Date:14/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/14/stories/2008041454400600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Educational institutions urged not to collect donations

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K.Pichumani

For a cause: MMM president and Bishop, Madras Diocese, Yakob Mar Irenaios, receives a cheque from the trustees of the Students Book Fair in Chennai on Saturday. Agricultural Scientist M.S. Swaminathan and the Prince of Arcot Nawab, Mohammed Abdul Ali, are in the picture.

CHENNAI: The Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, on Saturday appealed to educational institutions not to collect exorbitant donations from students for seats in schools and colleges.

Speaking at a function organised by the Students Book Fair Trustees to hand over a cheque of Rs.30 lakh to the Madras Medical Mission (MMM) to enable two economically backward school students to get free open heart surgeries, he said hospitals must ensure that they did not become commercial and provide quality treatment for the poor.

Agricultural Scientist M.S. Swaminathan said any country that over valued its material resources and under valued human resources would remain poor. Countries did not realise that they needed to respect their human resources.

He thanked the doctors of the MMM for adding years to peoples’ lives.

MMM president and Bishop, Madras Diocese Yakob Mar Irenaios, who accepted the cheque, said the Students Book Fair was not just about books, but also about values and music. He said the MMM spent Rs.6 crore every year on subsidies for patients.

Former Director of Primary Education Uma Maheswari said the fair had taught students to be more socially conscious, sympathetic to others and love their country.

K.V. Mathew, Managing Trustee, Students Book Fair Trust, said a total of 19 fairs had been conducted so far. The money presented to the MMM was from the savings of the trust, he added.