Kamaraj birthday celebrated as Education Development Day in SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary school.

Street play by School students

Kamaraj birthday was celebrated as Education Development Day during which various competitions like elocution, essay-writing, poem-recital were conducted in SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Arumbuhalnagar, Pettavaiathalai. The winners of the competitions were given prizes. A girl Student of this school in her speech said” During the British regime, only seven percent of the Indian population was receiving an education. When Kamaraj was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, from 1954 to 1963, new schools were opened, educational facilities were expanded, every village had a primary school and every panchayat had a high school. During that time, the education level grew to 37 percent of the population. Kamaraj strove to eradicate illiteracy by introducing free and compulsory education up to eleventh standard. He introduced the Midday Meals Scheme to provide at least one meal per day to the lakhs of poor children. He also introduced free school uniforms to irradiate caste, creed and class distinctions among young minds. Kamaraj (1903 – 1975) was a freedom fighter and he is widely remembered for the reform policies introduced during his tenure as Chief Minister (from 1954 to 1963) which revolutionized the education system. Since its conception, the Midday Meal Scheme has been enhanced by successive governments and has now been adopted across the country. In Tamil Nadu, the scheme has undergone several changes such as the inclusion of eggs and vitamin tablets to improve the nutritional value of the meals. Though it is difficult to measure the success of the Midday Meal Scheme in isolation, its contribution to reduction of drop-out rates, increasing enrolment and improving nutritional status of children is beyond doubt. Kamaraj, admired for his simplicity and integrity, had a long and illustrious political career as Member of Legislative Assembly from 1954 to 1967 and as Member of Parliament initially from 1952 to 1954 and then from 1969 to 1975. He also served as President of Tamil Nadu Congress from 1940 to 1954 and as President of All India Congress from 1963 to 1971”. In his honor, the Tamil Nadu government declared that Kamaraj’s birthday (July 15) would be celebrated as `Educational Development Day.’ Accordingly, this event was celebrated at SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Arumbuhalnagar, Pettavaiathalai with students’ elocution and poetry competitions. Dr.K.Govindaraju, the school’s correspondent, presided over the function along with Mr. V.Jawahar Arumugam, Mr.Kandasamy,and Mr.Ramasamy. A noted educationist Mrs.Sribala from the Chennai was a guest and delivered her key note address on Education and awareness on Social Hygiene. Mrs. P,Chitra, Principal of the School and Mrs. Meena, Asst.Head Mistress,Mrs.Janathamani,Junior Principal and Teacher Prabha and other teachers made elaborate arrangements for this function. 20 members of ICHEC-2011 team from Belgium participated as guests of this Program. Govin