‘Trichy is always energy giving’-Mrs.Santha Sheela Nair.

Trichy-19;Feb:Trichy is always energy giving District’ Said Mrs.Santha Sheela Nair in her award acceptance speech  in a function organised by South Zone Board of Continuing Education here on the 19^th February 2011. South Zone Board of Continuing Education the apex body of Tamil Nadu Board of Continuing Education has presented Mrs.Santha Sheela Nair ‘Speek@Con Award’ for her outstanding services for the poor especially in the areas of women and sanitation promotion. Mrs.Shantha Sheela Nair, the former Collector of Trichy who has been retired from her 38 years of civil service, said that she has never accepted any award from anyone in her tenure. She accepted to receive this award as it has been given by dedicated social workers those are known to her for three decades. She is very proud that the function was organised where more than 95 participants are women.  She said that she respects those who work for women and sanitation and the organisers of the program Dr.K.Govindaraju and Scope Subburaman are working towards such goals of reaching the women for development creating a conducive atmosphere for better sanitation’. She also recalled her associations with the NGOs in and around Tiruchirapalli, especially SEVAI, SCOPE, when she was collector of Combined Tiruchirapalli district in eighties and said the NGOs used to associate themselves with the district administration in multi developmental activities. She said that she will extend all her possible cooperation for those work for Women and disabled, children and sanitation’. Although she was a bit depressed after her retirement, she said Trichy trip and this function re-tyred (energised) her to go miles and mile to go for the welfare poor and needy.She is proud of introducing pulse polio in 1980 during the decade of disabled,this works as Polio free Tamilnadu'. Mrs.Shantha Sheela Nair donated the cash received attached this award to Sahanthakumar,Director, Trichy Spastic Society as her gesture.

South Zone Board of Continuing Education’s Chairman, Dr.K.Govindaraju said ‘the Board has instituted an award namely Speek@Con Award those have shown commendable work for the development of rural population in the areas of Societal Connectivity, Physical Connectivity, Educational Connectivity, Electronic Connectivity and Knowledge Connectivity by Provision Of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA) as visualised by Dr.Abdul Kalam,the former President of India. South India Board of Continuing Education Board collectively resolved to honour Mrs.Santha Sheela Nair, IAS (Rtd,), the first woman District Collector for Trichy with Award for her excellent work with ‘Speek@Con’ Award for the reaching the unreached with PURA concept at her various capacities as Civil Officer during her tenure for 38 years. Speek@Con Award is a symbol of honour, award’s are for those doing some best services in their work.’ This prestigious ‘Speek@Con Award’ carries a citation; shield with purse of Rs.5000 had been handed over to Mrs.Santha Sheela Nair for her outstanding services for the poor and needy especially for women and also for her contribution in the area of Sanitation. Handing over the award to Mrs.Santha Sheela Nair, the veteran Social Scientist Mr.P.Gnadurai Micheal said ‘Mrs. Santa Sheela Nair, the former collector of Trichy was responsible for establishing Trichy Spastic Society as Founder President in 1980, now this Trichy spastic society caters to the needs of  300 children affected with Cerebral Palsy’.

Dr.K.Govindaraju, President of South Zone Board of Continuing Education in his presidential address said ‘Mrs.Shantha Sheela Nair as Collector of Trichy had served even in interior villages of then composite Trichy District, currently Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur and Trichy. During her tenure she has renovated Gagaikondacholapuram temple, given house site pattas for thousands of people, lauched the first noon meal scheme in Kattur Pappakurichi and planted 10 million trees in Trichy District and guarded them well, those trees standing around Kalaiarangam premises, the function venue are those planted by her during her tenure and they are the testimonials’.

Mrs.Santha Sheela never failed to reach the poorest of the poor, needy and disadvantaged during her tenure as civil officer especially in her positions as Rural Development Secretary, Urban Development Secretary, Commissioner of Chennai Corporation, even as Home Secretary and above all as Special officer on Duty as for tsunami Emergency relief works in Nagapatianam District converging the services of the Government and around 400 NGOs for sheltering the tsunami victims and undertaking immediate relief measures. He added ‘during the emergency relief of Tsunami 2004 mentioned that although the Government does not have a disaster handling system on such a mammoth scale since it has never had to face such a situation before, the Government deputed Santa Sheela Nair, the senior officer of the IAS, to Nagapattinam to be on the spot and handle the relief work, Mrs.Shantha Sheela Nair acted swiftly, and coordinated the efforts of the Government and Non Government Organizations and brought under control and relief reached within two days the entire tsunami devastation situation in this  district covering around 120 coastal villages of stretch of around 110 kms in the District. In two weeks of tsunami the entire affected population was shifted to intermediary shelters for 18000 families. It was possible by Mrs.Santha Sheela, as, she identified more quality volunteers of NGOs and relevant government staff and counseled them to handle this job – in a situation in the worst-hit place’ but for her services the situation would much worse’ Chairman applauded.

M.Subburaman, Director, Scope introduced an eco-san model and the model was handed over to Mrs.P.Vanitha, the Dist.Coordinator of SEVAI for women Federation of 10800 women by Mrs.Shantha Sheela Nair. Mrs.Kannahi,a women organisation head,Jona also spoke. Earlier ‘Scope’ Subburaman welcomed the gathering, Mr.V.Ganapathy, a noted journalist felicitated. .SEVAI Resource and Training Team headed by Amala sperformed cultural events on  women empowerment. Vice President Shanawas Khan proposed vote of thanks.-Etram News Service