Navajayam Kalvi MaiyamFormerly Vidya Nivas school

(Kotturpuram Slum, Chennai)A survivor of socio-political hardships

A potential platform for educational and social reforms

A FICAS SAVE SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN(FICAS – An advocacy NGO for education, economy and environment upliftment

Foundation for Innovative CASework and Research for Education, Economy and Environment)

“Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.”

– Nelson Mandela

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article309913.ece

A school that became victim to political greed

Vidya Nivas School

• Greedy local landgrabbers intend to build a wine shop or a shopping complex on the school ground

• 2006: Illegal demolition of the school

• The slum residents are threatened and the kids (over 200) are forced out of school

• Local support from slum families stops and all the social-upliftment activities – medical camps, adult-literacy programs, tree plantation etc. come to a halt

Will it be the same ever again?

However..

• The major problem ahead was funds for reconstruction and growing political pressure

• Corporates and other NGOs wouldn’t support due to fear of political consequences

• The only option left has been funding through personal contacts

Making the best of what is left..

• The immovable resolve of Mrs. Nimmu Vasanth (President, FICAS) keeps the school running each day (even on the very next day of demolition)

• School continues to function under thatched roofs even as the political pressure keeps mounting

• Student count though falls from 200 to 25 gradually from 2006 to 2012

The legal battle

• Mrs. Nimmu Vasanth’s relentless legal battle against this injustice for years pays off and the school sees court’s supportive direction

Resurrection of the school2012• In a big first step, M.S. Dadha group contributes to raise the foundation for the new

building

• A group of socially active young minds raise about Rs. 3 lakhs to build the walls and the roof. Another giant leap.

• While NGOs keep promising support after completion of the building, the funds slow down drastically

• Political pressure and disharmonious activities by local landgrabbers continue to grow, threatening the slum residents and school children

2013..... Braving all odds

• With some more push and support from like-minded people, the school observed its Inauguration Day on 22nd June 2013 and the school rechristened as ‘Navajayam Kalvi Maiyam’

• A lot of work, however, still remains to be completed

Present (2014) – Urgent Appeal

• Safety of School and Children• Compound wall to protect the school premises from

thugs and trespassers and to protect the kids from going near the risky areas (Adyar river flows next to the school)

• Two of the walls are half grilled, hence, open to outside interference

• Children suffer from rain lashing

• Fans and fittings prone for petty thefts

Funds required: Rs. 3.75 Lakhs

While funds have stopped coming from all directions, many pending works remain to be completed before the rains strike

Why is this important?

• This is “not just a non-privileged school issue”; This is a long-fought battle against corruption and petty governance

• Many projects towards social and educational reforms are being planned by FICAS with this school as a foundation platform

• Thousands of schools are in the same condition. This school is to become the first step in transforming the whole system

• A micro school, all set to gear for macro reforms in primary and wholesome education system

What you could do about it..

• Please transfer from an Indian account• FICAS cannot accept donations from foreign accounts as it doesn't have a permanent FCRA no. yet.

• The donations are tax-exemptible under 80G. You’ll receive the 80G letter. • When you donate, email the transaction details (for cross validation) and your postal address (to courier the 80G letter) to nimmu_vasanth@yahoo.co.in and cc me (evinvit@gmail.com)

• Updates on the progress of construction and the money spent will be posted on the Facebook page/website

Donate to FICAS

Bank Acc. No.: 1550201000875IFSC code - CNRB0001550

(Canara Bank)

Please be generous in

your contributions..

Your support will not go waste.

"I shall pass through this world but once.

Any good, therefore, that I can show to any human

being, let me do it now.

Let me not defer nor neglect it,

for I shall not pass this way again."

~~Stephen Grellet~~