Why this Project is Important

Potential Long Term Impact

There will be complete socioeconomic change in the lives of millions of indigenous rat catching tribals living in interior locations of India. Their unequal and untouchable social status will be considerably changed. They will be empowered.

Project Message

“As a man living with severe respiratory problems due to mouth-blowing for rat catching, I found the new device a God-sent property. I wish this device to be given to more people of our community.”
- Subramanian, informal leader of a tribal sect

Who is Running This Project

Where this Project is Located

Country

This project is located in India and can also be found under Technology.

For more information about India, read the Human Development Report on India or the Wikipedia entry for India.

When this Project was Updated

Last Updated

This project was last updated on August 30, 2007.

Date Added to GlobalGiving

This project was added to the GlobalGiving project catalog on January 17, 2005.

Latest Update from the Field

Impressions on Visiting the Ratcatchers' Project

By Prithi Trivedi - GlobalGiving Ambassador, August 28, 2007 05:05 PM

(Prithi Trivedi, a former GlobalGiving intern, visited this project during her travels in India during June, 2007. Following are her impressions and photographs taken during her visit).

After being driven an hour outside of the bustling metropolis of Chennai, I first encountered what many call “true India.” Since the majority of India’s enormous population resides not in the city but in the countryside, I was thrilled to finally experience the real heart and soul of the country. As we arrived at the rural site of GlobalGiving’s ratcatcher’s project, the first thing that caught my eye was a huge sign that read “CDDP—Thanks to GlobalGiving.” The Center for the Development of Disadvantaged Peoples was able to fund its production and distribution of healthier and more effective ratcatching machines solely due to GlobalGiving donations.

I toured the area where the wives of the ratcatchers actually made the machines themselves, providing them with a source of income and uplift, and was struck by the productivity of the tribal women. They showed me the process of making the machines, and explained that the necessary funds came from GlobalGiving donations. It was amazing to see the effect of the donations on the ground—how far just a dollar went to the ratcatchers and their families.

Next, I visited a nearby village of tribal ratcatchers, who proudly showed me how to use the new machines, and explained to me how much more effective they were. The villagers were so happy about the machines that they were even trying to spread the word about the new machines to other neighboring villages. The new machines were truly changing the lives of these villagers, allowing them a more secure and safe source of income. My visit to the ratcatcher project was really eye-opening, since for the first time I was able to see just how far GlobalGiving dollars go!

See additional photographs in the Photo Gallery.

Attachments:

• Crafting the machines
• Thank you GlobalGiving!
• Group displaying their equipment

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