Priya Dutt presents IDF Awards

India's progress in leprosy eradication efforts has been spectacular and the participatory work by governmental and voluntary agencies is laudable, observed Mrs. Priya Dutt in Mumbai on Wednesday. “We are happy that the cherished dream of the Father of our nation for leprosy elimination has come true,” she said adding that "it is heartening that IDF rededicates its service for the development of nation as it celebrates silver jubilee."

Hon'ble Mrs. Priya Dutt MP was speaking as the Chief Guest of Indian Development Foundation's (IDF) Silver Jubilee Year Foundation Day Function at Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Hall on 24th September 2008.

This report appeared in Mangalorean.com, a news portal from Chicago, USA. Click the link for complete report and photos.

http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=94406

Children for a cause

Young people may not value money as grown ups do, but they definitely know the value of a cause. The students of St. Antony’s Primary School located in Rammurthy Nagar here have proved this through their exemplary work.

Seeking help
The children have collected donations to the tune of Rs.1.10 lakh for of leprosy and tuberculosis patients. Of course, they sought help from their parents and relatives to collect donations , but all the focused hard work was their own. They donated the money to Indian Development Foundation, an NGO working for the cause for 25 years.

Over 1,000 students of the school from standards I to V approached their parents and relatives, explained the cause and sought donation from them.

The children had a great sense of achievement when they handed over the amount Dr. S. Franklin, Southern Region Manager of the Indian Development Foundation.Need of the day
Rev. Sr. Irene, Headmistress of the school, was very proud of the children’s work. Dr. Franklin, after accepting the donation said, “Leprosy can be eliminated with the help of people and organisations. More and more awareness is the need of the day.”

The Indian Development Foundation (IDF) is associated with over 120 hospitals and projects in India.

Click the link
http://www.hindu.com/yw/2008/09/23/stories/2008092350360600.htm

It's mindblowing Shanker Sai

Young at 9, Shanker Sai the IDF Ambassador at Hyderabad and student of Kendriya Vidyalaya AFS studying in standard 4, has done excellent social service during the past couple of months.

Services of Shanker Sai include :
visit to several schools - addressed students and talked on social values
visit to oldage homes - talked to senior citizens,
visit to orphanages - motivated the students
meeting several important persons - handed over copies of Joint Action
visit to flood relief camps - distributed clothes, sweets, eats
organising - friendship day, teachers' day, independence day.

It's mindblowing Shanker Sai to see all your activities. Our Salutations to you. We feel proud about your work. We thank Master Karan Dravid our first youngest ambassador for introducing Shanker Sai to IDF.

Indian Development Foundation feel strengthened by Shanker Sai's association. Good luck to you Shanker Sai.

To see complete album of Shanker Sai click the link given below

http://picasaweb.google.com/idfmumbai/ItSMindblowingShankerSai?authkey=6jcUl3OqHqw

Bhavan's Vidyashram bags Mother Teresa Memorial Award

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Vidyashram, Jaipur bagged the most prestigious Mother Teresa Memorial Award 2007-08 for outstanding performance in social responsibility work in the entire northern region during 2007-08. Vidyashram Schoolteam under the able leadership of Principal Shri Upendra Kaushik has excelled in resource mobilisation, health awareness and social participation programme carried out by Indian Development Foundation (formerly Indian Leprosy Foundation). This is the 3rd time that the School get's this prestigious Award.

On 10th September 2008, Shri Jagdish Chandra IAS (Retd), State Head, ETV (Rajasthan & M.P.) presented the Award at the IDF Silver Jubilee Grants/ Awards Function held Bhavan's Maharana Pratap Auditorium at Jaipur. Shri Upendra Kaushik, Principal - Mrs. Priyadarshini Kachhawaha, Vice-Principal - Mrs. Lalitha Vora, Headmistress and Ms. Valentina, Co-ordinator (Balwadi) received the Award on behalf of the School.

