Udhayam's First Activity

On May 30th, 2009 six Udhayam Welfare Foundation members visited the Indira Gandhi International Academy in Jakkur, near Yelehanka in the outskirts of Bangalore. We reached the place after an exhausting travel through Bangalore traffic on a sunny day. Unfortunately by the time we reached there, the warden of the school, Kokila, had been out and we had to wait there for about 2 hours. After Kokila came, we spoke with her. She explained the current situation of the school. Here goes the summary about the academy.

Indira Gandhi International Academy School was set up in Bangalore in 1990 with funding from the Bright Society, a non-governmental organisation that works for Sri Lankan refugees in Tamilnadu and Karnataka. The NGO had first approached the Tamilnadu Government to set up a school there so that the children could be close to their families, but permission was denied.

The refugees from Sri Lanka were primarily getting settled in Mantapam Camp near Rameshwaram in Ramanathapuram district of Tamilnadu. And the Tamilnadu Government were providing some help to the refugees, but there are even poorer people, who can't even able to afford food for their children. For helping with the education of these children, the Indira Gandhi International Academy was found. Now there are some 230 children studying in this school. When we went there, most of them had been to their relative's house for summer vacation. The warden told, that they are expecting some 300+ students to join the school this academic year.

Udhayam members (From left: Balamurugan, Sridhar, Murugan, Gomathy and Mathi) with the Warden of the school Kokila (In Blue dress)

The situation in the school is worse. They are struggling to feed the children with proper food. And they don't have enough blankets, mats, pillows and even there is scarcity for buckets and mugs in toilets and bathrooms. The children are being fed with food alone. No coffee/tea, or snacks are being provided to them. They have to clean their belongings, as well as they have to look after the school's cleanliness. On May 30th, the warden told, that with current stock of rice, and other food items, they can, feed the children only for the next 4 days.

During the school days ISKCON provides lunch with their "Akshaya Patra Scheme". And without Akshaya Patra scheme, they have to spend 75Kgs of rice per day, Kokila added.

So as part of our Udhayam's first offering, we donated Rs.5000 to the Academy. We asked the warden to spend the money for feeding the children. And we also gave her our mail ID, so that in case of any emergency she can inform us. We promised her that Udhayam Welfare Foundation will try to help them as much as possible.


I'm really proud and felt happy that we are one of the cause to feed some needy children. But, with the current number of members and fund, it is nearly impossible to do these kind of activities on a regular basis in the near future. My humble request: "Please try to find more members. Because after going there, now I know what a piece of bread costs to them."

And I congratulate Udhayam members on their first activity. And I pray to God to let this group live long and provide aid and help to many people.

~Muthu Selvan S