Date:15/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/15/stories/2008091554710600.htm

Tamil Nadu

“Develop service mentality”

Special Correspondent

3,000 people trained by World Vision

HONOUR: R. Tiburtius, Project Officer, Mahalir Thittam, handing over a prize to a school topper at Mudukulathur.

RAMANATHAPURAM: The Project Officer, Mahalir Thittam, R. Tiburtius, has called upon the people to develop a service mentality to uplift the downtrodden so as to make them join the mainstream of development.

Presiding over a function at Mudukulathur near here organised by World Vision on Saturday, he said that the affluent and knowledgeable people could certainly contribute something towards the betterment of poor people. While some could sponsor children, others could take care of educational needs of the poor. It would certainly help them get quality education.

Though the Government was implementing several schemes to uplift the poor, it was still a long way to cover all of them. There were several philanthropists helping the poor; however, more and more people should come forward to help them in constructive ways.

Mr. Tiburtius said that education was a best way to bridge the gap between rich and the poor. Though most of the parents in urban areas were being given top priority to education of their wards, awareness of importance of education was less in rural areas. Parents in rural areas should ensure sending their children to schools and colleges.

T. Rajasekar, Manager, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Madurai, said that LIC had introduced many new schemes, particularly to bring poor and self-help group members under the insurance net.

G. Jesuharan Thangaraj, Programme Manager, World Vision, said that their organisation conducted 36 training programmes covering 3,000 people in and around the targeted areas of Mudukulathur, Kamudhi and Kadaladi among other places.