Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Study hard, come up in life: Income Tax Commissioner

For a cause: Annie Yeo, Director/head, Corporate Social Responsibility Asia, Deutsche Bank AG, Singapore branch, handing over school bags to children at a programme, in Vijayawada on Monday.

VIJAYAWADA: The children listened in rapt attention as the man on the dais told them his own story fraught with odds that he could overcome with his steely grit.

“My parents were poor and could not afford my education. I desperately wanted to go to school but there was nobody to encourage me,” said Income Tax Commissioner, Vijayawada, Ajay Kumar.

He was addressing a crowd of children covered under various welfare and educational programmes, implemented by the city-based Vasavya Mahila Mandali (VMM).

Mr. Ajay Kumar said he joined an orphanage where the education of the children was sponsored by a local non-governmental organisation. “When I was in sixth class, the district Collector visited our school and distributed sweets. I decided I wanted to be like him,” he said amidst claps by the children.

Recounting that he lived in a thatched roof with no electricity, he said the children sitting in the auditorium were lucky as their needs were being taken care of. “I want all of you to study hard and come up in life,” he said giving his blessings to the young ones.

A ‘School Grant Ceremony to Orphans and Vulnerable Children' programme was organised by the VMM at the Vasavya Jubilee hall on Monday to mark the 91st birth anniversary of the Chennupati Seshagiri Rao, co-founder of VMM.

Annie Yeo, Director/head, Corporate Social Responsibility Asia, Deutsche Bank AG, Singapore branch sponsoring the programme, was also present. “I have come from a distant land to see you all. You have a very long journey and we are all here to see that you do well in this journey,” she said.

Ms. Yeo said the Deutsche Bank had its presence in 17 countries. She said corporate social responsibility was an important wing of the bank. “We know there are many problems out there. But it is difficult for us to address everybody's problem. We'll do our bit to help you educate yourself and you all must make use of the opportunity, scale great heights, and do your bit to the society when you grow big,” she said.

VMM president Chennupati Vidya emphasised the need to prevent these youngsters from going astray and mould them into responsible citizens. “Our aim is to equip them with life skills,” she said and added that the corporate sector must come forward to share the responsibility.

Three youngsters who benefited from the educational support extended by the VMM shared their experiences. Dr. Samaram, P.M.N. Prasad, Ch. Keerthy, and P. Deeksha were present.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Promising future for fashion industry: experts
Changes in commerce studies to be discussed
Arrangements under way for Kiran's visit
VMC officials prepare wish-list
CPI: complete pending projects
Union Textiles Minister's visit
Land acquisition dogs these projects
CPI(M) seeks Rs. 200 cr. for city's development immediately
Study hard, come up in life: Income Tax Commissioner
Landowners agitated over move to issue loans to tenant ryots

Copyright © 2011, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu