History of Institution

“SEED” was registered as an Association on 16.09.1981 Under Tamilnadu Societies Registration Act 1972 ( Reg.No.251/81 ) with an idea of sowing the SEED for the development of the people those who are Socially, Educationally & Economically  Downtrodden. “SEED“ has started its activities on 9th Jan. 1982 at Sriperumbudur ( The holy place where Saint and Philosopher Shrimath Ramanuja born in 1 th Century & fought against the caste system through Bhakthi Marga & where Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Former Prime Minster of India was assassinated ) with 27 children and now it is catering the needs of 300 children in all its three centres, viz:

(a) At Sriperumbudur
  • Mahatma Gandhi Primary School ( Recognised and aided by the State Government )
  • “CEYRAC HOME“ ( Home for the Destitute children ) – assisted by the Social Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.
  • Prof. M.P.Bhaskara Vocational Training Centre. (Mat Weaving, Plastic Wire works, Tailoring, etc.
(b) At Utkottai:
  • Mahatma Gandhi Residential High School ( Recognised by the Government of Tamil Nadu )
  • "Leo Correya Home" ( Home for the Destitute Children ) – assisted by the Social Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.
  • Meera Behan Dairy & Agri Farm.
  • Vocational Training Centre. ( Computer Training Etc.
(c) At Irungattukottai :

Dr.J.C.Kumarappa Industrial Training Institute – Fitter, Electrician, Mechanic ( Motor Vehicle ) Trades for Boys and Cutting & Tailoring, Electronic – Mechanic for Girls.

Special permission given by the State Government & Recognition given by the National Council for Vocational Trades, Ministry of Labour, Government of India.

“SEED” is sowing the SEED to improve the livelihood and welfare of the underprivileged children in the lowest rungs of the Society. In particular, it caters the needs of the children of the Life Prisoners, Victims of serious crimes like murder and Leprosy Patients who are beggars and deserted children from various parts of Tamil Nadu State.

SEED provides them with  Food, Shelter, and Education ( formal / non formal / vocational ). Vocational Training is provided in Mat weaving, Plastic- Wire bag  making, Embroidery, Tailoring, etc., so as to enable them to stand on their own leg. This is in pursuance to SEED’s  philosophy. SEED believes that innocent children should not be penalized because of the crimes committed by their parents.

Nature of work :
Sowing the SEED for the upliftment of the people who are Socially, Educationally and Economically Downtrodden section of Society.
In particular, bringing a change in the lives of the children of Life Prisoners, Victims of serious crimes like murder and Leprosy Patients, so that, they, in turn, may not become criminals through apprentiship in juvenile delinquency and beggars as a reaction to the Social hostility they may face.

