On Feb 4th 2022, Asha Chennai and Pravartak inaugurated two RTCs at Kanakamma Chathram and Seethanjeri, two villages in Thiruvallur District.

Asha Chennai has launched Rural Technology Centres at the two villages of Kanakamma Chathram and Seethanjeri in Thiruvallur District in partnership with IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation. We started setting up the centres in January. The children also started coming by January 17^th. However launching of the first two courses being offered at the centres with a formal inauguration was done on Feb 4^th 2022. Both these centres have been funded by CAMS, a financial services company.

The RTCs are being set up to teach technology to rural children in the 9^th to 12^th standard. You can read up a little more about Asha Rural Technology Centres here.

Here are photos that we took during the functions.

Functions

The functions were organised on Feb 4^th 2022. The inauguration was carried out at Seethanjeri at 11:00 am and at Kanakamma Chathram at 2:30 pm. Mr. Manikandan, the Company Secretary at CAMS was the chief guest at both the functions. Prof. Devendra Jalihal and Mr. Veeraraghavan from IITM Pravartak also attended the functions. Bhaskar, Usha Rao, Rajaram and Venkat, volunteers from Asha, also participated in addition to Srinivasan, the project Coordinator and the teachers at the centres. The functions were also attended by Asha teachers who work nearby.

Seethanjeri

At Seethanjeri, the function was organised at our own Rural Technology Centre. A shamiana and chairs were arranged in the open area behind the building. The Principal of the school Mr. K.G. Muralidhar the Block Education Officer for the Poondi block Ms. Anne Patricia Porkodi and the president of the Panchayat Union also attended the function. We had also invited the HMs from PUPS Ammambakkam and PUPS Seethanjeri to the function. These schools had been supported by Asha for many years. The technology education for these children is now being continued as part of this RTC.
Mr. Manikandan cut the ribbon to inaugurate the centre. After that, the guests were shown what we have at the centre. We also lit a Kuthuvilakku to mark the occasion. One of the girls spoke well about what they learn as part of the digital literacy course. Then the guest came outside to the stage/seating area. They were honoured by Asha. They then spoked to the assembled students and Asha teachers. The children were also given some snacks.

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The guests were also shown the school right behind the centre. Then the guests were also served lunch at the centre.

Kanakamma Chathram

It is a good one-hour drive to the other centre at Kanakamma Chathram. It goes through many of the areas with schools supported by Asha. At Kanakamma Chathram, we first visited the centre. Mr. Manikandal once again cut the ribbon to inaugurate the centre. We went inside to light the Kuthuvilakku. The guests were once again shown the centre. The Block Education Officer for the Thiruvalangadu block Ms. Lakshmi came a little late but also lit the Kuthuvilakku.

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Then we went to the school which had more space to conduct the function. The function was held in the large room that has been given to us for conducting the lessons. The Head Mistresses from PUMS Ramajeri also joined us for the function. The Principal of the higher secondary school at Kanakamma Chathram, Mr. T. Gunasekar joined us as well. The guest got seated at the stage. They were honoured by Asha. They then spoked to the assembled students and Asha teachers. Here too, the children were given some snacks.