‘Vazhi kattum Thittam', for Differently abled persons launched in Trichy District

Dt.Collector Jayashree Muralidharan hands over TLM Kit

‘Vazhi kattum Thittam', for Differently abled persons in Trichy District, the services would be made available at their doorsteps said Collector Jayashree Muralidharan, releasing a handbook for the organisers on the completion of a three-day training for the organisers concluded in Trichy on Friday..The District Collector said that 589 panchayat-level organisers and 24 block-level coordinators have been appointed under the ‘Vazhikattum' Thittam, a special guidance programme for differently abled persons, in the district. The differently abled welfare organisers and coordinators appointed in association with non-governmental organisations, such as SEVAI, Spastic Society etc would be involved in prevention, identification, early intervention and implementation of the rehabilitation measures of the State and Central government. District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan said “Among the organisers appointed, 396 were differently abled persons, 109 were relatives or siblings of differently abled persons and 84 persons from below the poverty line families. One organiser each would be assigned to a village panchayat or other local bodies with a population of 6,000. The coordinators would get a monthly remuneration of Rs. 2000 while the workers would be paid Rs. 750 a month. In order to implement the scheme, the Office is working in coordination with non-government organisations.

Ms.R.Shyamala District Differently abled said “the coordinators and workers were trained and the service, the first of its kind for the differently abled, would help them avoid tedious travel to the Office. Mrs.R.Shymala said “The workers would go to every house in their localities to identify the beneficiaries of the schemes and study their requirements. They would also apprise them of the various government schemes earmarked for them. The coordinators would monitor the workers' daily routine. The reason behind engaging differently-abled workers from the villages is that they are bound to have adequate knowledge of the area,” “And if a person with disability is unwilling to work in this scheme, the person's relative would be drafted for the duty.”To start with, the organisers would conduct a survey to identify differently abled persons and verify all of them have them have been issued national identity cards”. “Those without the cards would be issued the same immediately” said Ms.R.Shyamala.

Dr.K.Govindaraju.Director, SEVAI said"Vazhikattum Thittam" is a Project implemented to empower the differently abled people, to develop a scientific data base and to implement the government schemes in the village level. This year it is being implemented in Trichy district through NGOs. District Administration had selected our SEVAI (NGO) for implementing the project in the Trichy City and its neighbourhood rural blocks of Andanallur and Manikandam SEVAI has already been implementing the Inclusive Education for the Differently abled and also in Women Self Help Group Projects. He said that SEVAI has Special facilities for differently abled running in the district including bridge course for differently abled, day care centres, Inclusive Education for Disabled Project and SHGs working for differently abled welfare had also already been registered under section 52 of The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995.   Four special chairs for those affected by cerebral palsy, wheel chairs and hearing aids were distributed to differently abled persons by the District Collector Ms.Jayashree Muralidharan and she also handed over Teaching Learning Materials to the Early Intervention Centre for Hearing Impaired and teaching and learning material to the Early Intervention Centre for Mentally Retarded. -Govin

Special Olympic-2011 medal winners honoured by Trichy District Collector Ms.Jayashree Muralidharan and the Members of Trichy special Olympic Chapter.

Trichy Dt.Collector Ms.Jayashree Muralidharan honours Winners

‘”Dignity, acceptance, and a chance to reach one’s potential – these are human rights worth promoting for everyone. For more than four decades, Special Olympics has been bringing one message to the world: people with intellectual disabilities can and will succeed if given the opportunity” said Dr.K.Govindaraju, Chairman, Trichy Special Olympic chapter of SOB-TN  while congratulating the seven medal winners from Trichy in Special Olympic held at Athens in Greece from June 24-4^th July 2011. Dr.K.Govindaraju appreciated Trichy intellectually challenged Athlete Chandrabose who bagged two Gold medals in Roller Skating in Special Olympic-2011 at Athens and further said that Special Olympics Bharat is the one of the largest Delegations with 245 members Squad including 183 Athletes and won 78 Gold, 73 Silver and 92 bronze. All Tamilnadu 9 athletes brought laurels to India as well as our states by bagging Total no of 12 medals 3 golds, 2 silver and 7 Bronz.Chandra Bose won 2 gold and 1 silver in roller skating,  Archana won 1 gold and 1 Bronz in cycling, Hari Srinivasan won 1 Silver in Team Hand Ball Men, Gokila won 1 bronze in 4*400 mtrs Relay, Karthikeyan won 1 Bronze in Men Volley Ball,Sindhu and Priya  won Bronz medals in Team Hand ball Women, Praveena & Shanthi won Bronze medals in Volley ball women. Trichy Chapter of Special Olympic also appreciated the special efforts of the coaches Mr.J.Paul Devasagayam and Mrs. Julia Vasanthi. Dr.K.Govindaraju added “The focus Special Olympics places on using sport opportunities to make changes in society around the world earned it a high honour. “Sport teaches us to recognize our similarities over our differences while celebrating the effort to do one’s best in a spirit of respect. And while Special Olympics has had a positive impact on many persons with an intellectually disability, there are many more people that are still hidden.  Special Olympics empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities in more than 180 countries. Special Olympics often is the only place where they have an opportunity to participate in their communities and develop belief in themselves. Many live lives of neglect and isolation, hidden away or socially excluded from full participation in schools or society”.

