After realising a dream to meet the President of India, the two tribal women from Wayanad reached here as the Brand Ambassadors of the State Literary Mission. They were among the 25 neo literate women from across the country who attended the ‘Literacy Feast’ at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 20 and met President Prathibha Patil.
The world of letters provided the coveted opportunity to Bindu Damodaran, 34, wife of Damodaran at Kallumala Paniya Colony at Kallumala near Mepadi and Usha Kelu, 30, wife of Kelu of Vilanilam Kurichiya Colony at Pilakkavu near Mananthavadi in the district. The programme was organised as a part of ‘Sakshar Bharath Mission’, a programme launched by the Prime Minister recently with the objective to reduce illiteracy especially among the women to mark the International Literacy Day.
When Ms. Kelu got a chance to open her mind to the first lady of India, Ms. Damodaran presented her poem written in tribal language on the occasion. Ms. Kelu told media persons here on Saturday that she never dreamed of such a long journey to Delhi. The meeting with the President of India was a precious moment. Ms. Damodaran said that though 25 women in the country had participated in the programme, she and a woman from Gujarat got the rare chance to talk to the President. When she shared her experience on the literacy programme, the President urged her to convey her experience to the non literate tribal women in the district.
C. Sree Kumari, Assistant Director, State Literacy Mission, who accompanied them, translated their words.
Apart from Ms. Kelu and Ms. Damodaran, Khadeesumma from Malapuram district also represented the State.
C.K. Pradeep Kumar, District coordinator of the Literacy mission said the State Director of the Mission had appointed them as the Brand Ambassadors to encourage the neo-literates in the State.
