Annual Report
2008-09
Chapter Page No.
Board of Trustees
i. Preface
P Venugopal Reddy, Social worker ii. Health Activities
iii. Livelihood
Chairman & Managing Trustee (Ph:94904 70064) iv. Education (VV)
v. Edn.: Comp. Exams
Trustees vi. Edn.: Scholarships
Awarding function
1. Y Vinutha, Bussiness women
vii. Edn.: Teachers Training
2. A.Bapanna , Bussinessman Camp
viii.Edn.: Library Book
3. Ch.Venugopal Reddy, Educationalist Distribution
ix. Visits
4. A.Ramalingeswara Rao, High Court Advocate x. Thus speaks media
5. N.Venugopal Reddy, Agriculturist
Chief Executive : Basudev Dass
Ph: 097057 93117
To me the worst thing seems
to be a school principally to
work with methods of fear,
Designed by : D.Naresh
force and artificial authority.
Such treatment destroys the
sound sentiments, the sin-
Year of publication: 2009
cerity and the self-confi-
dence of pupils and produces
a subservient subject."
-Albert Einstein
Preface rights of the tribal community. More than
Paradox is the word that sums up half a century has passed and the struggle
today’s Indian reality. On the one hand the still continues with very little visible
world visualizes tremendous potential among difference.
the boys and the girls of the Nation and on the There exists no drought of
other, scores of rural poor live under utter Ekalavyas and Komaram Bheems in the
poverty. Among those who reel under tribes which account to roughly 8.2
generational poverty and degradation, the percent of Indian population and just
plight of tribes is indeed more miserable than above six percent of Andhra Pradesh’s
any one else. What distinguishes the issue of population according to 2001 census.
tribes from other sections is the fact that tribes Appreciating the imperative of
have tremendous innate potential, skill and making such an effort, Ekalavya
talent which only need a bit of orientation to Foundation was established in April 2006
find perfect manifestation. Noted sociologists with an objective to identify skills and
have made this point a number of times. talents among Tribals, especially among
Concerted efforts have to be made both by the Tribal youth and to impart necessary
Government and social sectors towards training and orientation towards upgrading
identifying, nurturing and moulding the innate and making Tribals employable and self-
talents of the Tribes. reliant. Further it aims at bringing about
The beginning: changes in institutional and attitudinal
Ekalavya, a Bheel youth being denied matrix in tune with the modern day
of teaching archery skill by a Guru, loyal to aspirations. Major thrust is being given to
princes of the State, took the task by his own the enhancement of level of income and
and mastered the art better than the princely standards of living of communities
pupils of the Guru. It was because of the fact through sustained functional interventions
that the tribal boy had tremendous innate in developmental programmes with
potential, inherent skill, talent and a fire in him. special emphasis on health and education.
Watching the princes taking the training The Foundation was established on 27-
activated him too to discover the art with more 04-2006 vide Registration number 280/
vigour and precision. 2006 under the Trust’s Act with an aim to
Komaram Bheem was another stalwart find out such zeal in tribes and other
Gond tribe who fought for the freedom and deprived and marginalized groups of
society and to help hem for a result-oriented Board of Trustees
effective participation in the society.
During the financial year 2008-09 the
The Central office of the Foundation is composition of the Governing Body is as
located at Chikkadpally, Hyderabad. The follows:
Ekalavya Foundation is governed by the Board
1 Sri P Venugopal Reddy, Social worker
of trustees who decide the policies and
Chairman & Managing Trustee
supervise the execution of these programmes
Trustee Members:
by the Institute. Senior personalities are
1. Smt. Y Vinutha, Bussiness women;
employed as full time workers along with
2. Sri A.Bapanna , Businessman
volunteers to formulate and pursue strategies
3. Sri Ch.Venugopal Reddy, Educationist;
and implement them to achieve the goals of
4. Sri A.Ramalingeswara Rao, High Court
the Foundation. Board of trustees of the
Advocate; and
Institute constitutes with a Chairman and five
5. Sri N.Venugopal Reddy, Agriculturist.
members.