Dr.K.Govindaraju added “Transforming the athlete, Special Olympics sports are a gateway to empowerment, competence, acceptance and joy. When people see Special Olympics Athletes in action, they see their humanity, their joy in competition, their pride and their potential, and they begin to believe in a different kind of world – a world in which everyone is respected and included. It is important to work more closely with the international sports community to broaden the reach and bring the joy and goodwill of sport to many more people.” The Trichy SOB-TN chairman said that Mr.J.Paul Devasagayam played a vital role for organizing the entire trip for the Tamilnadu Athletes”. The successful seven Athletes were honoured by Trichy District Collector Mrs.Jayashree Muralidhararn with Ponnadais. Mrs.Jayshree Muralidharan, District Collector said “Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers are often the first support system for people with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics winners have not only their families/institutions support but the support of the entire District that the real power to improve lives of Special Olympic winners from Trichy. District differently abled welfare officer Mrs.Syamala, District Sports officer Dr.Kalaiselvan, District Youth Coordinator of Nehru Yuvakendra, Mr.K.Subramaniam, IED Coordinator Dr.R.Deivakumar, Self Help groups project of SEVAI coordinator Ms.P.Vanitha, Mr.Shantha Kumar of Trichy spastic Society and school teachers and principals and functionaries of Vazhi Kattuvoom Thittam also participated in this project. –Govin

Tamilnadu athletes of Special Olympic-2011 brought laurels to India- J.Paul Devasagayam

Tamilnadu Special Olympic Medalists with their coaches

Trichy: 7, July 2011: Tamilnadu athletes of Special Olympic-2011 brought laurels to India- said J.Paul Devasagayam, Director of Special Olympic Bharath, Taminadu. He further said “Special Olympics Bharat is the one of the largest Delegation with 245 members Squad including 183 Athletes. India participated in 12 sports and won 78 Gold, 73 Silver and 92 bronze the Total medal tally of 243”. Special Olympics Tamilnadu Represented the country with 9 athletes and two coaches, Mr.J.Paul Devasagayam and Mrs. Julia Vasanthi. All Tamilnadu 9 athletes brought laurels to India as well as our states by bagging Total no of 12 medals 3 golds, 2 silver and 7 Bronz.Chandra Bose won 2 gold and 1 silver in roller skating,  Archana won 1 gold and 1 Bronz in cycling, Hari Srinivasan won 1 Silver in Team Hand Ball Men, Gokila won 1 bronze in 4*400 mtrs Relay, Karthikeyan won 1 Bronze in Men Volley Ball,Sindhu and Priya  won Bronz medals in Team Hand ball Women, Praveena & Shanthi won Bronze medals in Volley ball women. Greek President Karolos Papoulias officially declared open the Athens 2011. World Summer Special Olympics on Saturday evening in a spectacular ceremony staged at the Panathinaikon Stadium, the venue of the first modern 1896 Olympic Games. Approximately 7,500 Special Olympics athletes from 183 countries participate in the Games that went from 24^th June to July 4 in a string of 30 venues across Athens. They had competed in all sports, sending the world the message that persons with mental disabilities could become valuable members of the international community. Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver and Greek Special Olympics Organizing Committee President Joanna Despotopoulou made elaborate arrangements. Approximately 40,000 family members, over 2,300 coaches and 25, 000 volunteers assisted around 3,000 journalists from across the world recorded the achievements of the athletes who represent four million people with intellectual disabilities across the globe”.

Golden boy Chandrabose

Trichy Special Olympic Chairman Dr.K.Govindaraju and the office bearers sent the messages of congratulating the winners of medals and the participants. Dr.K.Govindaraju congratulated SOB-Tamilnadu Director, Shri. J. Paul Devasagayam for his hard and his peace loving efforts for supporting the intellectually challenged Athletes and organizers of SOB, Tamilnadu Branch. The insolvent and encouragement of Air Marshall (Retd) Denzil Keelor, Chairman, Special Olympics Bharat, in preparing the children for their display their athletic skill, determination and courage at the birthplace of modern sport was very much appreciated by Trichy Olympic Chapter and the SOB-TN,Trichy Chapter also appreciated the office bearers of Special Olympic Bharath, New Delhi for their Achievements in Athens, Greece.SOB-TN,Trichy branch also congratulated Asha Deepam Special School, Crawford, Trichy and Vidivelli school Trichy for encouraging their students Athletes and gave them opportunity for the participation in Special Olympic in Athens. Dr.K.Govindaraju as Chairman of Special Olympic Trichy extended his thanks to Trichy District Collector SMT.Jayashree Muralidharan and members of District Welfare committee for their support of Rs.70000 as the part of the preparation and also the pocket money for the Trichy Athletes for their participation in this Special Olympic. Special Olympic Chairman, Trichy appreciated the efforts of Mrs.Syamala, District Rehabilitation Welfare Officer, Trichy for her efforts as officials for supporting this Special Olympic global wide program. Trichy Special Olympic also thanked the media persons for giving wide coverage of Trichy Athletes before and after the Special Olympic achievements. -Govin

