Ramakrishna Vidya Mandir's annual day function
Students of Sree Ramakrishna Vidya Mandir, Marudhamalai Road, acting out a skit at the annual day function held recently.Enchanting dances, thought-provoking skits and recitals of the Thirukkural made the annual day at Sree Ramakrishna Vidya Mandir on Marudhamalai Road, a special one.The school was celebrating its sixth annual day. Set up by Udavum Karangal, a home that rehabilitates mentally-ill destitutes in Coimbatore, the school was started for the benefit of the abandoned children taken care of by Udavum Karangal.It is also a boon to children from the surrounding villages such as Maruthamalai and Seernaickenpalayam who have few opportunities for quality education.“For many children from an economically weak background in these areas, attending a school in the city is impossible. Very few parents can afford expensive education for their children,” says Subha Lakshmi, Principal of the school.The fees are nominal and the students can pay it in instalments, she adds. It follows Matriculation Board syllabus.
When it was started in 2002, the school had only 64 students and all of them were from Udavum Karangal. Currently, it has classes up to V and has 164 students, 60 of them from Udavum Karangal.Speaking at the annual day function, Marie Margaret, Assistant Elementary Education Officer, Thondamuthur, urged the teachers to inculcate the importance of discipline and hard work in their students.According to Vidyaakar, founder of Udavum Karangal, values are the soul of education. Only through value-education could the nation create a set of socially-conscious citizens who are rich in human values.
R.Rajagopal, Medical Co-ordinator of Udavum Karangal, distributed the prizes to winners of various competitions conducted on that day.Udavum Karangal currently takes care of about 2,000 people.Sontham, the centre for children, has 55 children under six years of age. The centre accepts donations from well-wishers and visitors who wish to spend some time with the children are encouraged to do so.Thanjam is another unit of the organisation which takes care of mentally disabled men and women, who have no one to support them. Situated at Mayileripalayam, it has 160 inmates (60 of them women).Udavum Karangal can be contacted at 0422-2302030 and 0422-2301090
