The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Contributing for a greater cause

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 25, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Contributing for a greater cause

Staff Reporter

RDF organises fund-raising dinner at Shilparamam to support rural schools

WORTHY CAUSE: A group of schoolchildren presenting a dance ballet at the Rural Development Foundation's fund-raising dinner in Hyderabad. Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: It was philanthropy at its best. A large number of persons, including some of the top names in business and industry, turned up to contribute their mite at a fund-raiser for rural schools.

The annual fund raising dinner was organised by the Rural Development Foundation (RDF) at Rock Heights, Shilparamam, here on Saturday evening.

The proceeds of the fund-raiser are intended to support the RDF's flagship projects - the Kadella rural school in Warangal, and the Matendla rural school in Medak.

The Speaker, K. Suresh Reddy, who was the chief guest, appreciated the gesture of donors and hoped it would inspire others to follow suit. Efforts towards rural development needed to be more focussed and a sustained campaign was required to create awareness. In this connection, he appreciated the awareness campaign launched by the Government and the money invested in the field of healthcare and education. "All this will definitely bridge the gap between haves and have-nots," Mr. Reddy said.

The Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmiah, said the State Government had accorded top priority for agriculture and irrigation since India lives in its villages. Recalling the development over the years, he said today India was the fifth largest industrialised nation.

However, distribution of wealth continued to be a matter of concern, the Minister said.

R. Gopalakrishnan, executive director, Tata Sons, said there was no dearth of philanthropists.

A good and honest cause attracted money automatically. Charity, he said, was considered good for business. With the advent of industrialisation, merchant charity converted to corporate philanthropy. Now a new phase of charity has begun with Information Technology.

Rural initiative

Earlier, M. Gopalakrishna, chairman, RDF, said the organisation had a mission to educate, enable and empower rural India. The schools started by RDF provided quality education, inculcated good hygienic habits and provided free mid-day meal to students.

The programme concluded with a dance performance by schoolchildren with Uma Shanker and Uma Mahesh enlivening the evening.

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