AWARD -- 10:

THIS TEACHER HAS GIVEN RS 1.10 LAKH FROM HIS PERSONAL MONEY TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS

P S SUNDAR

It is an unusual gesture for a teacher in a Government-aided school to spend ₹ 1.10 lakh from his personal money to motivate his students at Plus Two level.

But, that is exactly what G Rajendran, post-graduate teacher of Political Science in the Government-aided St Antony’s Higher Secondary School in Coonoor, has done in the last five years of his becoming the teacher for this subject for Plus Two students.

“I present ₹ 10,000 to every student who scores 190 marks out of 200 in Political Science subject in Plus Two Public Exam.  While I do this motivate the students to study well, given the poor economic conditions of our students, this money helps them a lot”, Rajendran told me.

“In the academic year 2017-18, two students got ₹ 10,000 each from the personal money of Rajendran.  We made the Chief Guest V Nandhakumar IRS, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, to distribute the cash on stage at our 153^rd Annual Day”, Headmaster Bro Dr Thomas Selvam said.

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Additional Commissioner of Income Tax Nandakumar (centre) presenting ₹ 10,000 each to Hari Prasad (Right extreme) and Jayaprakash (second left) from the personal money of Rajendran (second right) in the presence of Headmaster Bro Dr Thomas Selvam (left extreme).

Both the students – M Jayaprakash and K Hari Prasad – hail from poor economic background.

“I don’t have father.  My mother is a domestic servant.  I am now studying BBA (CA) in Hindusthan Arts & Science College in Coimbatore.  This sum is very helpful for me to pay term fees”, Jayaprakash said.

“I scored 195 marks out of 200 in Political Science.  My father is a casual painting worker and my mother is a sanitary sweeper.   I am now studying BSc (Geography) in Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirappalli.   I am yet to pay my term fees for want of money and this sum will be highly useful to clear the dues”, Hari Prasad said.

(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)