Diwali with a difference

Indian Development Foundation (IDF) organised a citizens' reach-out programme on the occasion of Diwali at Vimala Dermatological Centre, Versova, Mumbai on 27-10-2016.  Dr. ARK Pillai, founder IDF spoke on amity and friendship to be spread across for a better society. Diwali gives an opportunity to strengthen brotherhood.

Mrs. Sagareeka Bhatia, Principal, RBK International School and Chief Guest for the function, congratulated Team IDF and all the volunteers for organising such a meaningful festival of togetherness.   Principals from various schools and colleges, IDF volunteers, social ambassadors and supporters - joined Team IDF in wishing the inmates of the Centre and children a Happy Diwali. Volunteers from J.M. Patel College, UPG College of Management and Vivek College of Commerce did an excellent volunteering at the public event.

Citizens' Diwali-Meet provided an opportunity for citizen's to meet and greet leprosy patients with fruits, sweets and gifts, and wish them a Happy Diwali and speedy recovery. The children of the centre also received new dress which was made possible through `Pledge a Dress' campaign.  This interaction between the citizens and patients had drawn public appreciation for over 33 years.    IDF thank all the volunteers and social ambassadors for making the celebration a meaningful one.

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Happiness Unlimited.

Children at Vimala Centre & Monfort Bal Gurukul are all in a happy mood as they received their new dress for Diwali.

IDF thank all the supporters for supporting `Pledge-a-dress' campaign and spreading happiness.Jai ho !!!

You have the power to empower....

An excellent interaction with class XI science students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ashok Nagar, Chennai.... 2510201

Dr. Sarada Menon received Mother Teresa Award

Dr. Sarada Menon received Mother Teresa Award

The history of psychiatry in India will not be complete without mentioning Dr Sarada Menon’s contributions. One of India’s most distinguished specialists in psychiatry, Dr Sarada has been honoured with many awards including the Padmabhushan, four lifetime achievement awards and the recent Tamil Nadu Government’s Avvaiyar Award.

“A lot is being done to improve the condition of the patients, especially those living with the acute stage of illness”, said Dr. Sarada as she emphasised on the treatment of mentally ill in India. “It is of utmost importance to see that the patient’s mental state is restored to his or her original state, so that they can live a fruitful and normal life within their family and society”, observed Dr. Sarada Menon, while receiving the  Mother  Teresa  Award 2016 from Dr. M. S. Swaminathan  at a function organized by Indian Development Foundation at MSSRF, Taramani, Chennai on 25^th October 2016.

The nonagenarian founder of SCARF — Schizophrenia Research Foundation, Dr. Sarada Menon expressed immense pleasure to receive an honour in the name of Mother Teresa, who set a sterling example for serving the sick and the needy. The efforts of Indian Development Foundation in enlisting people’s participation and support for national health and development programmes are noteworthy’ she added.

Dr. Sarada Menon was conferred with the prestigious  Mother Teresa Memorial Award 2016 for her signal contribution to mental health and relentless rehabilitation services to the schizophrenics.

Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, Emeritus Chairman and Chief Mentor of M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation paid glowing tributes to Dr. Sarada Menon for her historic contributions to mental health and rehabilitation work for the schizophrenics in India. Dr. Sarada Menon’s great initiatives will strengthen India’s efforts towards care and welfare of the mentally ill, he observed.

Dr. A.R.K. Pillai, founder President of Indian Development Foundation said that IDF has been working for the improvement of health, education of the deprived children and empowerment of women, belonging to lower economic strata. “In the course of our varied activities in the social field, it has also been our resolve to locate gems of human beings who have outlived the dimensions of normal life and served humanity all through their lives” he added.  Dr. Pillai said IDF has been bestowing Mother Teresa Memorial Award on personalities who have been the change-makers of India.  Earlier recipients of the Mother Teresa Award are : Dr. M.S.Swaminathan (2010), Shri N. R. Narayana Murthy (2011), Shri D. R. Mehta (Jaipur foot) (2012), Dr. V. Shanta (2013),  Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak (2014) and Dr. K. Radhakrishnan (ISRO) (2015).

Dr. V. Shanta (Chairperson, Adyar Cancer Institute), Dr. Raja Samuel, (Principal & Secretary, Madras School of Social Work), Dr. A.P. Jayaraman, (Senior Nuclear Scientist & ex-BARC), Dr. Ambika Kameshwar (Founder, RASA), Mr. B. S. Raghavan  (Former Policy Adviser to the UN-FAO) and Ms. Shiloh Jessie Francisca, IDF Social Ambassador spoke in appreciation of Dr. Sarada Menon and did the felicitation.

Earlier Dr. S. Franklin, Chief Executive, IDF welcomed the dignitaries while    Mrs. R. Rajammal, IDF Social Ambassador proposed the vote of thanks. Dr. Narayan Iyer, CEO, IDF co-ordinated the flow of the event.

Mr. T. S. Ranganathan, Director, GIRI rendered the invocation song and gave a scintillating musical tribute to Dr. Sarada Menon.

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RBK International School supports Mission W2K.......