Health Activities boys got their vision tested and suffering
‘If wealth is gone, nothing gone but if students were provided medicine and advice.
health is gone you are gone’ is a common The camps were conducted in Indervelly and
saying. Accepting this fact the Ekalavya Utnoor Mandals.
Foundation is also trying to put its best Cleft Lip & Artificial Limbs.
possible efforts to combat the menace of ill- The Organisation is also instrumental
health situation in the Agency Area of the in assisting the patients suffering from cleft-
Adilabad District. Apart from introducing the lip and limb related physically handicapped
system of Homeopathic systems in 100 schools state. During the year under report, the
in the Agency Area of Adilabad district of Foundation has successfully helped 23
Andhra Pradesh through the teachers of their patients including 5 females to undergo
respective schools, it had also worked in about operation for cleft-lip at Hyderabad. Nine
100 villages during the out-break of persons were assisted in getting artificial legs
Chikungunia. of whom one was woman and 3 patients
Eye Camps including one woman were given artificial
As a routine matter it organizes free hands with the help of the Organisation. Aim
eye camps with the DFID funding in for Seva An ambulance of ‘Aim for Seva’ is
association with Andhra Pradesh Right to Sight regularly operating in the villages to necessary
Society and Integrated Tribal development extend minor health assistance to the villagers
Agency. During the year 2008-09 the residing in farther areas in collaboration with
Organization had organised 14 camps covering this organization. The collection, informing
people from 131 villages. It helped 3297 and bringing them to the spot of the ambulance
people check their eyes including 1766 services are undertaken by the health
women. Of them 1355 people were given free volunteers of the Ekalavya Foundation under
spectacles of whom 713 were men. Including a regular Health Coordinator of the
a total of 147 women 273 people undertook Foundation.
operation to save their sight. Medicines were Homeo - Treatment
also given in all required cases. The The Ekalavya Foundation imparted
Foundation did not leave the children and got first hand training to the teachers to practice
their vision tested too during the camps. A total homeopathic system of medicine in a function
of 1753 students including 949 girls and 804 held on September 30 to October 2, 2008 in
Rampur of Adilabad District In this function 1. Lal Tekdi Junior College.-(1)
Homeopath medicine-kits were distributed on 2. Girls Junior College, Utnoor.-(1)
30-09-2008. Shri B. Subbarao of Aswini 3. ‘Yoga’ Srinivas for regular free
Homeo Pharmacy explained about the distribution.-(1)
importance of Homeo-drugs and shared his 4. Mr. Rameshwar, Branch Manager,
own experiences. Each teacher representing Deccan Grameen Bank, Indervelly.-(1)
one high school was given one Homeo- 5. Project Manager of Watersheds –
medicine kit containing 42 types of medicine. Indervelly office-(1)
Books written in Telugu language detailing the However, the reports sent by the
usages of the medicine along with the schools are satisfactory and compiled report
symptoms of diseases were also given to the revealed that more than 15,000 students and
teachers. With this event the first day’s many teachers utilized the homeo-drugs
(September 30, 2008) programme was over. available in the kits kept in the respective
Teachers from 19 Zilla Parishad High Schools, schools with and under the supervision of a
