Prof.N.Swaminathan honoured with OZONE Kalam Knowledge Connectivity Award.

Dr.G.A.Rajkumar I A S handover the award to Prof.N.Swaminathan.

Prof.N.Swaminathan, a noted Social Development Consultant in Trichy, was honoured with OZONE Kalam Knowledge Connectivity Award instituted by South Zone Board of Continuing Education (OZONE) in Trichy on 26^th January 2019.This award was handed over to Prof.N.Swaminathan by former Additional Chief Secretary of Tamilnadu Government, Dr.G.A.Rajkumar, IAS in a function jointly organized by a Trichy based NGO, SEVAI and South Zone Board of Continuing Education (OZONE). Chairman of OZONE, K.Govindaraju mentioned that Prof.N.Swaminathan is involved in community outreach services for the past 40 years and provides training to the community outreach for needy women and youth in promoting human resources at the grass root levels in the areas of community development, child care and women development, literacy projects life coping skills.  The chairman of OZONE recollected the services of Prof.Swaminathan which enabled the rural population to acquire life skills and knowledge, as well as provide a service to those who needed it most in the areas of human resources capacity building and promoted community outreach program as a big help to your local population by providing needed human resources. The Chairman of Ozone added that the South Zone Board of Continuing Education (OZONE) had taken immense pleasure in recording, appreciating and recognizing the services and lasting contributions of Prof.N.Swaninathan and OZONE was proud in conferring upon him the OZONE-KALAM Award for Community Outreach for the awardees life time achievement.

Dr.G.A.Rajkmumar, the who handed over the award to Prof.N.Swaminathan congratulated him for bagging this award and said, “Community Outreach provides the community populations a sense of ownership of the community with the opportunity to become active members of their community and has a lasting, positive impact on society at large, with volunteerism initiatives which enables women and other stake holders the  Psychological benefits as the training increases overall life satisfaction and helps the community to  feel good about themselves because of mutual help which also  help to decreases stress and ease depression. The community outreach also provides social benefits as the outreach services engages local women and youth with the community, creates special bonds with the population being served, and increases social awareness and responsibility. Community outreach helps adolescents and youth which enhance their personal knowledge, grow from new experiences, and develop better interpersonal communication skills. Community outreach service also promotes the cognitive benefits and making the target population of NGOs where the training has been provided by Prof.Swaminathan, the Cognitive benefits, as Participating in community service not only makes a difference to the organization and people being served, but also makes a difference to every youth’s career prospects. Participating in community service activities helps to enhance the young men and women resume by allowing the local community to obtain work-related skills, build community involvement with civic and social responsibility skills and become more aware of what their community needs”.

On the receipt of the OZONE-KALAM Award for Community Outreach, the awardee,Prof. N.Swaminathan thanked one and all who supported his community outreach program over the years by NGOs, college teachers, family members and friends and also departed personalities like Prof.M.A.Windy and Sr.Rita Thaiveetil. He also expressed his thanks to OZONE for selecting him for this award named after Kalam, the OZONE-KALAM Award for Community Outreach.Prof. N.Swaminathan mentioned a few tips to the participants and emerging community outreach workers, “Meet people where they are, be respectful, Listen to your community, Build trust and relationships. Get the word out in a non-stigmatizing manner, Offer service and information in a variety of locations (including home visits) and at non-traditional times, especially after work hours”.

Prof.Panchanadhan felicitated in this function. Scope Subburaman, Card Vedachalam, K.M.Ratnam, Bless Anthonisamy, Gramium Gopal, Writer Jawahar Arumugam and several others congratulated Prof.N.Swaminathan for bagging this OZONE-KALAM Award for Community Outreach. Former Director of NYK, and chairman award selection committee welcomed the gathering and Thersnathan former Deputy Director of I&B proposed vote of thanks. Around 300 NGO functionaries, SHG members and social animators participated in this award function.-Kris