Students work for rural uplift

Chennai: The golden jubilee celebrations of D G Vaishnav College here were enriched by a weeklong rural camp ‘Puthuyir-2014’ conducted by its PG students of Social Work at Thirukazhikundram in Chengalpet district. They also teamed up with Vasan Eye Care to hold a medical camp at Thandarai where over 110 villagers benefited, said Ms Apshara, a Masters student and general secretary, Toy Joy Exnora.

She said the ‘Puthuyir’ project also helped create livelihood opportunities to the Irula tribal women in Chenneri village by the cultivation and marketing of ‘Chippikalan’ mushroom.The students also held sports events for the children in Thirukazhikundram besides conducting awareness of issues such as alcoholism, child marriage and the dowry menace, through street-plays, mime and dance. They also distributed books such as Thirukkural and dictionaries, Ms Apshara said.