“Postal Registered No : “Regd. With the Registrar of News Papers under WPP No : TN/PMG TN/CH(C)/102/12-14” RNI No. : TNENG/2006/17597” (CCR)/WPP - 132/12-14 LOVE ALL SERVE ALL Love 8 Sevalaya’s News Letter - March 2013 Serve 12 Price-Re.1 Dear Friends, It is a common sight almost every day at Sevalaya The fathers, under the influence of alcohol, are a bigger threat campus that a woman with couple of children come and stand to their own daughters than any other stranger. The wife and before the office and ask for admitting her children in the children get beaten up every day and all sorts of abusive words hostel and school. When I speak to them first, I tell them that are used in front of the children. So they say tell us that their it is their duty to take care of their children, however poor they homes are not safe and want their children to grow up in are and not just dump the children in some hostel like this. hostel. Then they start telling their pitiable story and justify why they can’t keep the children with them. The same women are all praise for their husbands, when the In many cases the husband is a drunkard and he spends husbands are sober. “He is the best man I can ever see when he all the money he earns on alcohol. As they keep consuming has not touched the bottle. He is very caring, wants his sons alcohol, all day and all night, they become very weak, and and daughters to do well in the school, very responsible about mostly die when they are in their thirties. The woman becomes the family. When this ‘devil’ alcohol enters his mouth, a widow, with couple of small children, she can’t leave the everything changes.” is the usual description given by the children and go for any work (mostly as daily wage earners in woman. agricultural fields or in brick kilns) nor they can stay with the children and take care of them, as there is no money to run the There was a time in Tamil Nadu when we had total prohibition family. In the days of Monarchy, we had wars every other day and majority of people didn’t even know about alcohol. In the and many men l died a heroic death leaving behind widowed movies villains were shown as drunkards. Now days, it is the women. Today there are no monarchs and men do not die in heroes, who are drinking! With free availability of alcohol wars, but we have a super monarch- 'Alcohol', waging war on everywhere, even school children have become addicts. families, killing many men and a few women in villages, creating anarchy. Sevalaya has joined with likeminded Gandhian organizations and a massive campaign, requesting Government to stop If the men survive, they are a bigger problem. By the selling alcohol will start on 2nd March. Many political leaders are time they come home, they are fully drunk and they can’t expected to participate and demand total prohibition in Tamil differentiate between their wife and daughter. During summer Nadu and if possible, in the whole of the country. vacation when we tell the parents to take the kids home, some of the mothers want their daughters to stay back in the hostel, Let us join hands and drive away this Devil. as their house is not safe for their daughters. Thanks & Regards Murali Ms.Alison and Juliane from Annual Sports Day Celebrations Canada, volunteers of Children's Art Village camp March 2013 Chennai LOVE ALL SERVE ALL Page 1 Administration Ms. A. Kalaiyarasi participated in the seminar organized by Axis Bank on Legal and Compliance aspects under Income Tax and FCRA on 02/02/2013. Public Relations On 02/02/2013, Mr. V.Muralidharan participated in a meeting organised by CIOSA to plan for Seva Mela. Overall Champions of VIVEGA -2013 conducted On 04/02/2013, Mr. V.Muralidharan was the Chief Guest at a program organized by “ANEW”, and distributed certificates to by Anna University underprivileged girls, who completed computer training. Bharathi Team As a part of Sevalaya’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, Sevalaya Clubs organized a program on Mahatma Gandhiji at Ethiraj College for Women on 06/02/2013. Mr. V.Muralidharan made a On 07/02/2013, social club students visited the Public Health presentation on Sevalaya to nearly 300 students who Centre at Thiruninravur and learnt about its functioning. participated in the programme. Mr. T.S.Venkataramani, Hony. On 22/02/2013, Junior Red Cross students cleaned the area Coordinator spoke to the students on Mahatma Gandhi. outside the school campus and the area between the school P.Surya, Mahalakshmi, Bhavani and Rosalyn Mary, II year and hostel campus. students from Economics department also spoke on the On 23/02/2013, science club organized painting and essay occasion. writing competition on the topics “Science in everyday” and ”The scientist I like most”. On 09/02/2013, Project Trust UK officials, Mr. Jonny Beirne and On 27/02/2013, English club organised screening of Jataka Mr.Abilash visited the campus. The visit was to plan for more Tales CD in English. volunteering engagements with Sevalaya and UK students. Competitions On 17/02/2013, Mr. V.Muralidharan attended a meeting of On 09/02/2013, Inter class music and dance competitions NASCOI, (National alliance of senior citizens associations of were conducted. India), in the capacity as South zone secretary. On 11/02/2013, Inter class library competition was conducted. On 17/02/2013, 25 students participated in the VIVEGA -2013 Sevalaya participated in the Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair competitions conducted by Anna University. The students won 2013 organized by the Global Foundation for Civilisational more than 25 prizes were the Overall Champions of VIVEGA - Harmony at A M Jain college grounds , Meenambakkam from 2013 for the fourth year in a row. 19/02/2013 to 24/02/2013. 7 students participated in the Vasantha Memorial drawing competition on 23/02/2013 conducted by Vasantaha Memorial On 23/02/2013, Mr. V.Muralidharan was invited as the Chief cancer centre at Rosary Matric School, Santhome. Vichithra of Guest by Anna University, Textile Technology department to VII std won the IInd prize in Drawing competition in the VI-VIII inaugurate a day long program on “Art of Achieving Excellence”. category. On 24/02/2013 Mr. V.Muralidharan participated in the Events preliminary meeting held by Gandhi Study Centre to discuss On 06/02/2013, Swami Vivekananda chariot came to our about organizing a conference insisting on Total Prohibition in school campus as a part of Swami Vivekananda 150th Jayanthi Tamilnadu. celebrations by Sri Ramakrishna Mutt, Chennai and was received by the primary school students with great joy. Students and staff offered floral tributes and students presented a cultural programme on Swami Vivekananda’s life. On 12/02/2013, students of RP Jain School visited the campus and donated cash and entertained the senior citizens. On 17/02/2013, as a part of the Surya Namaskar yoga, 457 students of Std VI – XI did Surya Namaskar in the school auditorium. On 26/02/2013, X and XII students visited the Sivan Temple at Pakkam and prayed for success in the ensuing Board Swami Vivekananda chariot Examinations. at Sevalaya March 2013 Chennai LOVE ALL SERVE ALL Page 2 Functions NSS camps The Annual Sports day was held on 15/02/2013. Sevalaya’s Gandhi Unit coordinated the NSS camp by nearly Mr.S.Ulaganathan, Chief Manager, LIC of India, Thiruvallur 150 students from Pachaiapppa’s college, Chennai, at Ayalur presided over the function. Prizes were given to the winners of centre of Sevalaya, Ayalur village. The camp was inaugurated various events held for the students, senior citizens, parents, by Mr.V.Muralidharan on 18/02/2013. Among the various village youth & women. Gandhi Team won the overall activities, the students cleaned a 700 year old temple. The championship. People from 12 villages participated in the temple was in a dilapidated condition and was not in use for sports events. 48 villages participated in the Volley ball nearly 50 years. Now regular prayers have started in this tournament. temple, thanks to the effort of the students. On 28/02/2013, Special science quiz on herbal plants was held Vivekananda Team on the occasion of science day. Events Training On 02/02/2013, residents of Children’s home attended the On 04/02/2013, Mr. Chidambaram of Exnora International function “Stars of Chennai” in Kamarajar Arangam conducted an all day personality development class for XI Teynampet, organized by VGP family. The Children were given students. stationery things and a memento was presented to Sevalaya. On 23/02/2013, Ms.Seethalakshmi, Principal, Amritha On 14/02/2013, District Child welfare program’s unit meeting Vidyalaya conducted a session on effective English teaching for was conducted by the District Collector, Thiruvalllur. Mr. staff handling English and a detailed CCE training for all staff. Kingston and Mr.Varadharajan participated in the meeting. Volunteers On 16/02/2013, the senior citizens participated in the program On 02/02/2013, students from IIT Madras conducted Spoken conducted by Sri Varasakthi Vinayaga Temple and Charities English Classes for Std IX students and Personality Trust at Paagalmedu. The Trust presented dhothies and sarees development sessions for Std VII. to the elders. Ms.Alison and Juliane from Canada, volunteers of Children’s Art On 23/02/2013, Child Welfare Committee members visited the Village, USA were at Sevalaya teaching music and dance to boys and girls hostel.