Tamilnadu Ambedkar Scholarship function report from Dr Jawahar Nesan on Nov 4, 2007
Dear Mr. Benjamin and AS friends,
It was indeed a great moment in this region of TN where we held the AS function. The whole Nagapattinam district was brought to our attention. About 1000 participants attended the event. The hall was fully packed with all lead figures of the district and neighbouring districts were present. The District Collector T.S Jawahar, IAS was presiding and distributing the award. All other leaders including MLAs, Municipal Chairmen, Union Chairmen, Chairman of Chamber of Commerce, Presidents of Lions Club, Junior Chamber, Rotary Club, Tashildars, BDOs, Commissioners, and police officers were present. People from all regions of the district participated in the event. Our EC India cadres organized and worked hard in running the show. The EC leaders of two districts including Mr. Purushothaman of Cuddalore District and Bharathi Nesan (my brother) district Convenor, Babu Nesan (another brother) International Director of Training JC, and all other cadres worked hard to conduct the event.
The function began exactly at 5PM on 11.4.2007, at Rose Mahal, Sirkali. Everyone’s eye brows were raising after seeing me in this kind of event. I never ever organized or participated in NGO (in Tamil, Thondu Niruvanam) activities which yields incremental improvements, where as, people movements work towards radical CHANGES. Between ‘incremental improvement’ and ‘change’, I opted the path of change. That’s why everyone attending the event was surprised. However, in the presence of all government officers and bureaucrats, I explained that this is a part of our activities led by our man Mr. Benjamin, Mr. Devadas (HYD) and their people. I said we are simply bridging the donors and needy children, matching one to one directly without any middleman parting away with some portion of the donation. I took the opportunity to explain more about how the AS was started Mr. Benjamin’s own money initially in the beginning and then how 100s and 1000s of others were motivated by his act participating in the programme.
Several other VIPs addressed the gatherings. At the end of the day, the Collector distributed the awards and made his presidential speech. He said that the AS scheme was a role model for others to follow. And added that most of the NGOs in India were spending, for instance Rs1000 as overheads just to serve the people with only Rs.100. Whereas, he quoted that the AS is making 100% of the donations to reach the society.
The more enthusiastic crowd, mainly the beneficiaries, was so inspired by the work of AS and EC. Finally, one of the parents of a child was invited to address vote of thanks. He, cried with overwhelming feelings and said that certainly he would make his child definitely a great learned man in the future.
With all this, I appreciate Mr. Benjamin and his team in US, Mr. Sakegoenkar, Mr. Devadas of HYD and all Donors for what they have done to TN children this year. The news appeared in all regional Tamil newspapers, but no English. I will send couple of photos after I received them from the studio person processing it. They were not shot using digital camera, but with the traditional one. That’s why the delay. I was so busy with a series of other events which were due regarding April 14th, the great day. Amidst such tight seasonal events I have to write this email.
Thank you all for providing the EC an opportunity to conduct the AS programme of TN this year.
Thank you
Regards
Jawahar