Scope of activities:
Total care of children of Life Serving Life Prisoners, Leprosy Patients and other destitute children.
Target Group
  • Children of Life Prisoners, imprisoned for murder case.
  • Children of Leprosy Patients, begging in the Streets and migrating from one place to another place which includes Bombay, Delhi & Nepal.
  • Children of the patients, affected by prolonged illness and dreadful diseases such as Cancer, Tuberculosis, etc.
  • Destitute children who have lots their parents due to Dowry problem, etc, and who have no means of livelihood.
  • Children of Victims of serious crimes like murder.
Principle Achievements
  • As first time in the history of the State, a Government Order issued in 1986 to admit the children of Life Prisoners in ‘ SEED ‘.
  • As a first time, in the history of the State, 10 days Special Leave ( Parole ) given to the Life Prisoners ( Parents ) of the children by the Government each year during ` Gandhi Jayanthi Celebration ‘ by a Special Government Order.
  • As a first time, in the history of the State, Special Industrial Training Institute has been established only for the children of Life Prisoners & Leprosy Patients and other Socially deprived children
  • More than 200 children left the project with Middle School, High School, Higher Secondary level Education and also with skills in certain Vocational training such as Electronics & Tailoring etc. and settled in their life by getting employment opportunity in Small Scale Industries, Hardware Shops, Medical Shops and helping themselves, their families and also their parents those who are still in prisons as Life Prisoners.
  • 250 children completed Industrial Training in Fitter, Electrician, Wireman, Mechanic ( Motor Vehicle ) Trades and Cutting & Tailoring and got gainful employment in good industries.
  • Seven children completed Diploma In Mechanical & Civil Engineering and working in reputed Industries in India & abroad.
  • Two boys had been selected by ` HYUNDAI , MOTOR CO. and now they are working for Hyundai.
  • Two boys passed ` Military Service Examination and joined in Army and one of them sent his I st. month salary to SEED.
  • One boy has become police and working in Coimbatore Central Prison whereas his guardian was Life Prisoner in Madurai Central Prison.
  • One boy has started his own business and he is providing employment opportunity to the deserving people.
  • Two girls have become Staff Nurses and working in Sri Ramachandra Medical College Hospital and ` SEED’.
  • At present, 5 boys are studying in Diploma in Mechanical Engineering ; One boy is studying Diploma in Civil Engineering ; One boy is studying in Diploma in Electronic Engineering.
  • One boy is studying in Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
  • 140 children are studying in FITTER, ELECTRICIAN, MECHANIC ( MOTOR VEHICLE ), ELECTRONICS – MECHANIC AND CUTTING & TAILORING.
  • "SEED" has been selected as the “ Best child Development project in India “ by ROTARY INDIA. “ SERVICE TO HUMANITY “ Award Trust in the year 1995
  • GANDHI NATIONAL AWARD was given in the field of Education for the under privileged children.
  • Apart from education, children won awards in State Level, District Level, Taluk Level Debating, Singing, Essay writing, Drawing, Mono acting, Caption giving, Science Talent Competitions ( Every year this achievement continues and hence we are unable to give big list of students, details )
  • Apart from academic education, Vocational Training in Tailoring, Toys making, Plastic articles making, Mat Weaving is also imparted during School hours in our Primary & High School along with lessons on Gandhian thought which is not common in other schools.
Indicators of success
  • Performance of the children in theirexaminations .
  • Performance of the children in Extra-Curricular Activities such as “ Debate, Drama, Singing, Quiz, “ etc.
  • Participation of the children in “ Students Literary Association Meetings “ held once in a week.
  • Co –operation of the prison authorities and the parents ( Life Prisoners & Leprosy Patients ) in achieving our goal of making children to stand on their own feet after end of their education from our project by imparting life Oriented Education of Ganhiji.
  • Zeal & Enthusiasm shown by the staff in the success of the work done by ` SEED’.
Extent of voluntary efforts – formal & informal community participation and methods of community action adopted
  • The surrounding community has participated in all the activities of “ SEED “. The Land at Sriperumbudur in which the project site is located was donated by the community (Dr.N. M. Parthasarty and Mr. Dharam Chand Jain ) – 2 acres 12 cents.
  • The land at Irungattukottai for Industrial Training Centre by “ Canara Bank Platinum Jubile Rural development Trust “ – 85 Cents.
  • The Land at Utkottai for High School Project was bought with the help of OXFAM ( INDIA ) TRUST and Rev.P.Ceyrac S.J. ( 6 –acres )
  • Health – Check – ups are conducted periodically by the local clubs, Sri. Ramachandra Medical College & Hospital ( Deemed University ) for the benefit of the children of SEED and other children of the surrounding villages.