20 Ashram High Schools and 3 Saraswati teacher.
Shishu Mandirs registered their participation. Replicating Model Village
Apart from these, 42 member-teachers and 8 In addition to this the Foundation has
segment conveners also attended the function identified four villages to transform them into
which was meant for extending counseling model villages in regard to health. To meet this
technique to the teachers to prepare the purpose, the Chairman and the Chief Executive
students a better and wholesome citizen of the of the Foundation visited Jamkhed village in
country.A senior homeopathic-drugs Maharashtra during the second week of March
practitioner, Shri ASR Prasad also exchanged 2009 to have an on the spot study of the
his views on homeopathic system of medicine Comprehensive Rural Health Project erected
with the teachers attending the three day camp. by Dr. Raj Arole, a recipient of Magsaysay
On the concluding day Dr. V Rajashree who Award for his achievements in rural health
came all the way from Hyderabad also shared sector through bare-foot women village health
her experience with the participants. Shri V. workers. The women leaders are identified
Chinna Veerabhadrulu, Additional Director, from amongst grass-root level, irrespective of
Tribal Welfare was the chief guest on the their educational qualification and they are
occasion. trained to handle diseased situation. As a result,
Others then the following were also given the 80 percent health care is taken care by those
Homeo kits:
VHWs while 20% cases are only referred to young girls in the ambit of gynaecological
Hospital. The villagers had also taken an oath health coverage. Gradually, the Foundation
of erecting sanitary latrines in each house and through the ANMs posted in the schools and
keep the village clean to do away with diseases. professionals’ lectures and guidance, plans to
The Jamkhed and its surrounding villages impart practical knowledge regarding health,
proudly announce that since last more than five sanitation, cleanliness, hygiene, nutrition to the
years no cases of malaria have been reported. students who in turn would act as health
The Foundation desires to replicate the system ambassadors when they would be returning
as per the prevailing situation in the villages it to their respective villages or even wherever
desired to adopt. they would settle after marriages.
Future Plan
The Foundation in its pipeline has plan
to introduce preparation of sanitary napkins in
25 Ashram girls high schools in the agency area
in Adilabad district with the view to bring
Livelihood machines to an equal number of women were
A lot has been told of Women given in a function organized on October 7,
Empowerment in the recent days. But factually 2008 in the KB Complex in Utnoor.
it is possible only if the women are assisted to The Assistant Project Officer, ITDA,
be self-reliant and the best way to achieve this Dr. T Chandu was the chief guest of the
goal is to help them in setting up their own function organized on October 7. Zilla
ventures. Samakhya President, Ms. Somdev Bai,
Distribution of Sewing Machines General Manager of GCC, Shri N Vajay
The Ekalavya Foundation in Kumar, Manager RISET Shri Nazir Ahmed
collaboration with Infosys, Bangalore took up were also present on the ocassion. “Self
a programme of distributing 100 sewing employment is the best mode of earning for
machines to an identical number of women the unemployed and it is nothing better than
beneficiaries to help them setting up sewing the situation if a woman starts earning through
units of their own. For this, the Foundation with self employment. The sewing machines will
the help of ITDA identified 34 women and 66 definitely supplement the income of their
women with the help of State Bank of family besides extending a sense of confidence
Hyderabad. in women” said Dr. Chandu. The Chairman of
Those 66 women were given extensive Ekalavya Foundation Shri Venugopal reddy
training for 45 days while 34 women were was amongst the lead speaker on the occasion.
trained for a period of 90 days before the The second function was held on 13.11.
machines were handed over to them. During 2008. In it also, 34 sewing machines were
the course of training, the participants were distributed to 34 women. Principal of PETC
trained in designing through paper cutting and Shri Poshetty was the chief guest on the
also practical training on clothes to prepare occasion and Shri Vitthal Rao, District
different materials of demand. They were also coordinator, DHAN Foundation presided over.
extended personality and skill development tips Among others who were present on the
besides information on health and hygiene and occasion included the Foundation Chairman ,
reproductive-health guidelines. An exclusive Sri P Venugopal Reddy, Mahila Pranganam
exercise was also given to them to dismantle District Manager, Chincholi Ms. M Padmaja,
and assemble the machines as the hardware and Zilla Samakhya President,
training part of the course. Ms. Somdev Bai. Rest 32 machines
The equipments were distributed in were handed over to an identical number of
three phases owing to the fact that it was not women in a function held on 22.12.2008 in
possible to give the machines at one go due to presence of the Chairman, Ekalavya
paucity of space and time. In the first phase 34 Foundation, TRISET Manager and the sewing
instructor Ms. Saida Begum.
