Date:31/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103114780200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Children give shape to their imagination

Staff Reporter

NO AGE BAR FOR NATIONALISM: Children below five convey the message of patriotism and communal harmony through a fancy dress competition conducted by the Social Welfare Department in Chennai on Monday. — Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

CHENNAI: Tiny hands worked on clumps of clay to make dolls, pots, pans, ladles, horse carts and houses.

There were hundreds of children with a sheet of paper, colour pencils and crayons giving shape to their imagination.

At the other end of the AVM Rajeswari Kalyana Mandapam, babies were being judged at the `well baby contest'.

There were many others on another side of the hall in various costumes for the fancy dress competition.

Over 2,500 children from crèches and primary schools are participating in five competitions, held over Monday and Tuesday by the Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Board for the 35th year in succession without any aid from the Central or State Governments.

S.K. Prasad, Joint Secretary, Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Board (TNSWB), said the contests began on a small scale with just 100 children at Rajaji Hall 35 years ago.

The children from the below poverty line from crèches aided by the Board, physically and mentally challenged children are participating in the contests.

Poongothai Aladi Aruna, Minister for Social Welfare, N.S. Palaniappan, Chairman of the TNSWB (in-charge) and Secretary, Social Welfare, participated.

The prizes for the contests will be distributed on November 7.

The hall was offered as the venue for the contests free by the AVM group.

Sponsors for the programme included Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, UNICEF, nationalised banks, corporates such as Nestle and Sunfeast, Taj Flight Kitchen, the Confederation of Indian Industry, and other well wishers.

All the participants in the various contests will be given a consolation prize.