An Urgent Appeal for a Slum School (in Chennai, India) that survived political atrocities and now needs financial aid to grow.

1. Navajayam Kalvi Maiyam
Formerly 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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Resurrection of the school
2012
• 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

6. Present (2014) – Urgent Appeal
While funds have stopped coming from all directions, many pending works remain to be completed
before the rains strike
• 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

7. 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

8. What you could do about it..
Bank Acc. No.: 1550201000875
• Please transfer from an Indian account
Donate to FICAS
IFSC code - CNRB0001550
(Canara Bank)
generous in your
contributions..
Your support will
not go waste.
• 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.
Please be
• 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

9. "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~~