Tamil Nadu - Chennai

IIT-Madras students’ initiative lights up their lives

— Photo: K.V.Srinivasan

Reaching out: Former Head, Department of Management Studies, IIT-Madras, L.S. Ganesh (right), with the visually challenged girls of Goodwill Foundation in Chennai on Friday.

CHENNAI: Students of Indian Institute of Technology-Madras’ Department of Management Studies (DoMS) ushered in the Independence Day by organising a music programme, elocution and quiz competitions for visually challenged youngsters of a non-governmental organisation.

The celebrations were part of ‘Jyotika,’ a student initiative of DoMS. Residents of Goodwill Foundation of India, comprising school and college girls, who learn Carnatic music, presented the programme.

Head of the DoMS C. Rajendran said that though ‘Jyotika’ was a student initiative, the faculty of the department were also involved in the project.

“We collect donations from other faculty members and also help as volunteers.”

He said Guindians `82 Alumni Association members (alumni of the College of Engineering, Guindy, belonging to the 1977–1982 batch) were providing educational assistance to the visually challenged students.

“We are in the process of buying a Braille printer for their use.”

Former Head of DoMS L.S. Ganesh said that more such social initiatives should be taken by MBA students across the country.

He also handed over the contribution money to the Goodwill Foundation to be used for the higher education of its students.

Goodwill Foundation founder C.Sundaresan said that the organisation provided training in Carnatic music, keyboard, computers, handicrafts, spoken Hindi and English to visually challenged women.

“We also provide free accommodation to college-going visually challenged women. We are presently on the look out for a permanent location for our organisation,” he added.

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