop Rev. John
Baptist Thakur, S.J. In the initial phases the apostolate concentrated
on non-formal education, relief and charity. Social ministry was served
and executed by following directors respectively, Mr. L.J.David, Mr.
James Seraphim, Fr. Joseph Oreya, Fr. Julius Lazarus and Fr. Saji
Augustine. Last twenty seven years of uphill struggle served to give a
new shape to the face of Muzaffarpur Diocesan Social Service Society.

& HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Since its inception MDSSS activities have been undergoing paradigm
triggered by the changing needs of the target population and the new
insights generated from the dynamic sphere of social welfare. While
the first decade had begun with Charity and General Social Welfare
works, the second decade gave importance to Non-formal Education,
Women Empowerment and Community Development. Recent trend is
adding value to the ongoing measures of the society by integrating
focus on Sustainable Development. The ‘Bihar Flood Response Program
2007’ added elegant professional approach to the service through the
inclusion of Resilience Building along with Sustainable Development
Initiatives. Today MDSSS stands proudly as a faithful friend and ardent
advocate of the needy and underprivileged.
WE FACE
CHALLENGES

Working for the empowerment of Dalits & Landless

THRUST AREA
AREASS &
INTERVENTI
INTERVENTION STR
VENTION STRAATEGIES...
1. Awareness Building
●Non-formal education
● Village schools, Coaching centers
2. Women Empowerment
● Formation of self-help groups (SHGs) and promoting self-employment
● Linking the federation of Self Help Groups with lead banks
3. Promotion of Community Based Organisations
● Formation of village youth groups
● Facilitating cultural forums, libraries, health clubs
● Committees for education, monitoring and development
4. Livelihood promotion
● Entrepreneurship development programmes
● Income generation programmes for vulnerable like women
● Schemes and programmes facilitated by and for the aged/differentially abled
5. Health Initiatives
● Awareness and promotion of hygienic lifestyles and disease prevention
● Promotion of health initiatives with linkages with health department
● Providing medical facilities to remote villages
● Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS patients
● Care and support for patients of communicable diseases and malnourished
6. Education for all with special attention to girl children
● Improving the literacy rate
● Care and assistance to children
● Support and guidance to dropouts
● Special packages for education of girl children
● Job security through skill training
7. Relief to victims of natural calamities
● Support to relief camps and other relief activities during floods
● Coordination and networking with key stake holders
8. Disaster Preparedness
● Resilience building among the villagers
● Formation of task forces and capacity building
9. Natural Resource Management
● Conservation and management of available natural resources
10. Advocacy and Lobbying
● Rapport establishment and maintenance of professionalism in all areas
● Campaigns on the rights of Dalits
● Rapport building and maintaining professionalism in all areas
 THRUST AREAS & INTERVENTION STRATEGIES, PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS, FUTURE
PARTNERS &
ARTNERS SUPPORTERS...
SUPPOR
● Diocese of Muzaffarpur and its fraternity
● Caritas India
● Catholic Relief Services
● ECHO
● Caritas Germany
● Misereor
● Missio
● Caritas Swiss
● TROCAIRE Caritas Ireland (Irish Aid)
● FVT
● Deuchmann Foundation
● CHAI/CHABIJ
● Manos Unidas
● DK Austria
● NEG-FIRE
● DKE
● Church in Need
● MIVA
● Indo- German Social Service Society

FUTURE PLANS...
● Federation of women SHG’s
● Capacity Building Centre/
Animation Centre
● Management Information System
on Dalits and Landless
● Increasing linkages with the charity
and government institutions
● Undertaking target oriented
initiatives in improving the living
● standards of the people
● Capacity building among the
vulnerable to speak out
for their rights and to
stand with the
community

Working for the empowerment of Dalits & Landless

AREA
REASS OF OPER
ERAATION
TION

Sitamarhi
Nepal

Sheohar
Madhubani
Supaul
Mazaffarpur
Darbhanga
Uttar
Pradesh
Saharsa Madhepura

Vaishali

creation: jaimonuthupchirayil@gmail.com / “apsara & printers castle”

Samastipur Khagaria

B I H A R Begusarai
West Bengal

Jharkhand

Printed with support from ECHO

MUZAFF ARPUR
UZAFFARPUR
DIOCESAN
SOCIAL
SERVI
ERVICE
VICE
SOCIET
OCIETYY

Reg. No- 76/2001-02 of Act 21-1860

Seva Sadan, Bibi Ganj,
Bhagwanpur Chowk P.O.
Muzaffarpur-842001 Bihar, INDIA
Ph: 0621 2260788, +919334116332
Fax: 0621 2260788
sevasadan_mds@yahoo.com
www.mdsss.org