Stalin launches "Kutti Kavalar" scheme for school students

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday launched the "Kutti Kavalar" scheme for school students with the objective of making them more responsible when it comes to road safety.

The scheme is jointly implemented by the State government and "Uyir", an NGO based out of Coimbatore.

Under the scheme, school students will be educated through a well-defined curriculum on road safety with the objective of making them ambassadors of road safety. To spread awareness on road safety, 5,000 students in CODISSIA ground in Coimbatore and 4.5 lakh students in their respective schools in Coimbatore district took pledge on road safety. As the pledge was administered for a large number of students simultaneously, it formed a record under 'Asia Book of Records' and the certificate handed over to the Chief Minister.

Under the scheme, students of government, government-aided and CBSE schools in Coimbatore district studying in Classes 3 to 8 will be given training on road safety. The Chief Minister also released a booklet on road safety training and a guide for teachers.

Later, Stalin launched fortnightly and monthly magazines for school students and teachers, respectively. The magazines named "Oonjal" has been launched for students of Classes 4 and 5 and "Then Chittu" has been for students of Classes 6 to 9. In the two magazines, the creative works of students, the information required for them, news and interesting stories will be present. Similarly, for teachers, Stalin launched "Kanavu Asiriyar" in which the works of teachers, their experience, and special essays will be published.

Stalin also gave "Bharathiar Ilankavignar" award to two school students who won in the poetical competition held on the death anniversary of Bharathiyar. Praveen, from Municipal government higher secondary school, Ammapettai, Salem, and Saini, from St Aloysius Girls Higher Secondary School, Thoothukudi, were given Rs 1 lakh each for bagging the first prize.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also held a meeting with Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru and officials of the department on the status of projects implemented by the department. He said that 50 per cent of the people reside in urban areas in the State and asked the department officials to provide basic amenities and to maintain roads and storm water drainages in proper manner.