[/gt_alert]
The recent floods in Kerala have displaced more than 8 lakh people in the state. A jointly conducted damage assessment survey by World Bank and Asian Development Bank has estimated the losses due to the floods at Rs. 25,046 crore. While the rescue and relief operations have actually helped thousands of people in the last one or two months, it may take many years to bring the devastated state back to its pristine glory.
As the thrust intensifies on the part of the government to rebuild the state, Deepalaya, a Delhi-based non-government organization, has taken up the responsibility of rehabilitating two government schools in one of worst affected areas in Kerala. The Government Lower Primary School and the Government Upper Primary School in Chendamanglam, Ernakulam district of Kerala are the two schools adopted by Deepalaya for its upcoming, maiden endeavour in the state.
Deepalaya attempts to restore the infrastructure facilities of these two schools to their original condition over the next two months. The project will benefit at least 400 students (253 students enrolled in the Government Lower Primary School and 147 students in the Upper Primary School) from the two schools.
A few days back, Deepalaya had also conducted a “relief drive for Kerala flood victims”, wherein board members, employees, students, parents, and well-wishers of Deepalaya came forward to contribute to the cause, and the organization was able to raise a total of Rs. 7,22,980, which was donated to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.
The Assistant Education Officer of the district, Smt. Latha Nair, has given permission to Deepalaya to go ahead with the noble initiative of rebuilding two schools. A two-member team comprising Shri A J Philip, Secretary and Chief Executive, Deepalaya and Shri Kuriyan Behanan, Manager-Administration, Deepalaya recently visited the two flood-affected schools and interacted with their staff members and parents. They also met some officials from local administrative bodies such as the secretary and the president of the Chendamangalam Gram Panchayat. A prominent social worker of the area, Shri A J Abraham, is helping Deepalaya in implementing the above mentioned project.
Chendamangalam, popularly known as the “Handloom Capital of Kerala”, is one of the many areas in Kerala where people have lost their livelihood due to the recent floods. So much so, the unemployed weavers of the region are now trying to find alternative jobs. Their children study in the two schools where the teachers and the students equally suffered from the floods. Notably, these are the only schools in the vicinity where the poor children can get primary education.
Owing to the floods, the schools have lost many valuable materials, including computers, public address system, records, furniture, library books, laboratory equipment, etc. Deepalaya’s decision to rehabilitate these two government schools has come as a blessing to the students, parents, and teachers of the schools, all of whom are grateful to the organization for its noble gesture.
About Deepalaya :
Deepalaya is an ISO 9001:2008 certified non-government organization that believes in enabling self-reliance and is committed to working on issues affecting the urban and rural poor, with a special focus on women and children.
The NGO was started on July 16th 1979 by seven founding members, and for more than three decades, has been contributing to the crusade against illiteracy. Over the years, Deepalaya has established several projects in the areas of Education (Formal/Non-Formal/Remedial), Women Empowerment (reproductive health, SHG, Micro-finance), Institutional care, Community health, Vocational training, etc. These projects are operational in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Telengana, and Maharashtra.
