SEVAI –OFI-Volunteers Cow farm in Sirugamani acts as Resource and information centre for farmers.

CO4 Grass grown in SEVAI Farm as fodder for cows/goats

SEVAI-OFI-Volunteers Cow project

“SEVAI –OFI-Volunteers Cow farm in Sirugamani acts as Resource and information centre for farmers” said Vanitha the SHG promoter in SEVAI.SEVAI –OFI-Volunteers Cow farm in Sirugamani has undertaken comprehensive farming activities such as Bio-farming, vermi compost, farm yard manure preparation, Paddy hay conservation as cattle feed, heifer rearing, stall fed goat rearing, cow rearing as chain activities. The entire process is passed on to the farming community especially those have milking cows and marginal farmers and goat rearers. SEVAI has grown its own cow and cattle fodder such as sorgam grass, CO 4 etc.The project coordinator of SEVAI –OFI-Volunteers Cow farm in Sirugamani explained the cattle rearers, "Thanks to Dr.R.Ramasubbu, Dinamalar for organizing very information and practical exhibition for farmers in Karur in the recent past.The information has been translated into action and the integrating farming started functioning well even in such difficult conditions where there is scarcity of water in River cauvery.The fodder grass growing information given in this Karur Dinamalar exhibition has been adopted by this sirugamani farm".K.Devendran further said that he could understand and benefited and added, "The humble Napier Bajra grass is called as CO-4. This grass can be grown in most soil types, except in heavy clay, highly alkaline and water logged areas. This grass is nutritious and relished. “Feeding one 15Kg bundle of CO4 grass has been found to increase milk yield by almost 200 ml per cow. CO4 is a superior growth characteristic; SEVAI is planting CO4 variety now. The market value of this fodder is for Rs 2, a kg and is able to harvest 7-8 cuttings a year getting an average yield of 110 tonnes per acre. This also generates 300 days of employment through this activity a year. CO4 is a perennial grass which can be retained on field for 2-3 years, Co4 produces numerous leaves, and it has larger leaves, softer and less persistent hairs of leaf blades and sheaths and less sharp leaf edges”. The cow farmers visited the SEVAI –OFI-Volunteers Cow farm and the fodder plantation in S.Pudukottai.The farmers those visit KVK,Sirugamnai also visit the cow farm promoted by SEVAI –OFI-Volunteers Cow farm as part of their field exposure.- Govin

Music provides a unique opportunity for literacy preparation

Ms.Aminata  helps a student to perform music

School pupils enjoy music performances

‘Music provides a unique opportunity for literacy preparation,” said by Elizabeth Walton while distributing certificates for the students those completed the music course given by Ms.Aminata ALENSKAYA and Beatrice LARAT.BELLIOT in SEVAI Shanthi school recently in school premises. Teaching Music in SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School for pupils had been undertaken as pilot extracurricular activities. Ms.Aminata ALENSKAYA, Certified by Tchaikovsky conservatory of Music, Moscow & University Sorbonne, Paris volunteered to teach music to pupils of SEVAI Shanthi School on voluntary basis in February 2013. Ms.Aminata ALENSKAYA selected 13 students of this school and gave piano classes working closely with the pupils in small groups to help them as much as possible with music as a rewarding and satisfying project of the volunteering service of Ms.Aminata.Beatrice LARAT.BELLIOT trained these pupils in singing and the outcome was very appreciated by one and all in the School. On completion of the course, Mrs. Elizabeth Walton, President, Objectif France-Inde distributed Music preliminary course completion certificate to those students completed the music course in the school given by Ms.Aminata ALENSKAYA and Beatrice LARAT.BELLIOT. Mrs.B.Chitra, the Principal of SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School in her vote of thanks address mentioned, “Playing instruments and adding movement to the lessons teaches children about sequential learning which is essential in reading comprehension, music is a more potent instrument than any other for education .Music trains the brain for higher forms of thinking; musical training permanently wires a young mind for enhanced performance. Music can be described as a sport. Learning to sing and keep rhythm develops coordination. Music is an art form; every child requires an artistic outlet, child’s vehicle of expression”. The School principal B.Chitra appreciated the voluntary services of Ms.Aminata ALENSKAYA and Beatrice LARAT.BELLIOT and dignitaries headed by Mrs. Elizabeth Walton. Govin

