St. Peter Paul Educational
and Cultural Trust (SPECT)

our story

In the early 1970s, a group of first graduates from the villages around Villupuram District began to address the backwardness and the dire conditions of their downtrodden community. Motivated by a desire to empower those who were exploited, socially isolated, and excluded, these young individuals focused on education and training. They aimed to motivate and uplift people who had been discriminated against due to their caste and deprived of basic human rights, education, and employment for decades.

To advance their cause, these graduates sought the support of major Catholic educational institutions and missionaries in the region. Over time, they began to consider the needs of women and children, advocating for their right to access basic necessities. This led to the formation of Social Action Groups—networks of small, unregistered groups of first graduates dedicated to fighting caste-based exploitation and discrimination. These efforts eventually culminated in the creation of the St. Peter Paul Educational and Cultural Trust (SPECT) in 1991. The Trust was founded by Mr. L. Selvaraj, a high school teacher with 30 years of experience in the community development and education sector.

Since its inception, SPECT has carried out numerous educational, awareness, and community development projects that have had a measurable positive impact on vulnerable populations. Today, SPECT continues its mission to empower the underprivileged by running two formal schools and various need-based community development projects. These initiatives focus on empowering women, individuals with disabilities, and the Dalit population in and around Villupuram District.

Legal Status of SPECT

Registered under Tamil Nadu Trusts Registration Act of 1975 with the Sub-Registrar Office – Arakandanallur, vide registration number 18/91 Dated 29-07-1991.

  • Registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) of 2010 with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
  • Registered under Income Tax exemption under sections 12A and 80 G.