Cheer for children

BUILDING AN equitable society makes it necessary for us to provide a healthy environment for our children to grow in. The government-run balwadis throughout the State reach out to underprivileged children providing them not only a pre-school education but more important a nutritious noon meal. However, some balwadis are in a state of neglect for want of funds. One such centre is located in a corner of Varadajapuram, off Eldams Road, in the city. It is in a dilapidated condition and lacks kitchen, water supply and toilet facilities. Residents of the area feel that if the infrastructure is improved more children would be motivated to come to the centre.

In some places, non-government organisations work in tandem with the official machinery to improve the facilities in the balwadis. The Karnaprayag Trust (4355182), which works for the uplift of women and children, has offered to adopt the balwadi at Varadarajapuram, provide supplements apart from the mid-day meal and even meet the expenses incurred on wages for an additional teacher. The workers of the trust feel that better facilities will attract more children to the balwadi. Besides, it could be used as a non-formal education centre for adults in the evenings.

But, what about the funds that would be needed to bring about these improvements?

The Citizens' Run Trust enlists the support of Chennaiites to transform society for the better. It is organising its fifth Citizen's Run at 4 p.m., on September 2 from Gandhi Mantapam via Adyar and San Thome to wind up at the Gandhi Statue on the Marina. All participants will have to wear a T-shirt, costing Rs. 100 that is specially designed for the event by author and artist Manjula Padmanabhan. Chennaiites wanting to chip in for this and several other worthwhile initiatives could buy a T-shirt either at Alliance Francaise, Karnaprayag or Amethyst. And on September 2, 4 p.m they will have to wear the T-shirt, don their running shoes, converge at Gandhi Mantapam and sprint for a better tomorrow.

V. R. DEVIKA

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