The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Natham children have their own school

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 24, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Natham children have their own school

By G. Srinivasan

KUMBAKONAM, JULY 23. They have their own school now. The children of Natham village, near Kumbakonam, from where 13 of them of the July 16 school fire accident hailed. Prior to the accident, they were attending school at Kumbakonam. Thirty of them are now studying in a school opened under the Education Guarantee Scheme in the village, thanks to efforts taken by the Thanjavur Collector, J. Radhakrishnan.

The school is temporarily located in a private building. The village would shortly have a primary school building of its own, according to the Collector.

Muthu, a standard IV student was earlier going to Kumbakonam. "Now I am studying here. There is no need to travel. My village has a school," a cheerful Muthu says.

Satheesh Kumar is another standard IV student. He too was going to Kumbakonam prior to the accident. Now he studies here.

Gayathri, a commerce graduate, and Senthamizhselvi take classes for the students. Padmasini and Umamaheswari of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan scheme visit the school every day and train the teachers. Fourteen children are studying in standard I, seven in standard II, two in standard III and seven in standard IV.

Change for the better

There has been a change in the village for the better after the accident. An approach road to the village from the main Kumbakonam-Chennai road has been laid. The road leading to the burial ground has also been repaired. Water taps have been put up at various points.

According to V. Murugan, Revenue Divisional Officer of Kumbakonam, a round-the-clock health centre has been functioning in the village from July 17. R. Chitra is the medical officer. The Collector promised to construct group houses for parents who have lost children in the accident as well as to those whose children were injured. Initially, houses are being built for parents who have lost their children. "The houses are being constructed at a cost of Rs. 34,000 each and a sum of Rs. 4.5 lakhs was allocated for constructing 13 houses for 13 families initially." The houses would be completed within two months.

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