EDUCATION
VIDYA VAHINI – A prime project of the Foundation: Empowering Teacher & taught
It goes without saying that education own tribal dialect, and consequently, they have
is necessary for the development of an become backward in the field of education
individual and well-being of the society. It is since Telugu is the medium of school
but education that reforms man to become a education. The Ekalavya Foundation has
true human being of the universe. School is studied many of the problems which they are
the abode of learning after the home where facing in the field of education and in turn, it
parents are the first teachers. And there are plans measures to be taken to redress them in
none but the teachers who play the vital role in a period of ten years. That’s way the scheme
the schools in enlightening a child. A student Vidya Vahini has been started with the aim to
spends most of his time with the teachers. The motivate the teacher and the taught and to
Teacher is happy when the child gains make them to go in a right path, encouraging
knowledge and stands on his own taking him the intelligent and hard working students and
as a model. teachers and also to honour best of them.
The aim of education is to bring all Vidya Vahini Committeis
round development in the child and to teach Of 412 villages in the Agency area of
him morality besides discipline and devotion. Adilabad District out of a plan to cover 100
He should be taught to be skilful, honest and high schools, Vidya Vahini Committees
upright so that he can value morals. As ill luck (VVCs) were formed in 81 schools during the
would have it, none is bothered about character last academic year. These committees are
building. So Vidya Vahini (VV) aims at empowered to conduct activities in their
attaining moral values and goes ahead with respective schools. The area covering all these
determination and dedication besides schools are divided into 7(seven) segments and
maintaining the promise of making the students seven teachers as segments-in-charge were
a productive unit of the society in the Agency appointed for the smooth conduction of the
area of Adilabad. activities of the VVCs. Apart from this a core
To begin with, we are aware of the fact team was also constituted to plan and monitor
that tribes are lagging behind not only the execution of VV activities during the year
economically or socially but also in education. under report.
The official language of Telugu is also new to Committed segments in charges
the tribes because of their habit of usage of their expected to visit schools in their earmarked
area periodically as scheduled for the better Warangal from 24-04-08 to 13-05-08 in
implementation of the activities. Two collaboration with the ITDA, Utnoor. Separate
secretaries of the core committee also visited coaching camps were conducted for boys and
and advised the segments in charge and school girls and daily examinations were conducted
committees on every occasion whenever they through the question papers set by the
needed the same. During the year under the Foundation to polish the candidates. In all 300
report 7 meetings at segment level, two district students were taught 10 subjects during the
level meetings at Rampur and Basara , 13 core 20 day-coaching.
level meetings were conducted during the Top-20 Hostel
2008-09 academic year as well as the year The Foundation also continued to run
under report of the annual report. a Top-20 Hostel in the K.B. Complex at
Utnoor providing 12 Tribal Students
Competitive Exams
Competitive examinations for class 6 accommodation, food and other necessary
to 10 were conducted on February 1, 2009 and assistance. The students were from poor
top three students from each school were section of the tribal society within the Adilabad
felicitated in functions organised at segment District and were continuing there inter studies
level. They were given gold, silver and bronze in local collage. From time to time, they were
medals apart from certificates of merit. Essay- also given special lecturers on academics and
writing, singing, elocution and various extra- social aspects of day to day life.
curricular competitions were organised and the
winners were awarded in the function at Future Plan
segment level in the leading schools along with The Ekalavya Foundation has in its
their annual functions. Such functions were pipe line some innovative ideas under the
organised jointly under the banner of the school Vidya Vahini projects. It has now decided to
and Ekalavya Foundation in the month of work at a micro level by identifying four
March 2009 in different schools in the district. schools to transform them into role models
for others to replicate. Besides providing
Special Coaching
regular teachers for special classes to teach
Special coaching classes were
Telugu and Mathematics, it would concentrate
conducted for the students of class 7 and 10
in vocational teachings on gardening, tailoring
for admission to School of Excellence,
and drawing field. It is also trying to
Bhadrachalam and College of Excellence,
disseminate computer education in
collaboration with ITDA to the students from class
sixth to tenth. The Foundation also envisages
ensuring basic infrastructure like proper
classrooms, Lavatories and laboratories, drinking
and other safe water supply and human resource
as per the scheduled norms in these four schools if
ITDA extends possible assistance.
With the cooperation of parents, teachers,
students, government agencies and the benevolent
donor partners, the time alone will speak of the
success of the Ekalavya Foundation in the
educational sector in the District through its Vidya
Vahini project in the years to come.
