Origin and Establishment

DPWA owes its origin to the grass root level dedicated social activist and a native Roman Catholic Priest of Trichy District Father Dr. S. Dhanapragasam. Having served as a catholic priest for eight years, he resigned his ministry during the process of his treatment to the near fatal injuries he sustained in a road accident on 28th February '85. First as a priest and later as a social worker for all, irrespective of religion/caste/creed, he dedicated himself for the uplift and emancipation of the rural poor. This he had intended to accomplish by liberating these people from their ignorance, unorganized state of affairs, social oppression and from the clutches of poverty.

All along his dedication, his mind and heart in unison had nurtured a strong concern for the poor children of the area. Their needs and necessities attracted his prime attention. Through trial and error process, he had come to the firm conviction that if his vision to acquire a clear shape, he needed to ORGANISE various activities to benefit the target group in an orderly fashion.

Born out of this firm conviction was the formation of the Society under the name of DEPRESSED PEOPLE'S WELFARE ASSOCIATION. This non-profit and non-communal rural development society was founded by him in 1985. This society enjoyed the support and the blessings of the local elders of Tiruchirapalli District and was registered under the Society's Act vide No. Sl 29/1985. The administrative office of D.P.W.A. is operating from 25, Annai Nagar, Pitchandarkoil Post, Trichy 621 216, Tamil Nadu. This society is registered under section 10A, 80G of income tax department. This society also has the registration under Foreign Contribution Regulation(FCRA), Home Ministry, Govt. of India under no. 07604099.