About Us

Dr. John Maliekal has acquired his double doctorate in law from Canada and sharpened his skills in various organizations in European and American continents before he identified his passion to work with the tribals of Melghat. He has dedicated his life for the service of the poor and marginalized tribals of Melghat over the last 30 years.

He is one of the first ones to start Adult Education in 1984 in 20 villages of Melghat with 20 animators. He opened a Free Legal Aid Center in Amravati in 1985 as he was a lecturer in the Law college, with outreach programmes in the interior villages by conducting Legal Awareness camps at village level.

Side by side, various groups for youth, women and farmers were formed. He along with his team is perhaps the first to build a "Hutfree" Village - Memna near Chikaldara. Jamunallah also near Chikaldara was the next to be built just like Memna. Along with various income generation programmes, two co-operative Milk Societies were formed as per the need of the people.

In collaboration with different organizations from Europe, hundreds of households were given roofing material with tiles and tins. Soil conservation work, small bunds to store running off water were constructed for the welfare of the farmers. Crop loan facilities gave a boost to the farmers which increased their bargaining power. The net result of these and various other programmes/projects undertaken was the feeling to have a Centre for the poor children of Melghat that will give educational facilities. Thus we have a free hostel for boys and another one for the girls.

Miss Cirila Azavedo is the founder Secretary of the MDS and renowned for her rich experience of work with the tribals of Melghat. Studied in India and trained abroad, she started her career as a teacher and later proven her skills as an educationist. She always strives to provide a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning for the children and staff.

She completed her Bachelor of Education from St Teresa's College of Education, Bombay. She taught in High School for a few years. Before making an option for the poor, she lived with the poor in remote villages as an experiment. To gain experience and understand the tribals she lived in Bori, a village near Chikaldare in a hut along with a doctor for two years.

She spent time living with the poor, educating them and teaching them to help themselves. Before immersing herself into social work, she obtained a Diploma in Social Development from the Coady International Institute, St. Francis Xavier University, Canada. She also graduated in Mission Studies from St. Paul University, Canada and was trained in Advanced Leadership Skills at Haggai Institute, Singapore.

As a first step she began to work with the youth. She trained youth of 100 villages in leadership after forming youth groups in every village. She also undertook a project in Health and Hygiene Education for the villagers of Melghat. Since 1987 she did a decade long work with the Catholic youth at Local, Zonal and Regional level. Thereafter she joined hands with MDS. She worked as a full timer without remuneration although she had meager meals and accommodation. Now she works full time with the children of MDS by running Hostels with a difference, by catering to the needs of the poor tribal boys and girls from Class V to X which is a tremendous task.