Rural Theological Institute
Started in 1980, the Rural Theological Institute (RTI) located 20 kms away from Madurai, was meant as a base to impart theological education in a rural setting, to the students at TTS who are mostly from an urban background. This was envisaged as a means through which the students can develop their theological perspective, based on the atmosphere they live in.
Not stopping with this, RTI was slowly starting to involve in the human rights issues, particularly the land rights among the rural poor, especially the Dalits in that area. The Social Action (Coordination) Initiatives also uses RTI as a base for its efforts on Alternatives.
Having RTI as a model centre, which boasts of a model farm where organic farming experiments are done and also herbal farm, wherein herbal medicinal plants are being tended, the SAC has been reaching out to the nearby rural areas to promote the Alternatives.
RTI is now a fully equipped Resource cum Training Centre, equipped with accommodation for guests, meeting halls and a small library along with dining facilities, which are being used by various Action Groups and church congregations to conduct their retreats and trainings.
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