THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The year-long centenary celebrations of SMSS Hindu Mahila Mandiram, one of Kerala’s pioneering women’s welfare and empowerment institutions, will come to a close here on February 3.
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan will inaugurate Mahima Unit and release a souvenir at a function to be held at Tagore Theatre, Vazhuthacaud, here at 5pm. Khan will also present the Centenary Award to Selvi K on the occasion.
A documentary on Mahila Mandiram will be screened at the function, which will be graced by Princess Aswathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi. Minister for Health and Social Justice K.K. Shailaja will preside over the function. O. Rajagopal, MLA, Nemom, will deliver the keynote address.
M. Sreekumari, Secretary, Mahila Mandiram, will welcome the gathering while K.Y. Radhalakshmi, President; and Dr B. Vijayalakshmi, Ward Councillor, will offer felicitations. Meena Ramesh, Joint Secretary, Mahila Mandiram will propose a vote of thanks.
Selvi, the Centenary Awardee, a differently abled person, was a resident of the institution for 18 years. During her stay at Mahila Mandiram she pursued her studies and also picked up various skills like stitching, embroidery and book binding. Now she lives in Tamil Nadu as a self-reliant person.
As part of the valedictory event, various cultural programmes by the residents of the institution will be staged.
The charitable organization was founded by K. Chinnamma with the aim of educating, empowering and rehabilitating girls from less privileged backgrounds, irrespective of religion or caste. She had immensely contributed to the field of education, especially for girls’ education in the erstwhile state of Travancore in particular and Kerala in general.