Meerut Seva Samaj (MSS) is a non-profit making, a charitable voluntary organization registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860. The organization is the Social Service Unit of the Catholic Diocese of Meerut its distance from the National Capital is 70 k.m.
MSS had its origin after long birth pangs due to charity and welfare approaches of development. Down through the years, our area in and around Meerut witnessed this 'band-aid' development which could not heal the wounds of exploitation, lopsided development and various discriminations. As a panacea to this age old problems faced by the poorest people, our pioneers developed a vision for a new society based on justice, equality and fullness of life for all. Thus, the Meerut Seva Samaj (MSS) came into existence and got registered as a Social Service Society in July 1977.
Under the leadership of Most. Rev. Bp. Patrick Nair and Rev. Fr. Boerjia - then President and Director of the organization, the Society initiated Education on the lines of Paulo Friere and community health education in the target villages of Meerut District.
Slowly the organization took roots in the rich soil of western Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand (Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Baghpat ,Shamli, Saharanpur, Amroha, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Dhampur Tehsil, Dehradun and Haridwar). We adopted villages for integrated development. Since 1985, people's organisation became the major thrust of the organisation where we focused on building 'social capital' and thereby the participation of people in development actions. All the principles of animation were followed in the formation of groups. With the help of many capacity-building exercises, we could elicit the collaboration of many more in the activities. Federation of groups became another thrust of the Organization whereby the village level organizations got linked up with block level and district level and then at the divisional level at the center. Office Bearers were elected and they undertook more responsibilities.
The role of MSS now is that of a co-worker and companion - ". In all the development actions, right from planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, the policy of 'people first' has been followed. Now we participate in their programmes whereby we make ourselves available according to the convenience of the people - day or night, winter or summer, rain or drought.
It is in mutual collaboration and true partnership that we grow and flourish. We have proved it - Empowerment is possible: it is not a dream.