College helps deprived fulfil dreams

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Two years ago, 23-year-old E. Ramu worked as an office assistant in the Mayajal movie complex in Chennai. Now he is the top-scoring II B.Sc. Maths student in Swami Dayananda College of Arts and Science at Manjakudi village in Kumbakonam.

His parents, farm coolies in Tiruvannamalai, couldn’t dream of sending Ramu to college. But with the help of the Swami Dayananda education and charitable trust, which runs the college, Ramu is able to continue his studies. This college has opened its doors for learning to scores of other students like Ramu– majority of them first generation learners.

“I paid only Rs 2,000 to join the college. Though my course fee was Rs 6,000, the management accepted what I gave for the seat, understanding my financial background. I will complete my B.Ed. and work as a teacher, helping other poor children like me,” said Ramu.

His juniors R. Priyadharshini and B. Suganya, residing in the hostel managed by the trust, are proud of their institution. “Our college provides seats to underprivileged students. Actually, those with fewer marks are accommodated first because poverty could have debilitated their performance. But with the coaching here, we improve fast and score big”, they said.

Correspondent G. Ramachandran said many students found jobs in big firms such as WIPRO, which runs a rural BPO within the campus. “Rajagopal, who completed his schooling here and even worked in our college, is now heading the BPO. We are proud that half of the employees in the BPO, who belong to downtrodden families and studied in our college, have got good jobs”, he said.

R. Janani and her sister Suveetha, students of Swami Dayananda government-aided school are popular; one is an orator and the other a sportsperson. “We teach not just textbook lessons but also values to be followed right from childhood,” said K. Muthulakhsmi, school principal.

“What we like to give the children is a life, not just education. We look after their health as well as their personality when they are in our chatralayas and other institutions and hope they will become very good citizens,” says Sheila Balaji, trustee, AIM for Seva that is central to Swami Dayananda organizations.