Vedarajapuram School ensures that pupils enjoy coming to school

Cheerful Vedarajapuram school pupils

The school pupils of vedarajapuram participated in the equal health camp jointly organized by SEVAI and equal health in Tirunagari recently. Vedarajapuram school teacher Bala mentioned to the SEVAI education coordinator, “We are very proud of our school and the standards of care and education we provide and hope that you will be pleased with the experiences on offer for children. We teachers in the schools provide information to help the parents  to get to know and understand our school and the way we work as well as some information which we are legally required to include. We hope that the information given by us will help the parents explaining our aims and what we can offer for their child and their education. We value our home-school relations and aim to keep parents informed about what is happening in the school generally as well as their own child's progress. We believe that by working together we can ensure that child is happy in school as when children are happy they will make progress. We communicate regularly with parents, parents' evenings, open sessions, home/school books and informal chats. We will build on the learning experiences that our child has had before coming to our school. Children will be taught at a level appropriate for them and we will keep the parents informed of their child's progress throughout their time with us. We treat each child as an individual and will ensure that all of our children have opportunities for success during their time here and aim to ensure that they enjoy coming to school”. -Govin

SEVAI School students Bharatanatyam appreciated.

Bharatanatyam performed by school pupils

SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School students performed Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form originating in the state of Tamilnadu. The school girl students of SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School performed Bharatanatyam with grace, purity, tenderness, and sculpturesque poses. Today, it is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles and is practiced by male and female dancers all over the world. Jewelry - Bharatanatyam dancers wear a unique set of jewelry known as "Temple Jewelry" during the performance. The student Dancers had anklets called gajjalu, made of rope or leather with rows of traditionally copper bells attached on the anklet. The costumes are deeply symbolic, as their purpose is to project the dancer's performances and the music is in the Carnatic style of South India. The Bharatanatyam students of SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School had the ability   of exhibiting agility, steadiness, graceful lines, balance in pirouettes, glance, hard work, intelligence, devotion, good manners, and performing ability with youthful, slender, beautiful, with large eyes, self-confident, pleasing, well aware of when to dance and when to stop, able to follow the flow of songs and music, and to dance to the time with splendid costumes, and of a happy disposition. Thousands of students, their parents and guests witnessed this dance form performed by the School. The School administration appreciated the dancers and their trainer on the occasion of the School Anniversary on 8^th February 2013.-Govin

Dental hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems- Key Message given in Equal Health camp at SEVAI.

Physiotherapy administered by Equal Health team

Pupils after dental hygiene orientation by Equal Health

Equal Health Australia in coordination with SEVAI a Tamilnadu based voluntary agency had organized two weeks health camp in interior villages of Trichirappalli and Nagapatinam Districts. The team headed by Paul Clarke provided health support to the public those are in health need for different consultations such as eye care, general health care, dental care, physio and occupational therapy and   Oral hygiene. The school children are given dental hygiene education and the parents and teachers attended these orientations during their leisure time during the Equal Health camp in the target villages. The experts in dental care explained the pupils, teachers and parents, “Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems, most commonly, dental cavities, gingivitis, and bad breath. There are also oral pathologic conditions in which good oral hygiene is required for healing and regeneration and of the oral tissues. Severe gum disease causes at least one-third of adult tooth loss. Tooth decay is the most common global disease. Over 80% of cavities occur inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces where brushing cannot reach food left trapped after every meal or snack, and saliva or fluoride have no access to neutralize acid and remineralise demineralised teeth, unlike easy-to-reach surfaces, where fewer cavities occur. Dental sealants which are applied by dentists, cover and protect fissures and grooves in the chewing surfaces of back teeth, preventing food from becoming trapped thus halting the decaying process. An elastomeric strip has been shown to force sealant deeper inside opposing chewing surfaces and can also force fluoride tooth paste inside chewing surfaces to aid in remineralising demineralised teeth. Generally, dentists recommend that teeth be cleaned professionally at least twice per year. Between cleanings by a dental hygienist, good oral hygiene is essential for preventing tartar build-up which causes the problems mentioned above. This is done through careful, frequent brushing with a tooth brush combined with the use of dental floss to prevent accumulation of plaque on the teeth. Daily brushing and flossing removes plaque and can prevent tartar from forming on the teeth”.-Govin

SEVAI Goat project commenced in Sirugamani.

