Mr.Kulandai Francis who has been awarded with Magsaysay says, working with the objective of eradicating poverty and empowering more than one lakh rural women for 35 long years has got him award. Talking to AIR News, he said that he did not expect to get the prestigious award.

Reeling in poverty during childhood days in Salem, Mr. Francis had to struggle hard to get a basic education. The only land which the family had to be sold in order to get him a graduate education. The inspiration to work for the upliftment and empowerment came to him when he was involved in relief work during the Bangladeshi war and also during drought in Pune in 1972.

His organisation, the Integrated Village Development Project provides training to rural students and also in enhancing their skills namely training in rural sanitation,accountancy,management, giving educational assistance for students in high schools, scholarships and also computer skills. The visionary Mr. Francis was also successful in pursuing the holistic economic empowerment of thousands of women and their families. His organisation has built science labs, computer labs, solar lamps in schools situated in many backward areas of Krishnagiri district.

Through more than 8500 self help groups, the organisation has encouraged savings and credit activities among the economically backward. They were able to build atleast 300 check dams in the region to save water for irrigation and drinking purposes.HIV testing for pregnant women, setting up of non formal schools for child labourers, providing sanitation facilities in the tribal areas are also part of the yeoman service rendered by the Integrated Village Development Program founded by Mr. Kulandai Francis.
He says that living in poverty is terrible and wants to fulfil his obejctive of wiping out poverty from the Country.