Madurai (Tamil Nadu): At a time when the nation is celebrating 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, two schools run by Harijan Sevak Sangh founded by Gandhi may down their shutters as they are awaiting grant-in funds for the past three years. These two schools run by Harijan Sevak Sangh in Tamil Nadu one in Madurai - NMR Subbaraman Memorial Residential Primary School, and Tirukoilur (Villupuram) Residential Middle School.
ETV Bharat visited the Madurai School which was being run by the Tamil Nadu unit was launched by A Vaidyanatha Iyer in 1939. The same unit also runs the Tirukoilur school as well.
At present, about 400 students study in both the schools and closure is imminent if immediate financial aid was not released.
This according to the activists may drive these kids out of school and push them to take up jobs as child labours.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, R Srinivasan, Tamil Nadu secretary of HSS, said that the schools were started across the Country in 26 states with the noble intention of upliftment of the oppressed and to ensure social justice.
"The then Congress leader NMR Subbaraman donated his bungalow for this school. For the past three years, the Centre has not been releasing the grant-in-aid and it's impeding the education of 125 students studying here. At least, the school in Madurai has some backing of Tamil Nadu government. The one in Tirukoilur is solely dependent on the Central funds. The very functioning of that school is in question", he said.
Delving further into the financial struggle of schools run by HSS across the country, Srinivasan said that Sankar Kumar Sanyal, President, national unit of HSS, has closed down his school in Kolkatta due to the funds' crunch and has been taking steps to reopen the same.
Such is the financial condition of all the schools now run by HSS across the Country.
"We have made a representation to Villupuram MP Ravikumar. He has also promised to take it up with the respective ministry", he said.
Ravikumar, as promised, has written to Thawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for social justice and empowerment.
The Thirukoilur school has received grant-in-aid for the year 2014-2015 in respect of 100 students instead of 250 students recommended by the state government. while the second instalment for the year 2015-2016 is pending, the entire grants for the years 2016-2017, 2017 - 2018, and 2018 - 2019 are pending.
As far as Madurai school is concerned, the grants for the years 2015-2016, 2017 - 2018 and 2018-2019 are pending.
"I deem it a privilege and an honour to be associated with the premier Gandhian Institution, the Harijan Sevak Sangh-- the constitution, rules and regulations for which were written by Mahatma Gandhi himself in 1932", said M Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President.
He said that Institutions like Harijan Sevak Sangh doing yeoman service and deserve a helping hand from philanthropists, corporate and other resource persons.
He was addressing the gathering at an event to rededicate Thakkar Bapa Vidyalaya, unveiling the renovated Statue of Thakkar Bapa and unveil the plaque for pile foundation of Didi Nirmala Deshpande Nilayam, in Chennai, in 2017.
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