Press Release: Inauguration of Village Knowledge Centre

This is a Press release about the Village Knowledge Center (VKC) inauguration by Deputy Director – Fisheries in Kalikuppam village in Karaikal district. This VKC has setup by Kalikuppam People & Panchayatars and the Pondicherry Engineering College Alumnus body-New Earth Welfare Association with support of MSSRF. We request you to kindly publish this constructive News in your esteemed Newspaper. We have attached Photographs taken on that occasion.

Press Release (English)

Inauguration of the Village Knowledge Centre in Kalikuppam, Karaikal

A new Village Knowledge Centre (VKC) was inaugurated by Fisheries department’s Deputy Director on behalf of Karaikal collector Dr.N.Vasanthakumar,IAS in Kalikuppam fisherman village in Karaikal district on 7^th January 2010. This VKC has setup by Kalikuppam People & Panchayatars and the Pondicherry Engineering College Alumnus body-New Earth Welfare Association with the support of MSSRF and District administration. This new VKC will now start the process of social change through filling up the knowledge gap in the village society. VKC will provide knowledge about daily News, weather, sea conditions, employment opportunities, health tips etc; books from its library; capacity building training through various agencies to students, women and fisherman and also establish linkages with numerous service agencies in government, private and non-governmental field. It has been provided with powerful loud speakers from Revenue department, computers, books, newspapers, government pamphlets, newspaper, notice board and informational charts.

Kottucherry Commune commissioner, Pondicherry Engineering College Alumnus body-New Earth Welfare Association’s volunteers, FFDA representative,Kalikuppam Primary School headmaster, Traditional Panchayatars of Kalikuppam and large number of villagers of Kalikuppam participated in the programme. Murugaram an PEC Alumnus explained about the purpose of the VKC, Fisheries department’s Deputy Director called upon the people to use the VKC in order to bring marked change their living standards. Commune commissioner and Fisheries department’s Deputy Director promised all help to the VKC. Jamsetji Tata National Virtual academy fellows Mrs.Jayalakshmi, Mrs.Sasikala and Mr.Balamugundan shared their experience in running a similar VKC in Agalangannu village in Karaikal.

Earlier Rajya Sabha MP and MSSRF’s Chairman Prof.M.S.Swaminathan had sent an email to the Panchayatars wishing them all success for the VKC project. Mrs.Vasantha, Mrs.Meghala and Mrs.Chitra of Kalikuppam will be the Village Knowledge workers. The function was organized by Panchayatars, Village Knowledge workers and the Pondicherry Engineering College Alumnus body-New Earth Welfare Association.

Press Release(Tamil)