AIM for Seva Student Home for Boys

Anaikatti, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu

About the Sponsor: State Bank of India

State Bank of India (SBI) is India’s largest banking and financial services company

(by assets) with its headquarters in Mumbai. The State Bank of India was named the

29th most reputed company in the world according to Forbes 2009 rankings and was

the only bank featured in the "top 10 brands of India" list in an annual survey

conducted by Brand Finance and The Economic Times in 2010.

The Bank is actively involved since 1973 in non-profit activity called Community

Services Banking. All SBI branches and administrative offices throughout the

country sponsor and participate in large number of welfare activities and social

causes.

About the Free Student Home:

Anaikatti is a small village nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats on the Tamil

Nadu-Kerala border. Famed for its flora and fauna, especially medicinal plants, the

area is home to many tribes who live in the hills and the surrounding areas. Lack of a

steady income and dependence on the meager resources mean that many of the

tribal children are unable to access education.

Location of the FSH:

Background of Student Families:

The students at the Free Student Home (FSH) come from the Irula and Badaga

tribes, with most parents unable to afford even a square meal a day. More than 60%

of the students are from the Scheduled Tribes, with most of the rest belonging to the

Scheduled Castes. Three students are from the Backward and the Most Backward

Castes. Some of the villages that the FSH serves include Agraharasamakulam, Bilichi,

Chinnathadagam, Gudalur, Kallipalayam, Keeranatham, Kondayampalayam,

Naickenpalayam, Nanjundapuram, Pannimadai, Sarcarsamakulam,

Somayampalayam, Thadagam, Vellamadai, Gopinari, Melbhavi, Arakadavu, Kuliyur,

Kaaliyur and Senguttai, Jambukandi and Kudalur.

Children at the FSH:

There are 65 boys in this FSH, who study in the 3rd standard to the 12th standard.

They are a sprightly group of young men who often achieve good results in board

exams, and bring laurels to the FSH and school in sports.

Schools Attending:

• Government Residential Tribal School

• Anaikatti Government Higher Secondary School, Chinnathadagam,

Typical Day Activities at the FSH:

The children wake up in the morning

for a session of yoga followed by some

physical exercises. Then, it’s time for

some freshening up and study before

breakfast, and they are off to school.

After they return from their schools, the

children have a small snack and a cup of

malt.

They are out for some play, before

settling down to study, aided by special

tutors to help them with their studies

and homework.

A friendly game of volleyball

Independence Day at the FSH

Student Achievements and Results:

Academics:

Vignesh Murthy of the 10th standard came third

among tribal schools in the district of

Coimbatore. He received an award from the

Collector of Coimbatore. His parents work in a

banian factory in Tirupur.

Sports:

Our students participated in the various

competitions organized by the Vivekanandar

Narpani Madram, Anaikkatti and won prizes. The

Volley Ball team comprising R. Anish, R.

Saravanan, S. Chinnaswamy, K. Gnanasekar, R.

Saravanan of Std. XII, Arun Pandian, R. Eswaran,

Std. XI and M. Nagaraj, Std. X, won the first place.

M. Selvaraj , Std. X, bagged the second place in the

100m sprint.

The triumphant volleyball team

Vignesh Murthy with his award

Success Stories:

The Boys’ Student Home is AIM for Seva’s first FSH to be inaugurated, and has been

consistently providing the children of the area with a good foundation.

Take A. Karthik, for example. He studied at the FSH for three years, and finished his

ITI (polytechnic) course in Coimbatore. He now works with Craftsmen Auto

Machines in Pune, earning a handsome salary. His parents, Angusamy and

Gnanambal, are small-time farmers in Kerala.

Karthik says, of his experience at the AIM for Seva FSH: “What I have learnt by living

in AIM for Seva cannot be explained easily, but I can feel it everyday. There is no way

I could have studied at my parents' home. First, just commuting to school would

have occupied my entire day. Then, of course, there is no electricity where my

parents live.”

Time for some games and dance!