The Mar Thoma Church, which has imbibed the new insight through reformation, has made charitable and developmental works as its areas of activities along with its apostolic mission. Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan founded the Development Department in 1977 with the aim of integrated development of the people. The Development Department aims at participation of each parish in the multifarious growth of the poor in their own society. It plans and implements programmes to mobilise the resources and equip the parishes to this object.

Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrisostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan is the patron of the department at present.

Objectives

• Integrated development of the marginalized population
• Parish initiatives in development
• Emancipation of women
• Healthy future generation
• Resource mobilisation by Grass Root Organisations
• Formation of leadership with social commitment
   

Programmes

• Aid to technical education
• Income generation programmes
• Small scale farming
• Small scale business
• Self employment schemes
• Diary Farming
• Bee keeping
• Education and vocational training
• Income generation programmes
• Thrift and savings
   

Management System

Women & Child Development

Areas of Activities

Development Associations

• Basic unit – Self Help Groups
• Periodic meetings 
• Leadership formation through social analysis-learning problems and reacting to them
• Improved savings, mutual help, and familial atmosphere.
• The marginalised becomes the ‘power centres’ of the community
• Growth in health, education, social relation and basic infrastructure facilities

  
  Activities Until Today

Women and Child Development Centres

Managing Committee Members