Palam Rural Centre was established by committed individuals seeking to help agricultural labourers in the central Tamil Nadu region of India to break free from their ‘cycle of poverty’. With work available for only three months per year, these labourers from the dalit (‘untouchable’) caste would never have enough money to repay loans that they needed to take out in order to subsist, and would therefore have to work as bonded labourers. These unpayable loans were inevitably passed from one generation to the next, who would also effectively work as slaves for the same employers.

By creating a self-help community organisation and offering its members specialist production training which could complement their inherited skills (as leather workers), Palam was able to seek orders from fair trade buyers which they hoped would lead to more continuous employment and higher income. For years, sales from leather handcraft production sustained the group but in more recent times, as leather sales have fallen, sales of a new product range – natural handmade soaps – have helped significantly to offer more continuous employment to the group.

While ensuring that it’s soap and leather workers receive a higher rate of pay than their peers, Palam does not believe that this extra money in itself can effectively break the poverty cycle. All the children within the community receive compulsory primary education and then continuing education up to whatever level they choose, as an aid towards gaining employment in other areas which will offer them equal status in society. Palam ‘graduates’ now work as teachers, nurses, and in other professional occupations. Land ownership has also been addressed. Typically, dalits do not own land in Tamil Nadu, and traditionally leather workers were not even allowed into the central part of villages. Now, Palam members can boast ownership of land and homes situated directly off the main road. Their homes have drainage, clean drinking water, power, and are made of permanent materials.

By adopting a many-pronged approach towards dealing with the causes of poverty, and working hard on issues such as health, literacy, cleanliness, sanitation and nutrition, Palam have every reason to believe that they are all on the road towards a better life.