OFI- Gavoty- France-Award-2012 conferred on Dr.R.Ramasubbu

Dr.R.Ramasubbu

 “OFI, France- Gavoty Award-2012 conferred on Dr.R.Rama Subbu, M.A.Ph.D, Associate Editor, Dinamalar” announced by Mrs. Elizabeth Walton, the President of OFI-France. .Dr.K.Govindaraju Award function Organizer, President of South Zone Board of Continuing Education makes local arrangement for Award handing over function in Trichirappalli during the first week of March 2013.  Objectif France -Inde (OFI), (www.ofi-asso.org) is an international organization working for poor and down trodden since 1998 having its base in Toulon in France. Objectif France Inde (OFI) has instituted an award namely OFI- Gavoty- France-Award in 2003. This OFI- Gavoty- France-Award has established a set of guidelines and administers the approval process for seeking nominations for worthy recipients for receiving Gavoty- France-Award. This award is given in recognition of outstanding contribution to the community through civic, benevolent, by personalities from a variety of walks of life. The recipient must have outstanding voluntary service in cultural, educational, humanitarian, patriotic, historical, citizenship, environmental conservation, or organized community endeavors those serve the neediest communities especially with a focus in the areas of knowledge connectivity, quality of life improvement of needy, Livelihood promotion, Technology transfer and especially the comprehensive development of women and children. OFI- Gavoty- France-Award carries a citation and a certificate. OFI- Gavoty- France-Award is given only one selected personality for one year and the same is being handed over to the awardees by the President of this French organisation Objectif France -Inde (OFI) usually in February/March.

As assigned by OFI-France, the South Zone Board of Continuing Education, (www.southindiaeducation.org) scrutinized the community services of various personalities and finally selected and forwarded the nomination of Dr.R.Rama Subbu, M.A.Ph.D, Associate Editor, Dinamalar with his back ground and his community services in the areas of Knowledge connectivity and community outreach programs such as organizing women convention, motivation of student communities  for their outstanding success and conducting exhibitions for farmers and cattle farmers etc  through Dinamalar. South Zone Board of Continuing Education members perused various documents and prepared a note on the achievements of Dr. R.Ramasubbu as associate Editor of Dinamalar, playing a vital role in promoting literacy in Tamilnadu, makes sure that he rise to the occasion every time and implement their innovative ideas to keep the decades of faith that their readers have in them. Dr.R.Rama Subbu and his team have increased their usual circulation over several thousand copies, which have been possible with the support and faith of their readers; Dr.R.Rama Subbu and his team would like nothing better than pay tribute to their founder Sir. T.V. Ramasubbu Iyer, the grandfather of Dr.R.Ramasubbu; It was his vision to uphold the interests of the Tamil people develop the Tamil language and extend its reach across the globe. Inspired to make a difference he launched Dinamalar in 1951. And today close to sixty years later, Dinamalar is striving hard to give shape to that vision in the best possible way to commemorate a great man’s, great vision through Dr.R.Rama Subbu. Dr.R.Rama Subbu is instrumental for knowledge connectivity through the  supplementary of Dinamalar such as Children creative weekly, Women special, Weekly special on Development, Farmers/women SHGs pages, Question/Answer bank for school students of 10^th and 12^th standard., and extension works such as Conducting various motivational courses for student community, conducting Women SHG products marketing conventions, Exhibition for farmers and cattle Farmers ,Bio-Farming exhibitions, Agriculture and Cattle rearing stalls exhibitions. Non-conventional energy stalls exhibitions, Special publications and linkage with Government departments pertaining to development of agriculture and allied agriculture activities and livelihood promotion. Dr.R.Ramasubbu published a thesis on role of Dinamalar for the socio economic development of India and he is known for his charity works for the poor and needy. This brief note was sent to OFI Board by South Zone Board of Continuing Education. After careful scrutiny, Objectif France -Inde (OFI) has come forward to confer “OFI-Gavoty- France-Award” on Dr.R.Rama Subbu, M.A.Ph.D, Associate Editor, Dinamalar for the year 2012.It is proposed to hand over the award by Mrs. Elizabeth Walton, the President of OFI-France during the first week of March 2013 at Trichirappalli. It is proposed to invite OFI-Gavoty- France-Awardee-2004, Dr.Mrs.K.Meena,the present vice chancellor of Bharathidassan University to preside over the function in the esteemed presence of Board members of OFI-France and local dignitaries’.Prof.M.S.Palanichamy,the former vice chancellor of Tamilnadu Open University,Dr.(Mrs)K.Meena,the current Vice Chancellor of Bharathidasan University,Dr.Muthuveeran IAS, then District Collector of Theni,Dr.V.J.Senthil of GVN Hospitals were the  earlier recipients of OFI- Gavoty- France-Award in the past years in Tamilnadu for their outstanding performance for the needy communities. The authorized facilitator of this award function in March 2013 on behalf of OFI-France is Dr.K.Govindaraju, Chairman, South Zone Board of Continuing Education.-Govin