Education phases on 16.11.2008 and 01.02.2009 The
Competitive Examination question papers on English, Mathematics,
Science and Social Studies were set, taking
The principle of the ‘Survival of the
into account the school syllabus . A few
fittest’ perhaps is better applied in present
teachers of the surrounding schools of each
scenario where every one wants to be the best
segment and the segment conveners helped
or at least the better one. The pursuit has
conducting the examination on the date. After
generated the sense of competition where
the examination was over, the students were
people wanted to prove they are better than
given the OMR Sheet. The students filled up
other.
the sheets which were handed over to the
To promote the sense of competition
conveners. The OMR sheets were corrected
amongst the tribal students of Adilabad
and verified by teachers and the marks were
District of Andhra Pradesh, the Ekalavya
noted.
Foundation, dedicated itself to an overall
For smooth conduct of the
development of the tribes, has introduced a
examinations in various centres, Centre
project viz. Vidya Vahini in 81 schools in the
Coordinators were appointed. Shri Santosh for
area to enhance their educational standard.
Adilabad, Shri V. Jaganmohan for Echooda,
As a part of the project it had
Shri D Narayana for Utnoor, Shri Ramesh for
organized competitive examinations for the
Narnoor, Shri Ramanna for Asifabad, and Shri
class 10th students of 81 schools in the district.
G Ravinder coordinated the examinations in
In all 3900 students participated in the
their respective Examination Centres
examination conducted in 7 centres in two
Education totaling an amount of Rs. 3000/- per student.
Scholarship Award function It was a successful and impressive function
Education is the backbone of all which also witnessed a Community Lunch
developments and therapy to all evils. The with the guests, students and their parents.
Ekalavya Foundation with this objective has Sections of media also attended the function
decided to extend maximum thrust in this arena and gave a good coverage of the programme
in its operational area. As a part of this which itself speaks of the importance and
endeavor, it has already identified 81 high gravity of the event.
schools to bring under its Vidya Vahini Chairman of Hyderabad - Karnataka
umbrella. Abhivridhi Vibhag, Shri Basavaraj Patil was
In its venture, the Foundation under the the chief guest on the occasion while Ms.
aegis of Hyderabad-Karnataka Abhivridhi Sumanbai Rathod, MLA from Khanapur,
Vibhag and with the financial assistance of Adilabad presided over the function. Among
Infosys Foundation, decided to help 100 poorest others who graced the occasion included the
of poor students who had passed their Chairman,, Ekalavya Foundation, Shri P.
class 10th Examination obtaining 60 or above Venugopal Reddy, District Tribal Welfare
percentage of marks and are continuing their Officer, Shri N Sreedhar, Vidya Vahini
higher studies. President, Shri Manik Rao, VV Secretary,
In this connection a ‘Scholarship Award Shri G Ravinder , VV Jt.Secretary Jaganmohan
Function’ was organized in the morning of and Segments In-charge Shri Rajesham Goud,
August 31, 2008 in the Meeting Hall of KB M Sreenivas, Malaysree and Rupachary.
Complex, Utnoor, Adilabad District, to award Blessing the beneficiary students, Shri
scholarships to selected 56 girl and 44 boy Patil said that he had conceived this idea to
students. Students along with their parents help the poor but meritorious students, who,
attended the function and received the for want of fund sometime would discontinue
scholarship, inclusive of cash and books, their education. He urged them to utilize the
opportunity the best. Ms. Sumanbhai Rathod, supplementing the same in the Agency villages
MLA was emotional when saying that the life of Adilabad District of Andhra Pradesh.
would be a success to her only, if she too, could The function was initiated with the
do something large for poor. The Chairman of welcome address given by Shri G Ravinder
the Ekalavaya Foundation, Shri P Venugopal and concluded with the vote of thanks
Reddy detailed the activities of the Vidya proposed by Sreenivas, Segment Incharge,
Vahini Project and submitted that many Utnoor.
