At 60, Jaya Suryanarayanan is displaying the enthusiasm of a 20-year-old embarking on a dream career. Taking the reins of the Inner Wheel Club of Nanganallur in July 2014, when she was named its president, she has started a number of initiatives in the neighbourhood.
“We take up 20 to 30 social initiatives every year. This year, I want to take up more,” says Jaya. From offering free uniforms to high school students to conducting martial arts classes for women, the Club has launched projects that have benefited all age groups. Jaya, who retired as the branch head of Union Bank of India, Nanganallur branch, taking VRS at the age of 57, brings the skills of corporate governance to her role at the Club.
“I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my husband R. Suryanarayanan who quit his job to take up social service. He was already a member of the Rotary Club. I had two options — join a social club or offer free maths tuitions to underprivileged children. I went in for the former,” says Jaya. Her achievements in the last one year, she says, include involving more women from the neighbourhood in the Club’s activities. “Nanganallur has at least 10 clubs but a majority of them are restricted to one area. We have members representing various localities and this ensures greater participation,” she says. Regular programmes organised in the neighbourhood have helped the Club gain the support of residents especially in terms of sponsorship. Through a ‘No to Plastic’ campaign, the Club distributed 600 cloth bags to people shopping at Nanganallur market.
The shoppers were encouraged to sign a pledge not to use plastic. IOB gave the club Rs. 50,000 to help carry out the campaign. “Seeing our Club’s activities, I got a call from a senior citizen from Madipakkam. When I visited his house, he made out a cheque for Rs.10,000 for the Club,” says Jaya. “Family members, friends and relatives have been contributing to the growth of the Club .”