Supervision is the key to keeping a good cow and goat farm

Mrs.Elizabeth Walton inspects Cow project in Sirugamani

Mrs.Elizabeth Walton in goat rearing project

Mrs. Elizabeth Walton who officially declared open the OFI-Volunteers and SEVAI Cow farm in Sirugamani recently suggested that to the animal care takers and managers, “Supervision is the key to keeping a good cow and goat farm, farming is to develop knowledge and experience about cattle farming: constant contact with livestock expert, agricultural professor and keep the cow sheds hygienic to keep away with all kinds of health issues with the cattle”.SEVAI-OFI-Volunteers dairy or goat farming in Sirugamani provides training which includes lectures, on farm practicals, Field visits to successful dairy entrepreneurs, Project report preparation, economics and information of different schemes on dairy farming. Milk is handled at several levels across the value chain before it reaches the consumer. Addressing the challenges, SEVAI cow farm functioning in collaboration with OFI and its volunteers is functioning with moderate and above average productivity of ‘milch’ animals; good quality of raw milk and manageable costs of domestic production provides both improvements in technology as well as better management. This project aims at significant reduction of production costs, maximizing environmental benefits - an improvement in quality. The project focuses on establishing the profitability of the farms and bringing down the milk production cost through a mix of high herd size, better feeding practices and selective mechanization for cattle rearing, milking, feeding, animal hygiene, manure disposal and effluent treatment plants. Ideally to start off the project, SEVAI and its partners  finalised the project site, herd size and processed products mix depending upon the agro-climatic conditions, availability of social and physical infrastructure, labour, regulatory environment, availability of land for adequate fodder cultivation and procurement, availability of water, transport connectivity, market potential etc.-Govin

Colourful sports day celebration of SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School declared open by Mrs. Elizabeth Walton, President, Objectif France-Inde.

House captain honoured

Pyramid building skills

SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School celebrated Annual Sports Day on February 19 in the school grounds. As soon as all is settled, the Chief Guest Mrs. Elizabeth Walton, President, Objectif France-Inde arrived, and the Principal B.Chitra went out to receive chief guest and other international dignitaries. The Chief Guest is taken to the dais and as soon as she is settled, the Principal introduced the guest to all, and requested Mrs. Elizabeth Walton to declare the Sports open. The chief guest declared the opening of the function. Mrs.B.Chitra, the Principal of the School welcomed the gathering. The Head mistress of SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Mrs.B.Chitra in her welcome speech enlightened,” Games that are played on school sports days can be wide and varied. There are straight forward sprints and longer races for all age groups as well as egg and spoon races. Three legged races are run as well as sack races and parent and child races. Earlier the Games like-football, cricket, throw ball, volleyball, running, relay, shot-put, javelin throw, etc were conducted. Weeks before the Sports Day students start giving their names for different events, and then, after the school hours, practices start. The children, who do not participate in any events, get other duties of the like of making relevant charts, making lists of games and participants etc. It is obvious that something is on for, at least for a fortnight before the event, the students start their practice for sports, except of course for the STDs X and XII. The rest of the school is seen bustling with enjoyment and merriment for all enjoys such events” The function started with a prayer. The colourful welcome March fast the drill presented by the school students and stole the heart of the spectators. House captains led the march past holding their respective flags. One by one the events take place in a very well disciplined manner and the winners listed and made to stand on the Victory Stand and cheered by one and all. Mrs. Elizabeth Walton in her chief guest speech appreciated the sports march and students’ skillful events such as Yoga demo, Pyramid show etc.Then came the most interesting moment of the function - the moment of appreciating the winners by awarding them gifts and prizes, cups and shields. This is the ultimate moment of pleasure for winners when, amidst loud clapping and shouting of cheers, they get their rewards for their good work - from the Chief Guest. School Teacher Meena proposed the vote of thanks.-Govin