Waste to Knowledge, an initiative by Indian Development Foundation to mobilise old newspapers and books for IDF Bal Gurukuls was supported by RBK International School Bhayander. 

Special thanks to Principal Mrs. Sagareeka Bhatia and her team for the wonderful support and goodness. IDF Social Ambassador Afsana Shaikh did the coordination.

Goodness unlimited

Celebrating Diwali 2016 with a difference and started the celebration of Goodness and Happiness by seeking the blessings of elderly at Assisi Bhavan,Oldage home ,Goregaon (e).

Indian Development Foundation(IDF) along with Team Sitel and Social Ambassadors visited Assisi Bhavan,A home for elderly to spread the smile and seek their blessings.

The elderly inmates were happy that there is someone who care and have love for them. We had a lovely evening with all the elderly inmates by singing,dancing,sharing love and gifting them the small hampers.

Elderly were happy seeing Dr.Ark Pillai Founder President of IDF coming in sharing love and happiness with them. To make it more special Dr.Narayan Iyer CEO of IDF ,Mrs.Vijaya Shankar Mam Trustee Member of IDF along with her two little Angels gave a lovely treat by singing beautiful songs.Mam you and angels have a beautiful Melodious voice .

A big thanks to Team Sitel for joining hands to Share the happiness and lovely smiles with the inmates.And also helping them by giving Grocery and daily necessities things required.

Such Citizens Reach-out programme has gained momentum for over three decades. Citizens from different walks of life gather at the centre to greet the inmates .

The Diwali Dhamaka of Spreading Goodness and Happiness has Just started......Picture toh abhi baki hai Dosto. Join Hands with IDF to Brighten up many more lives.

JAI HO!!!

Goodness unlimited

Celebrating Diwali 2016 with a difference and started the celebration of Goodness and Happiness by seeking the blessings of elderly at Assisi Bhavan,Oldage home ,Goregaon (e).

Indian Development Foundation(IDF) along with Team Sitel and Social Ambassadors visited Assisi Bhavan,A home for elderly to spread the smile and seek their blessings.

The elderly inmates were happy that there is someone who care and have love for them. We had a lovely evening with all the elderly inmates by singing,dancing,sharing love and gifting them the small hampers.

Elderly were happy seeing Dr.Ark Pillai Founder President of IDF coming in sharing love and happiness with them. To make it more special Dr.Narayan Iyer CEO of IDF ,Mrs.Vijaya Shankar Mam Trustee Member of IDF along with her two little Angels gave a lovely treat by singing beautiful songs.Mam you and angels have a beautiful Melodious voice .

A big thanks to Team Sitel for joining hands to Share the happiness and lovely smiles with the inmates.And also helping them by giving Grocery and daily necessities things required.

Such Citizens Reach-out programme has gained momentum for over three decades. Citizens from different walks of life gather at the centre to greet the inmates .

The Diwali Dhamaka of Spreading Goodness and Happiness has Just started......Picture toh abhi baki hai Dosto. Join Hands with IDF to Brighten up many more lives.

JAI HO!!!

Diwali with a difference - 27-10-2016

Dear Friends - supporters - well-wishers :

Greetings and good wishes !

You are cordially invited for Diwali Celebrations programme with leprosy inmates and children at Vimala Dermatological Centre, Yari Road, Versova, Andheri (West), Mumbai on Thursday the 27th of October 2016 at 4.00 p.m. 

Citizens' Diwali-Meet provides an opportunity for citizen's to meet and greet leprosy patients with flower, fruits, sweets and gifts, and wish them a Happy Diwali and speedy recovery. This interaction between the citizens and patients had drawn public appreciation for over 33 years.

Members from various Social Service Organizations, Educationists, Principals, Teachers, Students and citizens from various groups are expected to take part in this event and touch many lives.

You are requested to participate in the public function and share the joy of participation. Let's celebrate Diwali with a difference !!! This Diwali, let's brighten up many lives.

Seeking your blessings and wishing you all a Happy Time,

Team IDF

PS : Similary Diwali events are held at various IDF Projects and Bal Gurukuls in India.

Mother Teresa Memorial Award 2016 to Dr. Sarada Menon

Indian Development Foundation (IDF) announces Mother Teresa Memorial Award 2016 to Dr. Sarada Menon, Founder, SCARF for her excellent contributions in mental health care and humanitarian services. 25-10-2016 @ MSSRF, Chennai. All are cordially invited.

http://www.idf.org.in/awards.html

Know more about the 93 young Dr. Sarada Menon

History of psychiatry in India cannot be written without hailing Dr Sarada Menon’s contributions. One of India’s most distinguished specialists in psychiatry, Dr Sarada has been honoured with many awards including the Padmabhushan and four lifetime achievement awards.

The latest honour is the Avvaiyar Award instituted by the Tamil Nadu government.

Born in Mangalore on 5 April 1923, Dr Sarada moved to Chennai when her father, a judge, was posted here. She finished MBBS in 1947 from Madras Medical College and completed training in Delhi and Andhra Pradesh. She joined the Madras Medical Service in 1951. Within a couple of years, she completed MD and in 1957, she completed a two-year specialisation course in psychiatry at NIMHANS, Bangalore, graduating as the first woman psychiatrist in India.

