Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Empowerment is better than Entertainment




Empowerment is better than Entertainment

If you sow mango seed, you get mangoes and if you sow apple seed, you get apples. Why not we sow success seeds and derive success, said Dr. Narayan B. Iyer at the Students’ Empowerment programme. In addition to sowing success seeds, we too need to nurture it for getting better results, Dr. Iyer added.

Dr. Narayan B. Iyer, Co-ordinator of Indian Development Foundation was speaking at the Students’ Empowerment programme organized for about 300 students of 11th standard from Vivek Vidyalaya & Jr.College at Goregaon on 4th Jan. 07. It is high time the youth of India develop them to match the international standards. If the students are not developed during their youth, they may get lost in the crowd once they are out of the college. A proper blueprint needs to be designed for attaining the desired goals in life. Of course there is mismatch between the actuals and the expectations, but preparing a goalsheet at young age will certainly help them in reaching the pinnacles.

Dr. Iyer was empowering the students on the line of personality development and career building. Students need to realize the importance of education before it is too late. It is better not to travel till the dead-end of the road but to learn from others experiences. It is better to have role models in life and work on the path of development.

IDF has been conducting empowerment programmes in various schools and colleges in India for the benefit of students.


Meet Akshata Khanolkar and Sarita Prajapati the two vibrant students of the College who spoke extempore at the Empowerment Programme.

My aim is to become an IAS officer and serve the country, said Akshata with a smile. I like to speak at public gathering as I do not have any stage fright. My parents taught me the tricks of speaking and encouraged me to speak from my childhood days. Hailing from Sawantwadi the 16 year old Commerce student, Akshata did her schooling from St. Thomas Academy in Goregaon. Sister Sebastian was my Principal who prompted me to take part in all competitions. Students should not be bookish in their approach, but they should also keep themselves updated on various current affairs. Times of India paper is dear to my heart and I started reading it from my 1st standard. Students should read more and build their knowledge bank.

I would like to go for journalism and ventilate various issues of development through the media, says Sarita Prajapati who opted for Arts. Of course I have also kept an option of becoming teacher. Let’s see how I fair in my further studies. I am confident of achieving something big as my aims are always high. I am more impressed by the empowerment programme of IDF and wish such programmes are offered to the youth for their development. Empowerment is better than entertainment, says confident Sarita. Doing her 10th from MTS Khalsa High School in Goregaon, Sarita was very good in extra curricular activities. I understand the problems of education to a girl child as I hail from UP. My parents have high aim that I will become somebody in life. We need to develop ourselves then only we can develop India.

Dr. A. R. K. Pillai, President of Indian Development Foundation was also present during the conversation with the young girls. He felt happy that such students are the future of our country who will take the mantle of development. Mr. Suresh Nair, Principal of Vivek Vidyalaya & Jr. College appreciated the efforts of IDF in the path of empowering the students. Mr. Nair said such empowerment programmes will open up minds of the youth and lead them to the gateway of success. Professors from the Junior College who participated in the programme, appreciated the efforts of IDF.

Incidentally, Dr. Narayan Iyer is the ex-student of Vivek College who after completing his graduation did his Masters in Commerce and Masters in Sociology. He did his doctorate on Village Development work. Dr. Narayan joined the social movement when he was in 11th standard and now he is the national co-ordinator of IDF.

Indian Development Foundation would like to offer its services to the youth in the country by conducting several Empowerment Classes and ignite the young minds towards development. Schools & Colleges may approach IDF for organizing Empowerment Programmes. Dr. Narayan B. Iyer may be contacted on 9819131388 – The Address of IDF is L 10/ 3 & 4 Jal Ratan Deep, Bangur Nagar, Goregaon (West), Mumbai 400 104, Tel : 022 – 28762008/ 2876 3008. www.idf.org.in

No comments: