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Our Mission in India

Program Overview

Since 1984, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Collaborators (DMI) have been working across India to empower the most vulnerable sections of society, particularly Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and marginalized rural communities. Operating in 4 states, 15 districts, and over 1,500 villages, DMI focuses on transforming the lives of women, children, and youth through grassroots development. The mission promotes gender equality, child protection, education, health, livelihood, and social inclusion by organizing communities into Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Federations, Children’s groups, and adolescent girls’ groups.

It builds leadership, facilitates access to government schemes, and provides skill training and humanitarian support. It enhances self-confidence and mental health and wellbeing of children. DMI’s approach is rights-based and participatory, aiming to foster dignity and sustainable development. Through strategic partnerships and a strong community presence, DMI has created resilient structures for long-term impact. It advocates for policy change and social justice, especially in SC/ST-dominated regions. The organization continues to bridge inequality and uplift the most disadvantaged through empowerment and compassion.

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Country Objectives

In India, the DMI Development Mission aims to empower marginalized women, children, and communities by promoting inclusive development and social justice. The overarching objective is to transform vulnerable populations into active agents of change through rights-based, participatory, and sustainable interventions. DMI seeks to build a society where every individual especially the poor, women, and children has access to education, health, livelihood, protection, and dignity.

  • Empower Women and Promote Gender Equality
  • Promote Sustainable Livelihoods and Skill Development
  • Ensure Child Protection and Development
  • Equip Adolescents, Especially Girls, with Life Skills
  • Enhance Community Resilience through Humanitarian and Health Services
  • Facilitate rehabilitation and social inclusion of persons with disabilities
  • Foster Strategic Collaborations and Social Advocacy

Major Programs

  • Women Empowerment (WE)
  • Child Development (CD)
  • Adolescent Girls Empowerment (AGE)
  • Humanitarian Assistance & Community-Based Rehabilitation (HACBR)

DMI empowers women through the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) that promote savings, internal loans, bookkeeping, and income generation. These groups cultivate collective leadership, enabling women to address poverty and inequality. Currently, DMI supports 3,733 SHGs with 48,074 women in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar, covering 26 Blocks, 256 Panchayats, and 1500 Villages.

Key Strategies:
  • SHG Formation & Training: Women are mobilized, oriented, and trained in SHG functions and leadership roles. Group leaders are democratically selected to promote shared leadership.
  • Federation Building: SHG members form federations at Panchayat, Block, District, and State levels, enabling collective decision-making and enhanced socio-economic access.
  • Leadership Development: Regular trainings help leaders build confidence and lead effectively.
  • Rights Awareness: Events like International Women’s Day and Human Rights Day raise awareness about women's rights and community responsibilities.
  • Skills & Entrepreneurship: Women receive training in 18 business trades, supported with microcredit and marketing assistance, enabling them to launch small enterprises.
  • Mobile Vending Carts: Poor women in Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, and Chennai have received vending carts for sustainable income.
  • Health & Hygiene: Community sensitization and health camps promote practices such as handwashing, mask-wearing, and COVID-19 prevention.
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CHILDREN GROUPS AND EDUCATION SUPPORT

DMI supports children from marginalized communities through children groups, education assistance, and leadership development:

  • Children’s Groups (CP): Children are trained to simulate democratic systems, building leadership, decision-making, and advocacy skills.
  • Educational Support: Needy children are provided with school supplies and learning materials through the Women’s Federation, ensuring continued education access.
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Since 2024, DMI has established 123 Adolescent Girls Groups (AGGs) across 11 districts, reaching over 1,800 girls with life-skills training and peer-based support. These safe spaces have enabled girls to openly share their struggles, including school dropouts, family conflict, mental health issues, and lack of career guidance.

Through targeted interventions in life-skills development and mental health education, the program has helped many girls regain confidence and re-engage with education and personal growth.

The initiative also actively engages schoolteachers, parents, and community members to raise awareness about girls’ rights and protection, promoting a nurturing environment where girls can live with dignity within their families and communities.

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DMI provides direct relief and psychosocial support to families impacted by disasters and pandemics:

  • COVID-19 Response: DMI continue to support the impacted families and the poor through distribution of daily meals (500 food packets/day), clothing, and hygiene kits to families in and around Chennai and other districts.
  • Health for All: Community members are benefitting from DMI’s health education, medical camps, and awareness drives.
  • Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs): In Tiruvallur District, DMI supports over 1,000 PWDs families, enabling 705 individuals to access government benefits and employment.
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DMI leverages partnerships and networks to maximize community impact:

  • PWD Rights: Facilitated access to 27 different government schemes, enabling PWDs to live with dignity.
  • Land Rights for Women: Assists women across programs districts to obtain house pattas and land ownership.
  • Recognition & Awards: Certificate of Appreciation from Greater Chennai Corporation for COVID-19 interventions (2020)
  • Awards and Recognition: DMI works facilitated women SHGs to receive the best awards such as, Manimegalai Award and cash prize to SHGs. Best Women Awards to outstanding SHG members.
  • Internship Opportunities: Social work students from leading institutions gain hands-on experience through structured fieldwork with DMI.
  • Visibility Through Media: DMI publishes the monthly e-magazine ‘Light to Life’ (500+ editions), sharing success stories, updates, and impact reports with donors and well-wishers.