‘Namakku Naamey’ scheme: villagers, old students mobilise ₹1.40 lakh for facilities in panchayat union primary school

Villagers and old students raise funds for smart boards and equipment at Kondalur Panchayat Union Primary School.

The villagers and the old students of a panchayat union primary school in a small hamlet in the district have mobilised ₹1.40 lakh for installing three smart boards, public address system and a printer under the ‘Namakku Naamey’ scheme.

The Kondalur Panchayat Union Primary School in Aavudaiyanoor village panchayat of Keezhapaavoor union in Tenkasi district was in need of smart boards, public address system and a printer for making teaching more effective. The headmaster of the school M. Michael Raj, who took 20 of his students to Chennai by flight in January last with the help of a few sponsors, decided to implement this development work under the ‘Namakku Naamey’ scheme, a community participatory programme that encourages the community’s contribution for implementing development schemes with two-third share from the government while the community would bear the remaining portion.

And, Mr. Michael Raj, a Dr. Radhakrishnan Awardee, started contacting the old students of the school, villagers and others for mobilising the funds for installing three smart boards, the public address system and a printer, all costing about ₹4.20 lakh.

“Since the ‘Namakku Naamey’ scheme makes our job easier, we decided to mobilise ₹ 1.40 lakh from our old students, villagers and other sponsors. When I spoke to this ‘target group’, they positively responded and we mobilised ₹ 1.40 lakh. The cheque for this amount was handed over to the Block Development Officer of Keezhapaavoor union recently,” said Mr. Michael Raj.

Now, the officials have forwarded the proposal to the government through the district administration for sanctioning of funds for purchasing the smart boards, public address system and the printer.