Jesuits were collaborating with MAITRI, a non-governmental organization which took efforts to liberate the Sri Lankan repatriates who were bonded labour at upper kodai Hills. After accomplishing the task, the Jesuits founded PEAK (People’s Education and Action in Kodaikanal) in 1988. PEAK grew out of a combination of three earlier programmes: (i) Providing relief, rehabilitation and skills to those repatriated from Sri Lanka in order to help them build new lives for themselves in kodaikanal, (ii) rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers in kodaikanal forests through NGO intervention by seeking assistance from the Supreme Court and the State Govt., and (iii) and Grihini program for poor young women started by some service – minded people of Kodai Hills. It began to serve the Dalits, Tribal and Srilankan repatriates of kodai hills. The significant programmes envisaged were social awareness training for tribals, Dalits and repatriates. They rendered non-formal education for grihini girls and technical education for youth.

Jesuit theology students stayed in the upper hills and found the socio economic and political situations of madharis very pathetic. Their illiteracy was the main reason for such situation. So they began to educate youngsters and children in the village itself. This experience leads PEAK to address the problem of illiteracy among Tribe and Dalit in all the villages of Kodai hills. In 1991, the first hostel for 30 students was established in the satellite town of Shembaganur. A five-year review of the Grihini young women’s program conducted in 1992 recommended a significant expansion of the activities in Grihini. These analyses resulted in the starting of numerous balwadis (nursery schools) and evening coaching centers in the hilly villages.

Another Children’s Home was established for Primary school going Tribal children at Poyyavilakku in 1994. Two other hostels were established for high school boys and girls in 1996. Later Women’s Associations and Mother and Child Health Programmes were initiated for the welfare of the oppressed women and children. As the years went by, it was found necessary to bring the most oppressed people together. Thus the Kodai Hills Ambedkar People’s Movement was founded to facilitate Dalits, Tribes and Sri Lankans Repatriates to work together for their common interests. After a few years of involvement in the field the movement realized that most of them are unorganized and construction labourers who are eligible to avail the government schemes. Therefore they organized themselves under the banner of ‘Kodaimalai Ambedkar Unorganized and Construction Labour Union’ in 2006.

Empowering the marginalised to establish egalitarian and just society.

PEAK is an organisation that accompanies dalits, tribals, women and other marginalised communities, engaging in conscientization, promoting liberative education and sustainable development by strengthening their capacities and facilitating their movements in collaboration with Dalit and human rights organisation.

• To strengthen the critical awareness of the marginalised to become conscious of their resources and rights.
• To facilitate the Kodai Hills Ambedkar People’s Movement (KHAPM)
• To enable people to create and sustain networks with like-minded democratic forces.
• To facilitate the formation of the marginalised into organised groups in their respective villages.

• Dalits
• Tribes
• Sri Lankan repatriates