schemes of the government did not reach the
poorest of poor people several time and hence
the Foundation was in the process of
Teachers’ Training Camps
Education its planning to take 100 schools under the
Teachers’ Training Camps Project had so far identified 81 schools from
Teachers are they who mould 412 villages of the Agency area. In this
the character of students in schools. Teachers counseling camp teachers from 19 Zilla
need to understand the mental abilities of their Parishad High Schools, 20 Ashram High
students as well as their likes and dislikes. Then Schools and 3 Saraswati Shishu Mandir
only a teacher can transform a student into a registered their participation. Apart from these,
good citizen. For this, the teachers have to 42 member-teachers and 8 segment conveners,
analyze the students’ psychology, document totaling to a 50-number participants attended
their experiences and the like. For this purpose, the counseling camp.
teachers too have to be taught about proper In the Introductory Session on
counseling through special training. There is the first day on September 30, the Chairman,
provision in universities for this type of Ekalavya Foundation, Shri P Venugopal Reddy
counseling for teachers. explained the aims and objectives of the
The Ekalavya Foundation in Foundation and submitted the role and
its endeavour to enhance the educational necessity of Vidya Vahini Committees in
standard in the agency area of tribal prone schools in the operational area of the EF. He
Adilabad District has constituted Vidya Vahini also underlined other activities undertaken by
Committees in various schools. And as a part the Foundation in the Agency area. Shri Reddy
of the activities of the Foundation, it has also also placed the report of the identical Meet
taken up the task of counseling the teachers to organised in Basara on September 13 and 14,
identify the inherent abilities of their students 2008
and prepare them to face and accept the The Regional Joint Director,
challenges in particular and make them good Education Department, Warangal, Shri Laxma
citizens in general. Reddy was the chief guest on the occasion at
As a part of this programme, a Rampur. Addressing the gathering, the RJD
3-day ‘Teachers’ Training Camp’ was organised said that the teachers are the role model for
in Rampur from September 30 to October 2, students and they occupy a very specific place
2008 by the Ekalavya Foundation under the in the minds of the learners. Shri Annaji Rao,
Vidya Vahini Project. The Foundation against Lecturer, DIET, explained about the
importance of counseling. While the District The Additional Director, Tribal
Education Officer, Shri Achyuta Rao and Shri Welfare Department, Shri Vardrevu Chinna
Raj Reddy also spoke on the occasion. Veeravadrudu was the chief guest of the
The General Secretary of VVC concluding function. In his speech he said that
Shri G Ravinder spoke on the aims and ‘Education is a continuous process which
objectives of organizing such counseling camps needs a regular orientation’. The teachers gives
and the President of the VVC Shri Manik Rao breath to society and hence they too are
detailed the formation and their duties of the required to learn the changing technique, he
VV Comittees. said. ‘A teacher is also a student when a matter
Shri Rajesham Goud, the of learning is concerned and which can later
Recipient of State’s Best Teacher’s Award was be forwarded to the students in a better way
honoured by the Regional Jt. Director on the by a teacher’, said the Additional Director. He
occasion. was also happy to note that the Foundation
October 1, 2008, the second day would strengthen the school libraries in
of the camp began with the ‘Motivation’ part various schools within the Agency area.
of Counseling. Shri Annaji Rao presented the District Tribal Welfare Officer,
topic with practical demonstrations. Shri M. Sreedhar, Agency DEO, Shri Manohar
Psychology counselor Shri Raj Reddy dealt in and VV Secretary Shri G Ravinder also spoke
details about the ‘Students’ Mental Health’. on the occasion. The concluding function
With the help of multi-media LCD projection came to an end with the vote of thanks
Shri Raj Reddy explained some of the parts of proposed by the VV President Shri Manik Rao.
a project viz. ‘Promise’. Academic Monitoring Apart from VV Joint Secretary,
Officer, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Shri G. Shri Jaganmohan and EF Coordinator, Shri
Venugopal Reddy elucidated the methods and Santhosh, Segment convenors of Adilabad,
need of Career Guidance. At night a film titled Echoda, Utnoor, Jainoor, Kagaznagar and
‘Taare Zameen Par’ was screened. Mancherial also attended the concluding
The camp concluded on function.
