SYMA members organise rice distribution

Sunday, 4th of  August, 2019  would ever remain  a gold letter day in the annals of SYMA history.  We have been aspiring, dreaming for this ~ ‘dreaming big or a big dream’.   SYMA has an unsaturated desire for serving the Society. SYMA [Srinivas Youngmen’s Association]  has been in the field of Social service since 1977 starting with street cleaning campaigns and keeping environment, more specifically, the temple tank and its surroundings clean.   We at SYMA, feel strongly the primary responsibility of improving the Society and helping the underprivileged. 

We have been dreaming of expanding ~ and the foremost impediment in realizing our endeavour was perhaps lack of space.  SYMA has been functioning in a 270 SFT approx premises at 29 TP Koil Street,   Opp to Bharathiyar  Illam.   On 4.8.2019  with the munificent support of Vasavi Builders, SYMA moved  to a sprawling premises at 37 Car Street, Triplicane, Chennai 600 005. 

In a few months – the visibility grew bigger and so did the activities – the Rs.2 Medical centre started attracting more patients.  We have : Medical centre, Blood analysis lab, Gynecological consultation, Physiotherapy, Dentistry, Eye clinic – all under one roof – added private Doctor for ENT (Dr Sunandha); Pediatrics (Dr V Venkatesh) and Ortho (Dr Subramaniam) .. .. .. SYMA has become much bigger and .. ..expenses too were shooting up.   The 12^th year of SYMA Growth too concluded with pooja – wishing the students all the best in the examinations and career.

Suddenly Mar 2020 has thrown the World out of gears – life has changed suddenly and totally.  As the Nation announced lock-down, we had to stop all our activities. The medical centre, lab and other facilities can no longer cater to the benefit of poor people. It pains us to receive that odd call from people asking whether we are open or when they can come for treatment ! .. ..

Lockdown is necessity and reality – people must maintain social distancing and remain at home in fighting the dreaded virus, as directed by the Govt.  The State and Central Govts are taking great measures in fighting and in preventing the spread despite some foolish moves by a few citizens in not adhering to the guidelines.

Life is sustainable for those of us in regular employment and in the comfort of our homes – we miss lot of things – especially our Sri Parthasarathi Perumal and purappadu. However, we get food at appointed hour and sleep in the comfort of our homes. We must appreciate those personnel – Doctors, Nurses, para-medics, Govt machinery, Police and everyone else who are out on the roads, protecting the citizens of this Nation.

Life is difficult for the daily wage earners.  There is some sprinkling of migrant population in and around Triplicane too.  One could see hundreds of construction workers standing at Triplicane High road in the mornings, waiting for contractors to pick them up and send to some sites. Life perhaps has come to a standstill for them.

SYMA members Mr SR Parthasarathi (SRP), Manivannan and others have been trying to support those with difficulty.  A group of Corporation workers had organized community feeding at the community centre in Venkatrangam Street – SRP, Mani and some other members of SYMA were there helping them.  With a call raised in local WA forums, many members contributed cash for this.

This morning SRP & Co arranged distribution of 5 kg rice packets from our SYMA Office premises (old premises at Peyalwar Koil Street) – appreciations to SRP, Mani and others involved in this.

We will also join with our little contributions.

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः

लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनोभवंतु ॥

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

Secretary, SYMA

6.4.2020.