The Trustees of GT Foundation led by the Managing Trustee Dr. V. Ravichandran had the privilege of honoring Padmabhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, a World-renowned Indian Classical Bharatanatyam dancer, a research scholar, choreographer, music composer, musician, teacher, an author, and also the Director of Nrityodaya, Chennai and Sri. Harekala Hajabba, a reputed Social Reformer who along with being an orange vendor in the city of Mangalore is known for the revolution he has brought in rural education within the State. His generosity goes back to saving a portion of his profits from selling oranges to starting a school in the region he came from; to encourage education amongst the children there. Today, the School has grown to be known as Hajabba School, aided by Government and private donations from individuals. He is affectionately known as ‘ Akshara Santa’ (The Saint of Letters) in Mangalore city. He has also been recognized by CNN-IBN and BBC for his services in the Education field in Mangalore.
Dr. C. V. Krishnaswami, Chairman, TAG-VHS Diabetes Research Centre, Chennai, and Sri. Mohammed Nazeer, Commissioner, Mangalore City Corporation were the main chief guests who graced the Occasion.
Besides honoring the above dignitaries, we had the pleasure of watching the scintillating Bharathanatyam dance performance of Sri N. Srikanth and Smt. Aswathy Srikanth from the Nrityalaya School of Dance, Calicut who enthralled the audience with their performance. They are the true torchbearers of the authentic tradition of South Indian classical dances, particularly Bharathanatyam.
On the occasion of TejoDiya 2017, Dr. V. Ravichandran also launched the following three new initiatives:
- GT Foundation promised to undertake the renovation of the Hajabba School managed by Sri Harekala Hajabba. The approx. cost for this project is estimated at Rs. 3.5 lakhs.
- GT Foundation partnered with the Rotary Club of Mangalore for a special program to launch the “Water with Blessings” water purifier which is developed by a Charitable Institution named ‘Water with Blessings’ and is managed by Sr. Larraine Lauter and her team in Middletown, Kentucky, U.S.In this regard, Dr. Ravichandran handed over three water purifier units to the Rotary Club of Mangalore towards a noble cause. Under this program, the Rotary Club of Mangalore will be joining the GT Foundation in identifying the appropriate villages for distributing, mentoring, and implementing water purifiers in deserving households. This purifier can purify approx. 5 gallons of water within a span of 5 minutes. The whole cost of the project will be sponsored by the GT Foundation at an approx. cost of $7,000 – $8,000.
- In the year 2014, the GT Foundation in association with the Akshay Patra Foundation had launched a new project that aims to provide mid-day meals to approx. 50,000 school children in and around Dakshina Kannada District and Udupi. The project in its entirety included the purchase of land; construction of buildings, machinery, and other miscellaneous things. In this regard, 2 acres of land has been purchased at Benjanapadavu @ the cost of Rs. 1.5 crores.The GT Foundation pledged to complete the land registration formalities located at Benjanapadavu, by April 2017, thereby start the construction of the automated kitchen facility and handover the same to the Akshay Patra Foundation.
