Angalakuppam is an isolated village located 15 km from Puducherry, near the Tamil Nadu border on the banks of the Chunnambar River. It is an unusual settlement, as much of the village developed on what is essentially the river’s floodplain. Because of this, there has historically been reluctance on the part of government authorities to invest in permanent infrastructure and development in the area.
When Sharana began working in Angalakuppam in 2002, around 100 families lived in scattered huts connected by dirt roads, with limited access to healthcare, sanitation, clean water, electricity, and education. The nature and location of the settlement meant that basic infrastructure such as roads, running water, and electricity took considerably longer to reach the village than in surrounding areas.
Much has changed since then. Today, the village has cemented homes, household toilets, running tap water, electricity, and improved roads. However, important gaps remain. Angalakuppam still does not have a government school or a primary health centre, requiring children and families to travel to neighbouring villages to access these essential services. As the community has grown, Sharana has continued to invest in services that address these gaps and support children and families in building better futures.
At the heart of this settlement is our Community Centre, today a trusted resource for the village. It runs several community driven programs.
Our Crèche Program provides a safe and nurturing environment for young children of age 2+ while their parents work in agriculture. It also enables older siblings to attend school instead of staying home to care for younger children.
Our Dispensary, run by an in-house health worker, offers primary healthcare, essential medicines, preventive health support, and referrals for specialised treatment whenever required. Today, our dispensary records around 5000+ patient visits each year.
Every evening, children attend our Homework Help Centre, where they receive academic support that strengthens learning, improves school attendance, and reduces the risk of dropouts.
As the nearest school is located in the neighbouring village, our Back to School Sponsorship Program helps children access education by covering essential school expenses and connecting them to academic and skill development opportunities.
We also run our Social Entrepreneurship Program for the women of Angalakuppam, providing interest-free loans that help them grow livelihoods rooted in the local rural economy. From farming and animal husbandry to running small retail shops, the programme enables women to expand existing businesses, increase their income, and strengthen their families’ financial security.
