D 3000 spruces up Madurai villages
Under its Happy Village project comprising a number of iconic programmes, RI District 3000 has set up a Village Knowledge Centre (VKC), a sanitation complex, an anganwadi and a Children’s Parliament as part of a skills training initiative, to benefit around 665 rural families.
While TVS Srichakra Tyres through its CSR arm, Arogya Welfare Trust, has contributed $32,000 for the project, “TRF okayed our grant and we now have a sum of ₹45.25 lakh to set up a number of facilities,” says R Srinivasan, Project Advisor and past president, RC Madurai Midtown. A number of programmes, medical camps and skill training are being organised in four villages — V Manickampatti, Musundagiripatti, Vellalampatti and Kathapatti — with the focus on women’s empowerment and skilling youth.
at a children’s programme on avoiding plastics in one of the adopted villages.
The upcoming VKC building at Manickampatti, estimated to cost around ₹10 lakh, will house a coaching centre for students providing a cordial learning environment, apart from imparting physical, cognitive and intellectual training. “Once the building is completed, we will hand it over to the government. But we will offer classes for the youngsters,” he says.
A community toilet and sanitation complex at Musundagiripatti is under construction and an anganwadi building in another village is awaiting final inspection from government officials.
Life skills for women
Through workshops and vocational training, rural women in all the four villages are being taught life skills such as opening bank account, accessing insurance schemes and availing incentives and entitlements offered by government for their well-being.
Through workshops and vocational training, rural women in all the four villages are being taught life skills such as opening bank account, accessing insurance schemes and availing incentives.
Children’s Parliament
So far, 83 children have enrolled in this novel parliament and they have adopted 88 elders in their villagers for mentorship on sanitation and best practices. The children have taken up social problems and grievances at the official forums.
“We have formed health brigades among children in these villages to create awareness on healthy and disease-free living,” says Srinivasan.
