Our history
From Grassroots Roots to Social Justice
1989 - 1992 - Foundation and Early Vision
The Journey Begins
ADECOM Network (Animation, Development, Employment and Communication) started its meaningful journey in 1989. It was officially registered under the Trust Act in 1992 by Mr. Brutus Marie Augustin and three dedicated trustees.
The initial mission was clear: advance the social, cultural, and political awareness of Dalits (untouchables caste), placing a sharp focus on empowering Dalit women and children in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
1992 - 1997 - Community Research and Network Strategy
Five Years of Deep Analysis
Believing that sustainable change must be grounded in reality, the organization spent its first five years conducting extensive research into the living conditions and urgent needs of marginalized communities.
This field data led to a visionary multiplier strategy: strengthening 15 local grassroots NGOs across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry that were already committed to Dalit empowerment.
1998 - 2009 - The Dalit Emancipation Project
Capacity Building at Scale
Supported by Entraide et Fraternité, ADECOM launched the Dalit Emancipation Project. This decade-long phase fostered widespread institutional collaboration, enabling massive capacity building and structured advocacy across the region.
Early 2000s - Shift to Direct Grassroots Empowerment
A Strategic Evolution
After successfully nurturing its partner NGOs, the founder made a critical pivot toward direct, community-level intervention.
Recognizing the fierce dedication of Ms. P. Lalidamballe, who had been a passionate advocate for Dalit emancipation since the age of 16, the founder appointed her as Managing Trustee. Under her leadership, ADECOM shifted its core focus to directly confronting the vulnerabilities of women and children.
Post-2004 - Growth of Movements and Field Structures
Mobilizing Communities Digitally and Culturally Motivated by the events of 2004, ADECOM rapidly expanded its grassroots footprint through innovative mobilization tools:
Annal Ambedkar Women Rationalistic Movement: Mobilizing state-level women leaders to combat sexual violence.
Village Training Centers & Kootukural Theatre Movement: Creating creative, dynamic community spaces for awareness, rights education, and open dialogue.
2004 - The Defining Turning Point
The Fight for Justice
A horrific incident in 2004 shook the Pondicherry region when a 6-year-old girl was sexually violated. When other organizations hesitated to step forward, Ms. P. Lalidamballe and a brave collective of local women leaders took up the legal and social battle, ultimately bringing the perpetrator to justice.
This crisis solidified a painful realization: the region desperately needed organized, fearless support structures for survivors of gender-based violence.
2023 - Present - Inclusion of Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNT)
Expanding the Horizons of Social Justice
Backed by decades of deep community trust, ADECOM Network strategically expanded its scope in early 2023 to include the historically excluded Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNT) in response to persistent systemic exclusion.
Today, the mission centers on building youth leadership within DNT communities, equipping young people with the tools, confidence, and access needed to assert their rights, resist discrimination, and lead dignified lives.