Dr Sarada served the Institute of Mental Health for 17 years where she introduced many reforms. She is also the founder of SCARF — Schizophrenia Care and Research Foundation in 1984 for the aftercare and rehabilitation of people with mental illness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Sarada_Menon

Straight from the heart !

Jai Ho IDF team!

Heartfelt thanks Dr.Iyer sir for the invite. A saturday afternoon truly well spent.

The hall was brimming with knowledge, talent & goodness. So many revelations about Kalam sir inspite of  reading his books & visiting his village Rameshwaram & his birthplace Danushkodi.

The thought provoking speeches made by the three eminent speakers & scholars made today's day really the one to be cherished. Firstly the touching speech of Dr.Geetha Mohan about her mother & her teacher making her feel so special & not small during her challenging phases.

Dr.Radhakrishnan Pillai's speech quoting Kalam sir's profound question to the organisers of an event where he was invited," How many children will attend the event?" And how we need to spend time with children & goad them to read. Aptly today is Reading day. October 15th was also declared as Student's Day by the U.N. on Kalam sir's 79th birthday.

Not to forget Nuclear scientist, Dr.A P Jayaraman's wonderful sharing about Kalam's leadership model. I think there were lot of take aways for the management students from his speech.

Also the inspiring stories of & for the do-gooders of the society. Last but not the least Vijaya Shanker ma'am whom I would call the Lata & Asha of IDF, completely mersmerising the audience with her renditions.

And at the helm of affairs is the unsung hero none other than Dr.Iyer who shoulders every role & responsibility with remarkable ease & total commitment.

Above all the surprising revelation about the 89 year old youngest living inspiration & founder of IDF Dr.ARK.Pillai, who loves to talk about his painting class which he joined at the age of 82 alongside  young kids as his classmates rather than talking about Mother Teresa or Vatican Pope visiting him.

It was inspiring to see how much goodness is there & how people from Pune to America, young or old attended this event & are involved in noble causes.

Hats off to IDF for specially inculcating the value of taking pride in our Indianess & spreading the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

I'm now eagerly waiting to use the IDF diyas made from our very own Bharat ki mitti, by the children of IDF Bal Gurukuls this Diwali.

Jai Ho! Happy & safe Diwali!

Chethana Shetty​
The CHE WAY- Chethana Shetty​

https://plus.google.com/113252243098554115490/posts/TKxNAnDmnVK

Igniting Minds - Salaam to Kalam

Team Indian Development Foundation organised Leadership Talks & Musical Tribute to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on Saturday the 15th October 2016 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Durgadevi Saraf Hall, R.S. Campus,, Malad West, Mumbai. 500 people from different walks of life participated in the event and got ignited. The programme was supported by Kudilal Govindram Seksaria Sarvodaya School. 

Tribute Talks by Experts
1) Leadership Skills : Kalam Model - Dr. AP Jayaraman, Sr. Nuclear Scientist
2) Women are born Leaders : Dr. Geetha Mohan, former Principal, UPG College of Management
3) Leader in You : Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai, Director, Chanakya Institute of Public Leadership, University of Mumbai

Musical Tribute - Mrs. Vijaya Shanker, Music Director & Team

Student Speakers - Priyanka Bisht, Usha Gupta and Payal Pandey

Event Chairmanship - Dr. C. Babu, Director, DSIMS
Welcome and Introduction by Mrs. Latha Venkat, Principal, Sarvodaya Vidyalaya
Talk - IDF & Kalam by Dr. ARK Pillai and Dr. Narayan Iyer
Vote of Thanks by Mrs. Mallika Ramchandran

Cinematography by Ashish Patil and Swapnil Jadhav

Event supported by volunteers, social ambassadors and mentors

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Igniting Minds - Salaam to Kalam

Team Indian Development Foundation organised Leadership Talks & Musical Tribute to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on Saturday the 15th October 2016 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Durgadevi Saraf Hall, R.S. Campus,, Malad West, Mumbai. 500 people from different walks of life participated in the event and got ignited. The programme was supported by Kudilal Govindram Seksaria Sarvodaya School. 

Tribute Talks by Experts
1) Leadership Skills : Kalam Model - Dr. AP Jayaraman, Sr. Nuclear Scientist
2) Women are born Leaders : Dr. Geetha Mohan, former Principal, UPG College of Management
3) Leader in You : Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai, Director, Chanakya Institute of Public Leadership, University of Mumbai

Musical Tribute - Mrs. Vijaya Shanker, Music Director & Team

Student Speakers - Priyanka Bisht, Usha Gupta and Payal Pandey

Event Chairmanship - Dr. C. Babu, Director, DSIMS
Welcome and Introduction by Mrs. Latha Venkat, Principal, Sarvodaya Vidyalaya
Talk - IDF & Kalam by Dr. ARK Pillai and Dr. Narayan Iyer
Vote of Thanks by Mrs. Mallika Ramchandran

Cinematography by Ashish Patil and Swapnil Jadhav

Event supported by volunteers, social ambassadors and mentors

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