New Year Newsletter 2003
The New Year started with hectic activity to celebrate our 84th Founder’s Day on 5th January, by laying the Foundation Stone for Panchavadi, our Dream Project.
Located 17 kms from the city at Vaaliyara, Vellanadu Panchayath, and the 8-acre plot is set in salubrious surroundings.
Sir. O. Rajagopal, Minister of State, Govt. of India, for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, who laid the Foundation Stone, emphasised the role of women in promoting social service activities in the society. He congratulated the members of Mahila Mandiram for making steady progress in providing opportunities for some of the underprivileged members of our society.
Sri. Mancode Radhakrishnan, Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly promised all possible help for promoting the project. Prof. B. Hridaya Kumari, past President of Mahila Mandiram, spoke in memory of the Founder Smt. K. Chinnamma.
A large number of people from the city and the neighbourhood
attended the function. The young residents of Mahila Mandiram entertained the
guests with patriotic songs. They also sang the Theme song, “Panchavadi”
while the Foundation Stone was laid. The song is written by the famous
Malayalam Poet Sri. O.N.V Kurup and set to music by Cine Music Director Sri. M.
Jayachandran.
The five main
components of Panchavadi are Vatsalya, homes for destitute
children, Santhwana the homes for senior citizens, Pariraksha,
the Health Care Centre, Susiksha the educational centre and Prasanthi,
the Prayer Cum Community Hall. Together they touch all aspects of Human welfare
and wellbeing. The Project will cost at least 3.5 crores of Rupees ($
75,00,000). The time frame envisaged is 5 years.
Two activities were
also initiated on the same day. The first is an Ayurvedic Panchakarma Centre in
association with the well-known Pankaja Kasthuri Group of companies. The
existing building at the site is being renovated to suit the purpose. Mahila
Mandiram will become a Franchisee of Pankajakasthuri. This centre will cater to
the health needs of the local people from February and will be shifted to Pariraksha
later.
The second is an
agricultural programme aimed at developing the land at Panchavadi to
yield an income for the Project as well as to provide part time occupation for
its residents. Karma, a group of Agricultural Professionals has drawn up
a detailed project report for this programme. It calls for an investment of
about 13 lakhs of rupees spread over 3 years.
Both the above-mentioned
activities will bring in atleast a meagre income to support Project Panchavadi.
There is a resident manager who overseas the work. He will continue to be
in charge of all the initial activities.
Christmas and New Year
Christmas and New Year were
celebrated by residents with enthusiasm and joy. They recreated the birth of
Infant Jesus Christ with Cradle, the Wise men, the lambs and the stars. The
choir group from a local church came and sang Christmas Carols. Several friends
sent greetings and sweets for the children. During the holidays the younger
children were taken out to the beach and an amusement park while the older ones
went for a movie.
BACK TO WORK
The schools reopened,
ushering in the final term. For the college girls pressure is building up in
anticipation of the board exam in early March. The young ones are being coaxed
to put in more work for better results in the final exam.
AN APPEAL
While we plunge in to
a year of hectic activity to meet lofty goals like Panchavadi, we place
our trust on our friends to come forward with suggestions and help. We look
forward to new friends joining us in our activities while we hope to reach out
to many more deprived members of our society.