THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
SMSS Hindu Mahila Mandiram, a trail-blazer in empowerment of women through education in Kerala, today distributed financial assistance to 100 girl students from economically backward families, as part of a set of programmes to mark the institution’s centenary celebrations.
The scheme, ‘Sneha Sparsham’, was instituted as a tribute to Mahila Mandiram’s founder K Chinnamma. Inaugurating the distribution of the aid, Sabeena Begum, District Officer, Women and Child Welfare Department, at a function at Chinnamma Memorial Girls Higher Secondary School at Poojappura, lauded the contributions of Mahila Mandiram.
“This premier institution is a role model for those working for uplift of women. The selfless and dedicated work of all those associated with the institution for the last 100 years is inspiring and will serve as a shining example, “ she added.
The second edition of the biography of K Chinnamma, namely “K Chinnamma a dedicated educator and social worker”, was released by Prof. Sulekha Kurup on the occasion. Mahila Mandiram president K Y Radhalakshmi, received the first copy. M Sreekumari, Secretary, welcomed the gathering. Prof K R Raveendran Nair was honoured at the function. Deepasri, teacher, Chinnamma Memorial HSS, spoke.
Students from the government and aided schools in Thiruvananthapuram district are eligible for the aid.
The financial aid was provided to commemorate the contributions of K Chinnamma in the field of education, especially for girls’ education in the erstwhile state of Travancore in particular and Kerala in general. The charitable organization was founded by Chinnamma with the aim of educating and rehabilitating girls from less privileged background, irrespective of religion or caste.