  • Community is providing one- time meal to all the children of SEED by contributing one handful of rice/wheat. ( in the container kept for this purpose in the respective Households provided by RAJASTHAN YOUTH ASSOCIATION ). This is then collected by Rajasthan Youth Association ( RYA ) on monthly basis from each house and handed over to us. This amounts to approximately 300 Kgs. Of rice and 200 Kgs of wheat. Community is also providing unused and unexpired medicines, multivitamin tablets and tonics either individually or through organizations. Some members of the community have shown interest in celebrating the birthday of their children at SEED while others have come forward to celebrate their Marriage Day at SEED. Community has provided drinking water facility, drainage facility, electricity facility and gas stove. Contribution being received for the purchase of books and note books at the beginning of each academic year. Community is donating uniforms and old cloths for the children.
EDUCATION
  • Dedicated youngsters from community and Also from the reputed industries such as DELPHI =TVS help the students of SEED Schools by conducting tutorial classes during non-school hours.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
  • To provide training in printing, the Canara Bank has donated a printing press. Training in Computer Technology is provided to the children by our trained staff.
    Seeing the work done in the SEED campus, quite a few well-wishers have come forward to act as representatives of SEED in each district of Tamilnadu. They function as a bridge between SEED and Prisoner/Leprosy Patients Community and nominate children for care by the SEED. Convinced by the objective of the SEED and the excellent work done, OXFAM and ACTION AID, German Leprosy Relief Association, Misereor and ASMAE came forward to associate themselves with SEED. Involvement of a cross section of people and also various institutions in our tasks indicated that – by our work, we have made impact on the society.
  • In tailoring, women form surrounding village (SCS) participated. 50 women from 3 blocks namely Poonamallee, Sriperumbudur and Walajabad in the Kancheepuram Dist. Took part in the workshop on Simple Chemicals and Mushroom Cultivation. They came as far away as 40 Kms from our campus without having proper mode of conveyance.
  • NB. A point to be noted is that the Participants in the above workshop belong to the scheduled caste (SCS) had never venture out of their house previously.
  • Without any publicity our Special Industrial Training Institute attracts the needy poor children of the State. Apart from the children of “ SEED “, who studied in SEED from I st. Std. To X std., destitute, deserted, abandoned and socially disadvantaged children have come from various parts of the State to avail the benefit of this Special I.T.I.
  • Some of the drug addicts of the surrounding villages have changed their drinking habits and chosen a new path after witnessing a street play of our children “ EVILS OF ALCOHOL DRINKING”.
  • Due to the advice given in person or through letters by their children staying in SEED, parents ( Life Prisoners ) have felt sorry for their act of murder.
  • Parents ( Leprosy Patients ), now, are slowly changing their way of living from begging to honest job, even though it is a small one, due to the change in their children’s behaviour and advice given by their children.
Prospectus of Continuity assistance received / expected
  • SEED is looking after only a minuscule percentage of children – the children of life Serving Prisoners, Leprosy Patients and other destitute children. As long as funds are made available and dedicated volunteers keep coming, SEED would, indeed, like to take care of as many of the children as are in need. SEED is concentrating on the children of Life Prisoners and Leprosy Patients because of the nature of the stigma attached to them: and the expertise available with SEED in this regard.
  • Leprosy patients population is particularly concentrated in Kancheepuram & Thiruvellore Districts.
  • ASSISTANCE RECEIVED
  • At present, Social Welfare Department , Government of Tamilnadu has given maintenance grant @ Rs. 200/- per child per month for 100 children which includes salary to staff members.
  • “ASMAE“ is giving sponsorship grant for 135 children which includes Supplementary Nutrition, Health, Vocational Training, infra structure facilities, games, recreation, etc. for 135 children.
  • For Primary School, Government has given grant for two teachers. For other teachers we fully depend on public donation and LES AMIS DE SEED.
  • For High School which is recognized by the Government, ` ASHA –ST.-LOUIS’, & ` LES AMIS DE SEED ‘ are helping us to meet the salary of the staff to certain extent.
  • Canara Bank has donated Premier Padmini Car & Bullet Motor Cycle for the use of I . T . I. Training Purpose.
  • Indian Overseas Bank has donated Rs. 30,000/- towards Purchase of Tools & Instruments for Special I.T.C.
  • State Bank of India has donated Rs. 7,07,700/- towards purchase of machinery’s & Instruments for Special Industrial Training Institute.
  • “ASHA – URBANA CHAMPAIGN” has helped us to procure the materials to our INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRE especially for ELECTRONIC MECHANIC TRADE.
  • For Special Industrial Training Institute, Canara Bank has kindly donated an amount of Rs. 10,00,000/- as “ Corpus Fund “ towards salary of instructors ( Interest portion of this fund will be credited to our account for the above purpose on quarterly basis ).
  • For administrative expenses and to provide Vocational Training to all our children and also for our horticulture and agriculture training programmes and for providing infrastructure facilities to all the centres, we are searching for the donations.