October 2, 2008. Before the formal conclusion Earlier to this Meet, an identical but 2-
of the camp, the topic ‘How to get rid of stage- days’ Training Camp was organized at Basara
phobia’ was discussed. Shri Annaji Rao, with in Adilabad District on September 13 and 14,
the help of some participating teachers, 2008. Fifty five teachers and 48 students from
conducted live demo on the topic. 52 High Schools (28 ZP secondary schools,
22 Ashram High schools and 2 Saraswathi teacher relation highlighting the concept of
Shishu Mandir High Schools participated in the understanding between students and teachers.
camp and discussed the action plan 2008-09 of He stressed upon the need and importance of
VV besides undergoing training in Counseling. the guidance and counseling to be given to
This two day camp too began with students, since ‘the teacher is the first counselor
the speech of the EF Chairman, Shri P to students’. The first day activities continued
Venugopal Reddy in which, he dealt with up to 10 in the night.
length, the need and formation of Vidya Vahini In the second day of the Camp, a
Committees to work in the field of education, seminar was held on “Earning Education -
health and livelihood through Agency area The Role of the students and parents”. Shri
schools in Adilabad District. T.Ravinder Rao, one of the founder members
On the first day, i.e. on September of Vandemataram Foundation delivered a
13, Sri G. Ravinder, Secretary, Vidya Vahini, thought provoking speech on the topic and
highlighted the activities to be taken up under successfully inspired the participants. He
education and health sector. Shri R.Manik Rao, stressed upon the need for encouragement from
President, Vidya Vahini opened the discussion teachers for the improvement of poor students.
on the programmes of VV. The segment He also urged for an all round development of
conveners S/Shri Shyam Kumar from Adilabad, educational institution and the enlightenment
Sathyanarayana from Echoda, M.Srinivas from of parents of poor students.
Utnoor, Malyasri from Mancherial and Both the President and the Secretary
Rangachari from Jainoor submitted respective of Vidhya Vahini opened up a discussion on
performance reports of their segments. Two the Action Plan of ‘Vidya Vahini’ and helped
teachers and a student each from every segment in preparing segment-wise reports. The Camp
explained the course of action being executed finally concluded with the vote of thanks
at their respective segments and also offered proposed by Sri Jaganmohan, Joint secretary
suggestions. of the Vidya Vahini Committee.
Shri G.Venugopal Reddy, Academic
Monitoring Officer (Tribal education), Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan, Hyderabad, was the chief
guest on the occasion who delivered an
inspiring speech. He demonstrated slide-show,
through LCD projector, pertaining to student–
Education November 16, 2008: Twelve (12)
Library Books Distribution. schools of Kagaznagar Segment participated
Library books worth Rupees 3,00,000/ in the function held in Kagaznagar Ashram
- were distributed in 100 schools of two districts High School organized for the distribution of
in Andhra Pradesh namely Adilabad and library books. Mandal Revenue Officer Shri
Mehboobnagar in the month of November Ramesh Goud and Mandal Education Officer
2008. Functions were organized in various Shri Bao Rao were special invitees in the
schools in different segments of Vidya Vahini function while Segment Convener Shri RV
in Adilabad for the purpose that coincided the Srinivas Rao presided over the function in
celebration of National Library Week from presence of another Segment Convener Shri
November 14 to 20, 2008. Eighty one schools Rajesham Goud. The Founder Member of
in Adilabad District and Nineteen schools in Vandemataram Foundation Shri Ravinder Rao
Mehaboobnagar District of Andhra Pradesh was the main speaker on the occasion
were identified as the beneficiary institutions. highlighted the importance of books in one’s
A set of 212 books, each set worth Rs. 3,000/ life. He also told that a student was needed to
-, were given to each school. The books were set a goal in his life to achieve success. VV
other than text books and were generally Secretary Shri G Ravinder narrated the aims
focused towards the enhancement of the degree and objectives of the VV Project.
