Dec 2015 would remain etched in the memory of Chennaiites
~ for the devastation that followed incessant rains. I have earlier
posted about the relief works that SYMA did at various places.
After the initial days, we regrouped to strategically do
some rehabilitation and we are committed to reaching out the needy utilising all
those donations made to us by philanthropists.
Like many other places, Kottur
was once a village – TNSC in its wisdom constructed flats in the river bed,
since it was the dead-end at that time. Puram means exterior in Tamil and
hence Kotturpuram. This area was worst affected in 1977 and now too ! In the recent rains, Kottur too was badly
affected. Through Mr SR Ragunathan, Chief Photo editor, The Hindu, we
came in contact with the Mrs Kalpana, HM of Chennai High School, at New Street,
Kottur. The teachers here guided
by HM displayed great care and concern for the students of this school. We organised through EMRI [special thanks to
Mr B Prabhudoss] counselling for the affected students and provided some
relief.
The HM & teachers had identified 83 students as
affected – coordinating with them, we arranged to take dress measurements and
organised one set of uniform and one colour dress for all of them. The school management also sought some
additional support for 30 families [of their students] badly affected.
Today, we went to the School – handed over the stitched
dress material as also family kits that consisted of : kerosene stove; some
utensils including tumblers, spoons; 3 kgs of rice; 1 ltr of Goldwinner refined
oil; tur dhall; tamarind; red mirchi; tooth paste; soap and cleaning
detergents. Around 20 students only were
present today – though we had planned only to handover the material to the
school, the HM and her staff organised a small meeting. We were delighted to hear the confident words
of students who despite their hardships were focussed to studying well and
progressing in the future.
The delight on the face of students on seeing the
coloured dress – is worth the efforts that volunteers of SYMA have been taking
these days. The rains and devastation
certainly were unhappy ones – we as responsible citizens are doing out mire in
making the Society a better place – and We feel happy that year 2016 has
started in the right earnest for us.
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
Secretary, SYMA
2nd Jan 2016.
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