ASSISTANCE EXPECTED : Public contribution.

Recognition & Rewards:
  1. SEED is a recognized service organization and is registered  with the Registrar of Societies.
  2. It is exempted from paying Income Tax Under Section   80 (G) of Income Tax Act      of 1961 .
  3. It is also registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act that makes it eligible to receive contribution from abroad.
  4. Government issued a Special Order to enter into Central Prisons for the admission of the children of Life Prisoners
  5. Government issued a Special Order to give Special Leave ( Parole ) for 10 days to the Life Prisoners ( Parents of our children ) to take part in ` Gandhi Jayanthi “ celebrations at “ SEED “.
  6. A few well-wishers in England have started to collect donations from public for donation to SEED. “ Friends of SEED “ has been formed to achieve this end.
  7. In France too, ` Friends of SEED ‘ group has been formed by well wishers.
  8. Department of Social Welfare recognized the activities and has provided assistance for 100 children.
  9. Education Department, Government of Tamilnadu recognized and aided its “ Mahatma Gandhi Primary School “ at Sriperumbudur .
  10. Recognition has been given by Education Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu to its “ Mahatma Gandhi High School “ at Utkottai
  11. Government has given a Special Permission to open an Industrial Training Institute for the children of Life Prisoners, Leprosy Patients and other Disadvantaged children.
  12. National Council for Vocational Trades, Ministry of Labour, Government of India has given recognition to our Special Industrial Training Institute
  13. “ Vocational Award “ was given by Rotary Club of Madras Mid Town
  14. Award was given by Lions Club  of Madras Porur.
  15. Founder & Secretary of the organisation has been selected as Outstanding Young Person of the State of Tamilnadu by Jayces Club.
  16. In the 20th year of Bank Nationalization, the Founder – Secretary of the “ SEED” has been selected as the Meritorious Employees among all the Nationalized Banks. The award was given by the then Minister for State for Industries & Commerce, Government of India.
  17. “SEED” has been selected as the “ Best Gandhian Organisation “ and “ Gandhi National Award “ was given to “ SEED” by the then Minister of Rural Govt. of India, Hon’ble Dr. Jaganath Mishra,
  18. “ SEED” has been selected as the Best Child Development Project “ In India for the year 1995, “ ROTARY INDIA “ SERVICE TO HUMANITY AWARD 1995 “ has been given at Bombay by His Excellency  Shri ROMESH BHANDARI, the then GOVERNOR OF GOA
  19. Cover story has been published in “ THE WEEK “ and articles published in leading national and international magazines.
    • “ A boy from SEED “ – Guardian – an UK based leading news paper.
    • “ Sowing the SEED of Life “ article in Deccan Herald “
    • Articles published in “ Sunday” Magazine.
    • ` Saga of Labour & Love ‘ – Article Published in “ SHREYAS “ Canara Bank House Magazine.
    • “ Once can’t starve the spirit – article published in BUSINESS LINE ( THE HINDU )
    • “ A whiff of hope for the hapless children “ – an article published in “ THE HINDU “
    • “ Battling Life’s odds. With & smile “ an article published in Indian Express.
    • ` A haven for children of convicts ‘, an article published in “ THE TRIBUNE “.
    • “ FIRM CONVICTION “, an article published in India Today.
    • An article published in a leading Hindi Magazine “ Hindustan Samachar “
ARTICLES IN TAMIL
  1. “ Ideal Couple “ Cover Story published in “ Ananda Vikatan “ ( Leading Tamil Weekly )
  2. “ One Palanisamy in each Place “ Article published in “ Mutharam “
  3. “ Upliftment of the children of Life Prisoners, Cover Story published in “ Kumudham “ Leading Tamil Weekly.
  4. “ If they get Govt. Assistance “ article published in “ THUGLAK “ fortnightly.
  5. “ Flood of Mercy from Grand Anicut “ article published in “ Savi “ – Leading Tamil weekly
  6. “ Great People “ published in “ KUNGUMAN “
  7. “ You are in Prison but I am “ – article published in Dinamani Kadir.
  8. “ Asylum of the tender leaves of fallen tree “ – article published in Idhayam Pesukiradhu.
  9. “ Prison for Parents, but punishment for children “ article published in Penmani.
  10. “ SEED grows as tree “’ article published in Vijaya Bharatham.
TELEVISION COVERAGE:
(i) “POTHIGAI“ – DOORDHARSAN, recently telecast SEED’s activities for two weeks.
(ii) Every Saturday morning, Jaya T.V’s “Arul Tharum Alayangal “ Programme telecast SEED’s  activities.
Any other Information of interest :

Besides rendering the source of food & shelter, our children  reach to serve the nation as any other proud Indian do is the success of our service; who knows ! if our children left unattended may be technically  the leaves.

The general situation in our country is that of parents will given food and shelter to their off springs – indefinitely, whereas the children of  “ SEED “ are giving asylum to their parents ( Life Prisoners ) when the parents come out of Prisons. It is due to the Life Oriented education given in our organisation. Government of Tamil Nadu has given Special Permission to interview the Life Prisoners in the Prisons, to enable SEED to take a decision about their children.

Due to efforts, taken by our organisation, Special Parole is now being given by the Government through a Special Government order to enable  the LIFE PRISONERS to live with their children for at least 10 days in a year, at the time of Gandhi Jayanthi Celebrations.

SEED was shown in 1982 to bring our change in the life status of the under privileged namely self reliance, self sufficiency and self respect.

Under the above venture 200 children have completed the schooling and they have better placement in their society. Had they not come to us who could imagine the Right of the Life. The Society might have driven them to a corner who might have been branded as criminals. For example, a boy, S.Selvaraj, whose guardian was a Life Prisoner  in Madurai Central Prison was extended a helping hand by SEED, given his food, shelter and moral thought. This helped him in gaining a decent job in cloth factory at Madurai City. When we landed at Madurai Railway Station recently for admission of other’s children, we were extremely surprise to be received by Selvaraj and we had nice chat with him. Our hearts will be filled with joy to witness all the efforts of our staff got materialized in the form of Selvaraj. His neat appearance, his  morality and his punctuality  had moved us greatly.  

(A.R.PALANISAMY M.A., (Socio.)., M.A.(G.T.)., M.A.(Pol. Sci.).M.A.(Pub.Admn.)., M.Ed., B.L., M.B.A. )
FOUNDER AND SECRETARY.