The Indian Development Foundation (formerly the Indian Leprosy Foundation) has recently presented the prestigious Mother Teresa Memorial Award (Rs. 3.96 lakh) for the year 2008-09 to Campion Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Tiruchi, for outstanding resource mobilisation for leprosy/TB work in Tamil Nadu zone, in Chennai.
Sam Deva Asir, Senior Development Executive of the Indian Development Foundation, Tiruchi and Miss Shiloh Jessie Francisca, Young Ambassador of IDF, received the award on behalf of the school from John Kurian George, CEO and Director, GLRA-ALES India, who presented the IDF grants and awards to leprosy/TB hospitals and projects in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala regions, at a function in Chennai.
Mr. John Kurian George said that India’s progress in leprosy eradication efforts had been spectacular and the participatory work by the governmental and voluntary agencies was laudable. He also presented awards to 74 principals of schools in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry with star performance record of leprosy and tuberculosis awareness programme and resource mobilisation and awarded medals and certificates to 35 students for their significant contribution.
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A.R.K. Pillai, president of Indian Development Foundation, who presided over the function, said the government and voluntary agencies worked hand in hand with admirable co-operation to achieve the leprosy elimination status in India. Dr. Pillai thanked the public for their understanding and continued support. Sharing resources and serving others give greater joy and this will be the gospel for the future, he said.
Dr. Pillai pointed out that the IDF had earmarked grants totalling Rs.13 lakh to 15 health and development projects in South India during the year. IDF grants release function is an annual feature to share its resources with leprosy or TB projects and promote self-reliance.
Vidhya Srinivasan, Head of the Department of Social Work, D.G.Vaishnav College, Chennai and Pius Kalathil, Director, Gremaltes, Chennai, complimented IDF’s role in India’s fight against leprosy and tuberculosis and for widening its activities to include health care, education and development.
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F.A. Shiloh Jessie from Rani Seethai Achi Higher Secondary School, Chidambaram, topped the individual students list in resource mobilisation while second and third ranks were bagged by S. Sureya and A. Bala Yuslish Murugan from Campion Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Tiruchi. IDF’s southern region manager C. Chidambaram, manger S. Franklin and others spoke.