Kamalapuram gets help from Houston!

NAME : ALL INDIA MOVEMENT (AIM) FOR SEVA

KAMALAPURAM BALURA CHATRALAYA

Ward No.15, Appayapally, Kamalapuram, Kadapa District, A.P

 

DONOR: Dr. Yemmanuri Ramulu, USA

SUPPORTED BY: Houston Indian community, USA

 

DATE INAUGURATED: 13^th June 2007  by  Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswathiji

NO. OF STUDENTS: 50

VILLAGES COVERED: 15

AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME: Rs.1,100

SCHOOL ATTENDED: Government Primary School and Suryam Public School

 

KAMALAPURAM :  This mandal (town) is in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.  Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of this region.  The Papaghni and Penna rivers are the main sources for irrigation and drinking water.  Historically, this town is connected with Vijayanagara Samrajya that was ruled by Sri Krishnadevaraya.

Understanding the Needs

Though the overall literacy of the district stood at 58% (As per the 2001 Census), the status of literacy rate in our programme area is much lower than the district average.  Female literacy is even lower with around 30%.

Farmers in the area have taken up cultivation of cash crops like cotton and chilli.  Returns from these crops in the recent past have not been rewarding and hence the economy of the farming community is experiencing a very difficult situation.  In the light of the above, the community had started losing interest in the developmental interventions by any agencies.  They never believed that the community development projects, (Chaatraalaya) would aim to address their problem and find out solutions that are people-centric and be a typical one.  However, through periodic interactions with the community, they have started to slowly change their perception about the project.

The premise on which the Chaatraalaya is built (participatory manner) has gradually brought in confidence within the community. This is very evident from the satisfaction and happiness expressed by the parents.

The Chaatraalaya is for boys only and was built by Shri. Dr. Yemmanuri Ramulu, USA, in the year 2007.

Children from the neighboring 15 villages stay in this chaatraalaya.  This chaatraalaya is supervised efficiently by Sri. Govindahariji, who is also the trustee of AIM for Seva.

For the Academic year 2008-2009, the strength of Student Home is 46 boys studying in classes 1 to 6.

Bobbili Gets Maintenance Funds from Houston!

AIM for Seva Student Home for Boys, Bobbili

Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh

Donors:

Land – Mr. Narayanam Narasimha Murthy

Building - Mrs. Raghuthu Simhachalam, USA

Date inaugurated: 21^st June 2007

No. of students: 52

Villages covered: 44

Average Monthly Family Income: Rs.1000

School attended: Sri Saraswathi Sisu Mandir, Bobbili

Bobbili is a town close to Vizianagaram city in Andhra Pradesh. According to the 2001 census the population of Bobbili is 1,16,205 with an average literacy rate of 64%. There are 75 villages, most of which are tribal areas, which constitute the town of Bobbili. The population is economically poor mainly working as coolies and farmers.

This AIM for Seva ChAtrAlaya was constructed in 2006 with donations from the Raghuthu family of USA as Bobbili is their home town. AIM For Seva Houston donors provided for the maintenance of this ChAtrAlaya for the year 2008-09. The 52 boys in the student home are studying in classes 1 to 6. Apart from their academics, the children are encouraged to take part in various extra curricular activities and are also taught yoga, meditation and chapters from the Gita to ensure overall development. The students enthusiastically help maintain a kitchen garden in the premises which grows a variety of vegetables, making the student home self sufficient for its daily needs.

Recently, the Rotary Club (Mahila) of Bobbili donated trunkboxes for the children to store their belongings.

Mr. Narayanam Narasimha Murthy of NCS Sugars donated sports equipments for the children.

The warden Mr. Subba Rao takes a special interest in the progress of the children.

Achievements:

Two students from this student home stood first in their class in school in the last academic year. The students have also participated and won in various Gita chanting and poetry reciting competitions held at inter school levels.

The solemn function came to an end with the National Anthem.