AIM for Seva Student Home for Boys
Anaikatti, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu
About the Sponsor: State Bank of India
State Bank of India (SBI) is India’s largest banking and financial services company
(by assets) with its headquarters in Mumbai. The State Bank of India was named the
29th most reputed company in the world according to Forbes 2009 rankings and was
the only bank featured in the "top 10 brands of India" list in an annual survey
conducted by Brand Finance and The Economic Times in 2010.
The Bank is actively involved since 1973 in non-profit activity called Community
Services Banking. All SBI branches and administrative offices throughout the
country sponsor and participate in large number of welfare activities and social
causes.
About the Free Student Home:
Anaikatti is a small village nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats on the Tamil
Nadu-Kerala border. Famed for its flora and fauna, especially medicinal plants, the
area is home to many tribes who live in the hills and the surrounding areas. Lack of a
steady income and dependence on the meager resources mean that many of the
tribal children are unable to access education.
Location of the FSH:
Background of Student Families:
The students at the Free Student Home (FSH) come from the Irula and Badaga
tribes, with most parents unable to afford even a square meal a day. More than 60%
of the students are from the Scheduled Tribes, with most of the rest belonging to the
Scheduled Castes. Three students are from the Backward and the Most Backward
Castes. Some of the villages that the FSH serves include Agraharasamakulam, Bilichi,
Chinnathadagam, Gudalur, Kallipalayam, Keeranatham, Kondayampalayam,
Naickenpalayam, Nanjundapuram, Pannimadai, Sarcarsamakulam,
Somayampalayam, Thadagam, Vellamadai, Gopinari, Melbhavi, Arakadavu, Kuliyur,
Kaaliyur and Senguttai, Jambukandi and Kudalur.
Children at the FSH:
There are 65 boys in this FSH, who study in the 3rd standard to the 12th standard.
They are a sprightly group of young men who often achieve good results in board
exams, and bring laurels to the FSH and school in sports.
Schools Attending:
• Government Residential Tribal School
• Anaikatti Government Higher Secondary School, Chinnathadagam,
Typical Day Activities at the FSH:
The children wake up in the morning
for a session of yoga followed by some
physical exercises. Then, it’s time for
some freshening up and study before
breakfast, and they are off to school.
After they return from their schools, the
children have a small snack and a cup of
malt.
They are out for some play, before
settling down to study, aided by special
tutors to help them with their studies
and homework.
A friendly game of volleyball
Independence Day at the FSH
Student Achievements and Results:
Academics:
Vignesh Murthy of the 10th standard came third
among tribal schools in the district of
Coimbatore. He received an award from the
Collector of Coimbatore. His parents work in a
banian factory in Tirupur.
Sports:
Our students participated in the various
competitions organized by the Vivekanandar
Narpani Madram, Anaikkatti and won prizes. The
Volley Ball team comprising R. Anish, R.
Saravanan, S. Chinnaswamy, K. Gnanasekar, R.
Saravanan of Std. XII, Arun Pandian, R. Eswaran,
Std. XI and M. Nagaraj, Std. X, won the first place.
M. Selvaraj , Std. X, bagged the second place in the
100m sprint.
The triumphant volleyball team
Vignesh Murthy with his award
Success Stories:
The Boys’ Student Home is AIM for Seva’s first FSH to be inaugurated, and has been
consistently providing the children of the area with a good foundation.
Take A. Karthik, for example. He studied at the FSH for three years, and finished his
ITI (polytechnic) course in Coimbatore. He now works with Craftsmen Auto
Machines in Pune, earning a handsome salary. His parents, Angusamy and
Gnanambal, are small-time farmers in Kerala.
Karthik says, of his experience at the AIM for Seva FSH: “What I have learnt by living
in AIM for Seva cannot be explained easily, but I can feel it everyday. There is no way
I could have studied at my parents' home. First, just commuting to school would
have occupied my entire day. Then, of course, there is no electricity where my
parents live.”
Time for some games and dance!
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