Monitoring goats in SEVAI Goat farm

A Goat project has been commenced in Sirugamani as demo and training farm for the benefit of the small and marginal farmers interested in cattle and marginal land holding agriculture project.SEVAI has started a goat project in Sirugamani SEVAI-OFI Cow project premises with Thalacherry goats. K.Devendran, the project coordinator of SEVAI integrated farming said, “Integrated farming has been advised for small scale farmers. As the average land holding is small, the resource-inadequate farmers need to be assured of a regular income through economically viable and socially acceptable farm enterprises which will complement their cropping activity through crop and livestock integration. This type of farming is fast gaining popularity in several villages as farmers are now more aware that by integrating animal husbandry along with their crops, their income can be doubled, and if there is any loss due to crop failure, the impact is not so severe unlike for farmers who practice mono-crops, Compared to the last 5-7 years there are more farmers in the South who are slowly realizing the importance of integrated farming and have been successfully trained in several animal husbandry practices such as cows, goat, and poultry.SEVAI-OFI-Volunteers cow project  has been successfully integrating goatvermicompost manufacturing and growing a number of crop varieties such as banana, vegetables and high yielding fodder grass varieties. The effective recycling of farm residues and waste is possible when complementary farm enterprises are judiciously integrated. A goat shed was constructed on SEVAI-OFI-Volunteers cow farm and sheltered 25 female and 1 male Tellicherry goats. Tellicherry goats are mainly reared for mutton purposes, and stall feeding is highly suitable for this breed.  Rearing goats is relatively easier compared to cattle as the expenditure involved in goat rearing is less when compared to cattle. “The feed for my animals is mostly grown in SEVAI field. A female goat gives birth to 4 kids in a year and the kids are sold for Rs, 2,000 each when they attain 3-4 months of age. Also, selling the goats is easy when compared to cattle as there are no middlemen involved, as farmers approach me directly if they need any animals. The cost factor is small when compared to that of cattle. Farmers easily pay the small amount for buying the goat kids unlike that of cattle which costs several thousands. Similarly like cattle dung the dung of goats can also used for making vermicompost. The vermicompost made from goat dung has been found to be more beneficial when compared to that of cattle, as the crops turn dark green in colour in 2-3 days after its application, whereas the vermicompost made from cattle dung takes at least 3-4 months to act on the plants.   Goats leads 20KG weight within 3 months, Between 5-6 months of Age, it will be ready for Breed (Maturity), Both Male and Female. It will deliver 3 - 4 lamb at a time, CO3, CO4 are the best feeds, It can also eat other green leaves, CO3, CO4 are used to increase their weight, It will live in all climate, suitable for all weather., Shed Storage, Wooden Floor (with small reaper) is hygienic for all goats, White colour goats is specialty in Thalassery named goat”.-Govin

Twenty two health professional of Equal Health Australia provide health support to poor and needy.

Dr.Mark Bolt provides consultancy health services

Twenty two health professional of Equal Health Australia provide health support to poor and needy. The poor populations in Trichy and tsunami, cycone affected Nagapatinam, Karaikal Districts in India receive the health services from Equal Health-Australia team and 5000 people those are need for optical support, general health, dental care, physio and occupational therapy for the past two weeks. The founder and India coordinator of Equal Health Australia, Paul Clarke, a Perth based optical dispenser said, “Equal Health provides free health care to people in need in developing countries which makes a lasting difference to people's lives. We bring sight to the blind, relief from dental pain, freedom of movement and improved health through providing access to multidisciplinary health care. This is made possible, thanks to the generous contributions of donors and members and hundreds of Australian health professional volunteers, who donate their time, skills and resources.SEVAI a local NGO provides support to conduct such health camps in Tamilnadu. Since the first camp in January 1997, annual camps have been conducted India. Equal Health's work is made possible by strong working relationships and collaboration with its partner agencies such as SEVAI to deliver health care programs. This equal health camps Help change the lives of people in need. Equal Health's teams of health professional volunteers provide free health care to thousands of people in need in developing countries, which makes a lasting difference to people's lives. With large crowds attending Equal Health's make shift clinics in remote villages, in community halls or even under the shade of a tree, many people are unable to be treated. The equal Health services  help someone see their child's face with a pair of glasses, bring relief to someone suffering with a toothache through dental treatment, make someone feel better through a health appointment, transform the life of someone in need through providing everyday health services.-Govin

SEVAI-OFI cow farm serves as cow farmer’s resource and information centre

Grass chopper in Sirugamani farm in operation

“SEVAI-OFI cow farm serves as Marginal cow farmer’s cattle rearing resource and information centre” said Devi a small cow farmer for milk. SEVAI-OFI Sirugamani Cow farm/training centre has installed Grass chopper machine for feeding the cows. This Power Operated Grass chopper machine enables to meet the requirements of animal husbandry for chopping all kinds of dry and green fodder into small pieces for cows of this farm/training centre. This Grass chopper has been designed to minimize wastage of fodder and makes fodder easier to swallow and more digestible. This Grass chopper machine is used to chop dry and green fodder of Sorgam, millet, maize, Sugarcane, Paddy, Grass, and Groundnut etc into small pieces for cattle. This Grass chopper machine totally eliminates the wastage of fodder. This Grass chopper machine is High quantity, at reasonable cost and this Grass chopper is used to cut corn straw, various crops straw stalk and grasses, suitable for small and medium-sized stockbreeder and Adopts steel frame, small volume, light weight, convenient to move, prevent accidents, machine gnawing knife is safe and reliable. Grass chopper installed IN SEVAI Cow farm is durable, long lasting and low maintenance machine, it cuts the fodder uniformly, which is ideal for the livestock, it improves the digestion of cattle yielding more milking output capacity, and high production in minimum time.K.Devendran,the Project coordinator says, “there is no wastage of fodder for feeding the cows by using the Grass chopper and it is easy to handle. The fodder given using the grass chopper is fresh and the cows yield milk with better quantity and the animals are very healthy. The women self help group members those received the mulching cows from Government of Tamilnadu in and around Pettavaithalai visit the cow farm and also get trained in the application of proper and required fodder”. -Govin