Community History

Kadiri is a town in the Anantapur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality, mandal headquarters and also the Revenue Divisional Headquarters in Kadiri. As of 2001 India census, Kadiri had a population of 76,261. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Kadiri has an average literacy rate of 57%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 67%, and female literacy is 46%. In Kadiri, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Kadiri is one of the few towns in Andhra Pradesh with a large Muslim population of 55% of the town after Hindupur. Kadiri receives lowest rain fall in the state and the rain fall is second lowest in India .The farmers are largely dependent on drought –prone ,rain fed agriculture and mostly single crop of groundnut is sown .Fr. Vincent Ferrer (1920-2009) and Ann Ferrer founded Rural Development Trust in 1969 the purpose is to ensure that the persons with disabilities have access to equal opportunity and are main actors in their struggle to lead a life quality and dignity, to work towards the empowerment of women by helping to improve their socio economic status and sensitizing both men and women to deal with such a issues as a gender discrimination and violence .

The Mission of Kadiri started with the invitation of Fr. Vincent Ferrer, the Founder of RDT (The Rural Development Trust) Ananthapuram. It is located at Motukupalli a remote village which is 5km far away from Kadiri. The people are very poor but simple, affectionate and helpful. It was started with three Sisters Sr. Saleth Mary first superior and Sr. Sally Varghese, Sr. Chinnamma Gorantla being community members, on 14th May 2004with an agreement between The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate and RDT by then the Provincial Sr. Lucy Augustine and her council. The inspiration and hard work of Sr. Maria Rosa Jimenez and her councilors started this mission with three sisters with so much vigor and enthusiasm. Their commitment, spirit of sacrifice, prayer life and joyful life gave way to other sisters to continue. All the sisters who served in this mission are happy, felt satisfaction and fulfillment in serving these children. Even now we are happy and joyful to continue with same zeal and enthusiasm to serve and work with laity as for as possible and experience the presence of God in each event and to spread the Gospel values, the main purpose is to provide care for the Visually Impaired children , Intellectually Disabled children and Speech and Hearing Impaired children.