FOUNDATION DAY CELEBRATIONS

28th April 2008 is an important day in the annals of Gandhiniketan Ashram. In the year 1940, Late Dr TSS Rajan, a great freedom fighter and a mentor of our Founder laid the Foundation stone on this day. To commemorate this historic day, a special prayer was held at 6.00 am in Gandhi Mandapam. The local community participated. At 9.00 am, the primary school children about thousand of them along with the teachers participated in a bhajan at “Shantivan” where Founder’s Samadhi is located. Floral tributes were paid by the Ashram community. A symbolic spinning in Gandhian charkas was conducted by the staff.

APRIL 30, 2008

In connection with this event a seminar on “Panchayat Raj” was held on 30th April 2008 at 2.00 pm. The Panchayat presidents in T. Kallupatti block participated. The Collector of Madurai Mr.S.S.Jawahar inaugurated. In his address, he advised the presidents to be thorough with the rules and regulations of the Panchayat administration and not depend on clerical staff.

Prof G. Palanidurai, Head of the department of Political Science and Rajiv Gandhi Chair for Panchayat Raj at Gandhigram University gave an excellent talk. He narrated the various challenges to be met with commitment by the presidents.

Following this, Mr Chidambaram, Former Additional Director in rural development spoke on the various ways and means of achieving the progress in the rural areas through Panchayat Raj. Mr M Sharbudeen, the Commissioner, T. Kallupatti Panchayat Union spoke on various new schemes that are available in the present day panchayat raj system. Dr V. Raghupathy, Secretary, Gandhiniketan Ashram, spoke on the contributions of our Founder Late Shri. G. Venkatachalapathy in the Panchayat raj movement in Tamilnadu. Prof. R. Venkataswami welcomed and introduced the speakers. With the National Anthem the meeting came to an end.