The Guests of honour present at the function were - Shri P. D. Singh, Chairman, Tagore Group of Schools - Dr. K. L. Jain, Chairman, Jaipur Stock Exchange - Dr. Hepesh Shepherd, Director, Ingraham Institute, Ghaziabad - Mrs. Bharti Swami, Principal, Vidhyashram International School, Jodhpur - Shri Suresh Kaul, President, Sarthak Manav Kushthashram and Shri Kuldeep Singh, Director, N.K. Shikshan Sansthan.

After the festivities it is clean up time

IDF News `After the festivities it is clean up time' found a place in Mangalorean.com, a news portal from Chicago, USA.

Click the link given below to see the report.

http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=93421

IDF thank Mrs. Queenie and Mr. Roshan from Mangalorean.com for their kind and continued support.

IDF Foundation Day - Silver Jubilee Year

click on the invitation card to maximize.

An idol-effect in Juhu Beach

Mumbai's most popular festival, Ganesh Chathurthi came to an end on Sunday. Several thousands of Ganesh idols were immersed in various beaches in Mumbai. The after effect of this festival could be seen in various beaches with piled up flowers, coconuts, plastic bags, food packets and litters left behind by the festival revellers.

Indian Development Foundation in collaboration with the students of Podar International School, Santacruz (W) and NSS volunteers from Vivek College of Commerce, Goregaon (W) joined hands with BMC and various agencies and school students in cleaning Juhu Beach during the morning hours of 15th Sept. 08.

Juhu Beach Cleanliness drive received immense support from school and college student groups, NCC and NSS volunteers in Mumbai along with several NGOs and corporates lending hand to BMC in clearing the after-effects of idol immersion.

The students actively participated in the cleanliness drive and felt happy in doing their social responsibility, expressed Mrs. Priya Dutt MP. I am happy to see young students shouldering the responsibility of keeping our Juhu Beach clean, she said.

Lord Ganesha, the harbinger of love and remover of obstacles blessed Mumbaikars and it is the responsibility of every citizen to clear up the left-over of the festival revellers, said Dr. Narayan Iyer, national co-ordinator, Indian Development Foundation.

The total effort by the students and volunteers is appreciative and we could see juhu beach with sparkling yellow sand once the debris strewn is removed, Dr. Narayan Iyer added.

It's an excellent job done by our students participating in the post Ganpati visarjan cleanliness drive, said Mrs. Sarala Gavane, CAS Co-ordinator of Podar International School. We need to protect our beach and keep it clean and my friends and I feel happy to do this social service, said Isha, a student of Podar School.

It is our duty to keep our beaches clean and ban usage of plastic items, said Vidya Padmanabhan, PRO of Vivek College NSS Unit.

More photos - please click the link.http://picasaweb.google.com/idfmumbai/JuhuBeachCleanlinessDrive?authkey=raSYkoQcqSU

We salute teachers' !

We greet our teachers on the occasion of the Teachers' Day on September 5.

Teachers' contribution to the society has no parallel. They strain every nerve to teach, mould, counsel, upgrade and enthuse children of all age groups over long years with remarkable dedication. The present day modernisation would have been impossible but for their years of sweat and toil to transform the children into brilliant citizens.

The benefits of modern medicine, miraculous communications and diverse applications through computer technology have been rendered possible because of their kindling spirit and generous motivation. In fact, the modern world of today with all its advancements are a direct result of the teachers' unstinted commitment to carve out a better society and a better world. In this pursuit for developing students for excellence, the teachers have often postponed their own needs, sidelined personal interests and in fact neglected their success areas. Who can ever thank the
teachers adequately for their sterling sacrifices?

Academics apart, they have encouraged the students to do social service and kindled in their hearts care and concern for humanitarian causes. The students have excelled themselves in various social activities including help for poor leprosy patients. What can be nobler than this generous gesture ?

There are several unseen blessings that blossom out of teacher-student interactions which lead to emotional strengths, confidence and progress. Teachers have been a tower of strength for the students. They have contributed a mighty share for remarkable progress of countless number of students. In the unseen recess of the hearts of thousands of students, they will be delighted to see a sacred place of worship for every teacher !

We thank the teachers for their generosity and wish them good luck.

Dr. A. R. K. Pillai
President, IDF

IDF Grants-Awards Function at Jaipur