Collector launches ‘My Child-My Care’ scheme for schools

The brainchild of Collector KS Kandasamy, the idea of which was mooted on Monday morning, the initiative resulted in the collection of Rs 9 lakh as voluntary contribution from 150 government officials by the same evening.

The district-specific scheme is funded by government employees alone. Kandasamy told DT Next, “Tiruvannamalai district has 2.10 lakh children attending 2,120 government and aided schools. Some of these schools lack infrastructure, teachers, subject guides, scientific equipment, facilities for NEET coaching, facilities to conduct cultural programmes and ability to go on study tours. The money collected through this scheme will be used to provide these.” 

Officials, on condition of anonymity, said contributions were led by Kandasamy chipping in with Rs 10,000 followed by donations from DRDA (District Rural Development Agency) project director G Loganayagi, DRO P Rathinasamy, CEO V Jayakumar and TN Women’s Development corporation project officer Jayasudha.

A 10-member committee headed by the Collector was formed to oversee the programme, with the CEO nominated as the secretary. The exercise is laudable given that a month ago, district officials were at loggerheads with Kandasamy complaining about his autocratic style of functioning. 

“Similarly, the district administration has started a month long special coaching drive to improve the reading and writing skills of selected students in classes 2 to 9,” Kandasamy said. “When checked a couple of days ago, these students showed a marked improvement in pronouncing Tamil words and writing,” he added. “These efforts are aimed at helping to improve the Tiruvannamalai district’s ranking.”