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Their skills can't be contested
Rustic, poignant and sincere portrayals.
IT'S DURING student days that one dreams of great things about future and develops novel ideas and strong opinions on diverse issues. But not many get a chance to put forth their views in public.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Southern Region, and the United Nations International Children's Educational Fund (UNICEF) have jointly organised the `Talent Contest for Rural Children of South Tamil Nadu' to give shape to dormant ideas and opinions of students of government schools in rural areas.
The contest, held in eight districts, was classified into three groups, one for standards VI to VIII, another for standards IX and X and one more for standards XI and XII.
There was an overwhelming response to the competition. Nearly 1,600 students participated in the preliminary rounds, of which, 400 were selected for the two-day final event, which began at TVS Lakshmi Matriculation Higher Secondary School on Friday.
In all, 230 contestants from Madurai, Sivaganga, Pudukottai and Dindigul took part in the final round. An equal number of students from Tuticorin, Theni, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram will take part in the final round on Saturday.
The contest was split into three segments, drawing, elocution and essay, based on three topics, `education to girl child', `female infanticide' and `child labour'. A majority of the participants chose to express their views on `education to girl child', followed by `female infanticide' and `child labour'.
Most of the students presented a visual description of `education to girl child' in chronological order, in the drawing competition. A few `roaring lions' were noticed during the elocution. The modulation maintained by the students in their speeches clearly showed their involvement.
Several quoted from works of the Tamil poets, Subramania Bharathi and Bharathidasan, to support their ideas.
Speaking on education, the rural students frequently referred to statements made by the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and objectives of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, showing that they were keeping abreast of the latest developments.
The striking qualities of the participants were their lack of stage fear, exemplary pronunciation of Tamil words, and loud and clear diction.
At the end of the two-day-long event, 36 winners from eight districts would be selected for scholarships to be provided by members of the CII, Madurai zone.
A project contest on the topic, `Water 2020', has also been organised. "The winning school will get financial assistance for development of infrastructure from the CII," said M.D. Vel, Chairman, CII, Madurai zone.
T. Kannan, former chairman, CII (Southern Region), delivered the keynote address at the inaugural function. Thomas George, Project Officer, UNICEF, Pamela Anna Mathew, chairperson, Social Development Sub-Committee, and Annapurna Prasad, Convenor, Community Development Panel, Tamil Nadu State Council, CII, also spoke.
From M.R. Aravindan
Photo: S. James.
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Life
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
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