SEVAI School promotes Environment Education during June-July 2011.

School Enviorment Bridge Course in SEVAI Shanthi School

Environmental education is incorporated into the SEVAI Shanthi School as bridge course and students learn about the environment, develop skills to investigate and solve issues in the environment, acquire attitudes of care and concern for the environment, adopt behaviours and practices which protect the environment, and understand the principles of ecologically sustainable development. The teachers from the Centres also work in schools to support school-based environment programs. Recognizing that a school's physical environment may have a significant impact on children's health and safety, the SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School has several programs that are designed to improve the ability of school to provide a safe and healthy environment for all those who use their facilities, school to educate the next generation on the value of caring for the environment. The school bridge course system has been at the centre of a major part of Bridge course during the lean period of Classes. The School develops, coordinates and conducts a number of educational programmes for school children. The teachers, develop materials for Enviorment Education, and assist pupils in developing such materials. It endeavours to bring a hands-on, field-based, dimension to school education through opportunities offered by governmental and non-governmental initiatives. Eco-Club of SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School  pupils are given education on  local environmental explorations as well as issue-based action work in areas biodiversity, energy, waste management, tourism etc. The teachers offer an opportunity to empower pupils with the requisite knowledge on science of environment, environment-development issues, and practical orientation for using a variety of teaching-learning techniques of Life Support Systems and Basics of Ecology, Understanding Sustainable Development, Environmental Education in Schools, Resources and Opportunities for Environment Education.     Environmental education for children is critically important and it started as school begins. This environmental education experiences help shape children's values, perspectives, and understanding of the environment and how to interact with it. Many children have little or no meaningful exposure to environmental education or opportunities to connect with the natural world because they are involved with activities that isolate them from it. Computers, video games, television, schools' emphasis on homework, a full after-school schedule of extracurricular activities, lack of access to natural areas — all these things and more are isolating children from the natural world and the advantages of environmental education. Fostering environmental education in children is critical because it helps them develop into adults who understand and care about environmental stewardship, nurtures their sense of wonder, imagination, and creativity, provides them with a sense of beauty, calm, and refuge in a sometimes frightening world and problem solving skills, enhances physical development and overall health, helps them understand the interrelationship of all life.-Govin

Convergences of existing services, strengthens the Link Worker Scheme.

LWS Link workers project review at SEVAI

Trichy: 3rd July: APAC/NACO assisted Link workers scheme, implemented by Trichy based SEVAI NGO in rural blocks of Trichy.A review meeting was conducted by Dr.K.Govindaraju, the chief functionary of SEVAI to take stock of the present situation of this project with project team of LWS. Trichy District Resource Person Ms.Percy and the entire supervisory training and monitoring team of this LWS participated in this review. Dr.K.Govindaraju suggested the project staff of SEVAI those are involved in Self Help Groups of Women, Cluster Resource Persons, Panchayat Level Federation Leaders of Self Help Groups, Animators and Representatives of Self Help Group members of SEVAI promoted 7000 SHGs will be of great support to LWS and the LWS staff team can solicit their support for the successful implementation of LWS in Trichy rural Blocks. It is suggested that the services of the staff of Special Educators can also be solicited for volunteering for implementation of this project activities. Mrs.Percy,DRP,Trichy District enlightened the SHG participants on LWS and further said” “ “The Link Worker Scheme addresses the complex needs of the rural HIV prevention, care and support requirements by halting and reversing the epidemic in the rural areas of highly vulnerable districts at capacitating the rural community and equipping them with HIV related knowledge to combat the epidemic, Identifying and training, the village level workforce of Supervisors, Link Workers and volunteers on issues of HIV/AIDS, gender, sexuality, STIs and above all on mobilizing difficult-to-reach, especially vulnerable sub populations including high risk individuals, youth and women. Linking the HRG and vulnerable populations to the public health services for STI, ICTC, ART and then their follow up back to communities (saturation of coverage to HRGs), Generating volunteerism among the community for fighting HIV & AIDS and inculcating health values is another cornerstone of this strategy, Addressing issues regarding counselling, condoms and behaviour change among youth and Addressing the issues of stigma and discrimination. The Project is implemented in 100 villages of 14 blocks in Trichy District, Tamilnadu. A mapping survey was carried out in 100 most vulnerable villages of the District spreading over all the 14 blocks. Factors leading to vulnerability are heavy traffic on the National and State Highway, a large number of people employed in tea stalls and factories and garages being migrant workers and the male population from the draught prone villages seeking a living as construction workers and also the presence of Traditional Sex Workers and Commercial Sex Worker Sites in different locations. The aim of the project is to reach a target group of vulnerable and High risk populations in rural area with information about HIV/AIDS and general health program and thereby prevent the disease from spreading further. The project also assists people already affected to be accepted by the society and to cope with the situation of living with HIV/AIDS. The project created a group of locally trained personnel as Link Workers and volunteers to work with High Risk Groups and vulnerable youth in selected villages. The Project has: Completed the vulnerable mapping of 100 villages, identified the High Risk Individuals and High Risk Groups from the villages, Identified  volunteers in the villages, Formed 100 Red ribbon Clubs in the target villages, Organized HIV testing camps with the help of Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre’s (ICTC) and Community Health Centers’ (CHC) doctors, Distributed condoms, Identified and trained 40 Link Workers, Formed  Condom Outlets in 100 villages, Made 2,923 STI treatments, Organized 100 Street plays in different villages, Organized shows, Organized exhibition in 50 villages, Opened information centre in all villages, Organized 100 training for Village Health and sanitation committee in the district and trained 4000 people on the HIV/AIDS through Self Help Groups”. It was decided to implement the LWS in Trichy converging the line departments support for the success of LWS.-Govin

