Date:02/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120252660300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Signature campaign held

Staff Reporter

To create awareness about AIDS

Photo: N. Bashkaran

red alert: Project Manager of Kingsley Community Centre S. Ananthan Ambrose pinning a Red Ribbon on District Collector V.K. Shanmugam in Krishnagiri on Monday. –

KRISHNAGIRI: The Kingsley Community Centre organised an AIDS awareness campaign in Krishnagiri on Monday.

The Project Manager of the Centre, Anandan Ambrose, pinned Red Ribbons on Collector V.K. Shanmugam, District Revenue Officer S. Nagarajan and other district officials at the Collectorate and obtined their signatures as part of the programme.

Mr. Anandan said his team pinned about 2,000 Red Ribbons and gathered signatures from the people.District Programme Manager of the Tamil Nadu State Aids Control Society G. Anand was present on the occasion.

Mr. Ananthan Ambrose said that 253 Mahalir Manrams, with a membership of 5,000 women, were actively involved in various programmes.

The centre helps them to improve their lifestyles by way of teaching income generation programmes and inculcating savings habits among them. He added that the centre through its their parent organisation Christian Children Fund of India provided Rs. 10 lakh for 11 government schools.

“We also are providing Rs. 600 a month for 10 widows who are infected with HIV. Recently we donated Rs. 1.5 lakh worth of play materials to anganwadi centers in the district,” Mr. Ananthan Ambrose said.

He added that the centre built a compound wall for Bargur Government Higher Secondary School at a cost of Rs. 3 lakhs and two toilets for Bargur Government Girls Higher Secondary School at a cost of Rs. 80,000.

A drawing competition was organised on November 17 for the students of Standards IX to Plus-Two.

The theme for the drawing competition was ‘AIDS children.’

Winners

The winners are: 1.K. Naveen Kumar ( Standard IX), Chennasandram Government Higher Secondary School, (Rs. 5000). 2. S. Siva, (Plus-One) of Karapattu Government Higher Secondary School (Rs. 3,000). 3. A. Anushakumari (Plus-Two) of Krishnagiri Government Girls Higher Secondary School and S. Selvakumar (Plus-One) of Uthangarai Government Higher Secondary School (each Rs. 1,000).

The District Collector, V.K. Shanmugam, distributed the cash prizes to the students. Chief Educational Officer M. Baskaran was present on the occasion.

Various organisations in Krishnagiri district observed World AIDS Day by conducting awareness campaigns and other programmes.