of overall knowledge of the readers in every November 17, 2008: Two programmes
aspect of life which ought to lead them with were organized on the day. In the morning
confidence and belief. session the programme was held in Jainoor
November 15, 2008: A function was Ashram High School (Girls). Segment
organized in Neradigonda Ashram High School Conveners Shri Rangachari presided over the
for distribution of library books where 14 function while Shri Rupachari was the chief
schools of Ichooda Segment participated. The guest on the occasion. The function was also
function was presided over by the Segment graced by Mandal Education Officer Shri
Convener Shri Athram Bhaskar while Ganga Singh and VV President Manik Rao. In
another Convener Shri Satyanarayana was all 16 schools participated in the function along
the Chief Guest and Shri V Jagan Mohan, with headmasters of four schools of the
VV Joint Secretary, presented the aims and Mandal.
objectives of the project. The Utnoor Segment was covered in
the afternoon session where books were
distributed to 17 schools. A function was not possible to gather a good number of schools
organized in the ZP High School, Utnoor. The in any single school premises to organize a
Agency Dy. Education Officer Shri Meshram function. Considering this geographical
Manohar was the Chief Guest on the occasion impediment, the VV Convener of the segment,
and the headmistress Ms. I Kaushalya presided Shri Malayshree was given the responsibility
over the function. VV Secretary Shri G. of reaching the sets of books to ten schools
Ravinder conducted the programme while which he successfully accomplished.
Shri Ravinder Rao of Vandemataram Vandemataram Foundation took the
Foundation was the main speaker. The responsibility of distribution of the sets of
programme coordinator of Ekalavya library books to 19 schools in Mahaboobnagar
Foundation Shri Santosh was also present on District of Andhra Pradesh. The sets were
the occasion. handed over to the Secretary of the Foundation
November 18, 2008: Library books Shri Madhav Reddy in Hyderabad.
were distributed to 12 schools of Adilabad The functions organized in various
Segment in a function held in the Saraswati schools in Adilabad district was attended by
Shishumandir High school. The District hundreds of students and teachers and they
Medical and Health Officer Shri Babu was the enjoyed every bit of function. The students
chief guest and Shri Gangadhar Reddy presided were happy too on getting reading materials
over the function. Shri Ravinder Rao of other than routine text books.
Vandemataram Foundation detailed the benefits The distribution of the library
of book-reading. Segment Convener Shri books to 100 schools was a part of Vidya Vahini
Shyam Kumar conducted the programme. The Project -2008 - 09 of Ekalavya Foundation and
programme was also attended by VV Secretary was sponsored by Infosys Foundation,
Shri G Ravinder and Dr. Narasimha Reddy. Banglore.
November 20, 2008: Ten (10)
identified beneficiary Schools of Mancherial
Mandal is scattered in a vast area and it was
VISITS (Health)
(Education)
The Chairman and the Chief Executive of the
SPR School of Excellence Ghatkesar Foundation visited Jamkhed village in
A team comprising of 5 members Maharashtra from 10 to 13 March 2009 to
visited the SPR School of excellence at have an on the spot study of the
Ghatkeshar near Hyderabad to discuss making Comprehensive Rural Health Project erected
a blueprint on educational system sharing vivid by Dr. Raj Arole, a recipient of Magsaysay
experience. The discussion was lead by Shri Award for his achievements in rural health
PVG Reddy, Chairman, Ekalavya Foundation sector through bare-foot women village health
and it was attended by S/Shri Mallikarjun workers.
Reddy of NIIT School programme, Madhav
Reddy and Ravinder of Vandemataram, Sripathi
Reddy, Founder of SPR School of Excellence
and Basudev Dass, Chief Executive of EF. The
discussion continued with a brain-storming late
night sessions on 24th March till it concluded
at 7.30 p.m. the next day. A draft on educational
project was prepared which would be kept in
mind while doing anything good in future in
educational sector. The aim of the education
would be ‘Community Empowerment through
True Education’ while formulating a project.
Ramachandra Mission
The team also visited Ramachandra
Mission which is engaged in providing
spirituality based add-on value education. The
30th March of a full-day dialogue witnessed
many a sessions having some practical
demonstrations too.