ICHEC-2011 Amoor team visited the Creche attached with SEVAI School of Mettumarudur.

ICHEC-2011 student with Creche child in Mettumarudur

The ICHEC-2011, Sevai-Amoor team, Vruyns Dorian, Garcia Marian Laura, Helfgott Philippe, Stoquart Celine, Warden Emily, De Canniere Fanny, Gerkbard Dan, Indejeu Madeleine and Wallemacq Richardo of SEVAI Amoor also visited the Village School run by SEVAI in Mettumarudur where the Day care centre is run in the same premises visited the day care centre and one of the team members shared “Learning Stories are documents that are used by Care takers and educators in childcare centre of Mettumarudur. They use a story- telling format instead of a traditional ‘observation’ report to document the different ways that young children learn, and capture the moment in greater detail and provide parents with a greater insight into the events that occur in their child’s time in childcare, they include: Story of the child’s progress, Pictures of the experiences, The child’s strengths, interests and needs, Space for parent feedback.” The first few years of a child's life are important to form a basis for good education, morality, Self discipline and social integration. Consistency of approach, skills and qualifications of Care takers have been seen during our visit to improve the chances of a child reaching his or her full potential”

The rural children day care project of SEVAI run in Mettumarudur provides a child care facility to all children in the age group of 6 months to 3 yrs at village level by giving supplementary nutritional food plus overall development. With the growing need to supplement household income, more and more women are entering the livelihood market. With the breaking up of joint family system and the increasing number of nuclear families, working women need support in terms of quality, substitute care for their young children while they are at work. Creche and Day Care Services are not only required by working mothers but also women belonging to poor families, who require support and relief for childcare as they struggle to cope with burden of activities, within and outside the home. Both parents of many young infants have to work all day to sustain their livelihood leaving no one to attend to the nutritional needs of young infants. The child care unit is run by two care takers of SEVAI Mettumarudur School. Supplementary nutritional food plus overall development inputs would be provided. The infants who attend the Day care facility are being provided with nutritious food and development toys, thus making them stronger individuals. There has also been an increase in the school attendance of the siblings of these infants who earlier had to stay home to look after their younger sibling. This program has provided employment to the local women who are paid village child care workers. The mothers of the infants also have a peace of mind that their young infants are being cared for while they are attending their work. Effective day care for young children has been run at an essential cost effective investment by SEVAI as it provides support to both the mothers and young children. It is also a protection measure as it addresses issues such as child labour, school drop outs, outreach for medical and health programme, female literacy etc.The children day care centre of Mettu Marudur has a minimum space of 8 sq. ft. per child to ensure that they can play, rest, and learn without any hindrance. Essential play material and teaching and learning material are made available to meet the needs of preschool children. Day care Workers ensures linkages with the local Primary Health Centre. They also have a tie up with the nearby Anganwadi centres and its workers for health care inputs like immunization, polio drops and basic health monitoring. The Day care Creche centre in Mettu Marudur was started in 2006 and provides assistance to ensure sleeping facilities, healthcare, supplementary nutrition, immunisation, etc. The day care centre for 25 infants for is run for eight from 9:00 a m to 5:00 p m. -Govin