Mangaluru
A charitable trust based in the city has undertaken the initiative of adorning government school walls with informative paintings as part of beautification efforts. It also helps the underprivileged by engaging in construction and renovation of homes and by distributing monthly food kits.
Prathvi Swayam Sevakaru Charitable Trust, founded four years ago, has been taking up school beautification projects with the help of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds. Recently, the members took up a school painting and wall painting project at Dakshin Kannada Zilla Panchayat Hiher Primary School in Parapade.
Lolakshi Fernandes, President and founder of the Trust, said its first activity was building a flag hoisting pole at an anganwadi centre in Pachanady ward. Later, they started helping the needy during the pandemic by visiting various places and delivering food packets, grocery kits, and other items. Around a year ago, they decided to help government schools, which need immediate attention so that they attract more students to campus.
The first school project was taken up at the Zilla Panchayat Government Higher Primary School in Mullakadu. With the help of CSR funds, around Rs 1.5 lakh was utilised to paint the entire school building. We also installed new sheets on the school roof. The second project was taken up at Zila Panchayat Higher Primary School in Parapade. The school walls were painted with images and texts related to academics such as a world map, alphabets, and others. Muthoot Finance donated the funds, she added.
The Trust is now planning to build an Anganwadi centre at Padavinangady at a cost of Rs 25 lakh. Fernandes said that the Anganwadi centre is running in a rented space belonging to Yuvaka Mandala, and the building is dilapidated.
