Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Belgian journalists to write a book on their Salt Satyagraha march

— PHOTO: R.M. RAJARATHINAM

Florina Benoit, Trustee, GLO foundation.

TIRUCHI: The re-enactment in February this year of the historical “Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha March” from Tiruchi to Vedaranyam by a team of journalists from Belgium has rejoiced both the team and the villagers en route.

The team, which walked down this 150 miles from February 10 to 28 exactly on the route taken by the late Rajaji 78 years ago, comprised three Belgian journalists Chirtophe Lambert, Sam Paret and Tine Desodt. They were accompanied by the Trustee of the Chennai-based Glo Foundation, Florina Benoit.

In an interview to ‘The Hindu’ here recently, Ms. Florina outlined the feedback of their experience and said that the team’s objective was to witness the ordeals taken by the freedom fighters in walking down the distance. The team’s focus was on creating awareness among the masses on child development by protecting child’s rights and ensuring educational avenues to children.

“We received an overwhelming response from the villagers all through when we explained the objective,” she said. The team observed that several middle schools, if upgraded into high schools, would contribute to the educational career of the children without any break.

The team considered as a rare phenomenon the cordial relationship between the Hindus and Muslims in Thiruthuraipoondi, Ms. Florina pointed out. It had been planned to expose the college students from cities including Chennai, Tiruchi and Coimbatore to Thiruthuraipoondi to promote communal harmony among the youths.

The proposed implementation of the ‘National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme’ from the current fiscal would play a major role in checking migration of youths and ensure economic uplift of the masses Ms. Florina said. The Belgian authors would bring out a book by September, projecting these aspects, she added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Lot of chess activities planned this summer
Belgian journalists to write a book on their Salt Satyagraha march
These children are at ease with sounds of alphabet
Centre blamed for not “showing interest”
NIT-T bags 28 research projects
Rs. 18-crore works to be taken up to improve passenger amenities
Stress laid on measures to prevent fire
When the Goddess graced streets in all splendour
Stem cell research: call to take into account ethical issues
Body of old man found
1,000 beneficiaries get flood relief materials
Summer schedule
Mettur level
Plea on airport expansion
2,766 held
“Quality of medical education deteriorating”
Tiruchi today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu