Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Collaborators Issue 39 August - 2012

‘When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to

smile’. - Unknown Life comes with no guarantees No time outs No second chances, so!!! Live life to the fullest Tell someone what they mean to you Tell someone off Speak out Dance in the pouring rain Hold someone's hand Comfort a friend Fall asleep watching the sun come up Stay up late Be a flirt, and Smile until your face hurts. Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend

angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back. So dream what you want to dream Go where you want to go Be what you want to be. Because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do. And always remember that the

happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything they just make the most of everything that comes

along their way.

September 10th, 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the World Suicide Prevention Day. The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day this year is "Suicide Prevention across the Globe: Strengthening Protective Factors and Instilling Hope". Data from the WHO indicate that approximately one million people worldwide die by suicide each year. This corresponds to one death by suicide every 40 seconds. The number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined. The situation in India may be different. There are ‘n’

numbers of suicides that are not registered, unnoticed or rather suppressed. The suicide rate in India has been increasing steadily and has reached 11.2 (per 100,000 of population) in 2011 registering 78% increase over the value of 1980 (6.3) and majority of suicides occur among men and in younger age groups. [Note: The statistics presented above is based on the data available in National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for the year 2011.]

DON’T FORGET!!!!!!! Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said that it'd be easy, they just promised it would be worth it – Anonymous.

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” - Dr. Seuss.

Issue 39 August - 2012

DMI Development Desk

Issue 39 August - 2012

Grama Sabha was an eventful and meaningful programme for the effective practice of democracy at the grass root level. Panchayats are the fundamental units of functional democracy. For the local governance to be effective energizing Grama Sabhas is a real challenge. DMI motivated the people to participate in the Grama Sabha meetings on August 15th, 2012 throughout all DMI working Districts. Around 3,200 women participated and expressed their views for availing all the privileges of the Panchayats demanded to provide amenities such as water, road, street light and anganwadi school etc.,

Thirisulam Kancheepuram

Karukanni Nagapattinam

Korattur Thiruvallur

Vallikandapuram Peramballur

Kosavanpalayam Thiruvallur

Manaivikottai Sivagangai

Issue 39 August - 2012

Independence Day was profusely celebrated in all the DMI Districts. There were a number of competitions held on the occasion and prizes were distributed. Prior to all the games, a grand flag hoisting ceremony was held in all the districts culminating with distribution of sweets which reminded us of the bitter-sweet memories of our Independence.

Chinder Salem

Sivagangai Kodaikanal

Thiruvallur Jaynagar

To prevent plastic pollution, DMI Tharangampadi Block Federation organised the Inauguration programme for using Cloth Bag on the 15th august 2012. Mr.T. Munusamy IAS, Collector of Nagapattinam was the chief guest of the programme. The District Collector appreciated the work of DMI and DMI Federation for their efforts in the district. 250 members participated and distributed 1000 bags.

Issue 39 August - 2012

International Youth day was organized by DMI on the

13th of August, 2012 in Sevugan Annamalai College at

Devakottai. Poet - Mr.Appachi Sabhapathi was the chief

guest and Prof. Mr.Arunachalam, Principal and Sr.Jessi,

District co-ordinator were also the special guests for the

celebration. The special talk from the chief guest on

‘Youth participation in the world’ is as follows:

Importance of Youth education

Respecting the parents Responsibility towards

the youth

DMI Nagapattinam organized training on

pickle making for 15 members from three

DMI Self help groups. The women were very

enthusiastic and eager in learning what was

being taught to them.

Issue 39 August - 2012

On 7th of August, 2012 a Medical camp was

conducted for the differently abled members

and 679 members participated. ID cards were

distributed to 50 Disabled and 35 members

applied for the monthly assistance and 11

members applied for their employment.

Environment day was observed in

Maduramangallam, Sri-perumputhur Block on

August 9th, 2012. Sr.Diana & Mr.Siva Kumar

delivered speech and the total number of

participants present at the programme was 213.

The enriching Environment program motivated

many of the SHG members for planting saplings

in and around their villages/homes.

The Tamil Nadu Corporation for

Development of women (TNCDW)

organized an Exhibition cum Sale on 7th and

8th of August, 2012 in Vels College, Chennai.

Three DMI SHG’s participated and

exhibited their product of Jute Bags and

artificial jewellery.

People with higher number of moles

tend to live longer than people with

lesser number of moles. Thinking about your muscles can make

you stronger.

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

Women blink twice as many times as men do.

Women are born better smellers than men and remain better smellers over life.

By 60 years of age, 60-percent of men and 40-percent of women will snore.

Babies are born with 300 bones, but by adulthood the number is reduced to 206.

We are about 1 cm taller in the morning than in the evening.

Issue 39 August - 2012

Oxford company, Chennai, came forward and introduced themselves as an Enterprise that has a market for non-stick vessels and is interested in selling their product through the SHG women in all the districts where DMI is functioning. DMI agreed to take this innovative and new entrepreneurial opportunity for the benefit of its members. This opportunity was availed for 3 districts Thiruvalur, Kancheepuram and Chennai and the women were enlightened and quite a few women registered their names to start this business. 21 members took up this small business from 3 districts and started this work from 4th of August, 2012.

We organized RTI Training for 40 SHG’s

from Maner and Danapur block and 200

women participated and benefited. Sr.Stella

explained to the women the importance of a

woman’s life and also the various schemes

that are available in the Government. The

women clarified their doubts and they were

happy about the programme.

Issue 39 August - 2012

At Tirisulam, Kamarajapuram and Erumaiyur 7 tuition centres were initiated by DMI and the respective districts staff took complete responsibility to keep it going and to make sure children get a good environment where they can concentrate on their studies for a few hours every day after school without much disturbance and a trained teacher to help them out in this task. Nearly 250 children are studying in all the tuition centre’s put together. On the 15th of August, 2012 on the eve of the Indian Independence Day games were conducted for the children in all the centre’s and distributed sweets towards the end. The children were very

happy and enjoyed the day.

DMI SHG of Tirusulam won the first prize at

the District level for drama competition and

Deputy BDO distributed the prizes along

with Certificates & a cheque for Rs. 5000/-.

Human bone is as strong as granite in supporting weight. A block of bone the size of a

matchbox can support 9 tonnes – that is four times as much as concrete can support.

In 30 minutes, the average body gives off enough heat (combined) to bring a half gallon of

water to boil

The eyes receive approximately 90 percent of all our information, making us

basically visual creatures.

The human heart creates enough pressure while pumping to squirt blood

30 feet!

Your nose can remember 50,000 different scents.

On the 3rd of August, 2012 Mr.Micheal, DMI Consultant, Sr.Sabi, DMI Chennai Provincial, Sr.M.Baby, DMI State Coordinator and the Department Staff Mr. Justin, Field Executive, Mr.Siva Kumar, Field Executive, Ms.Grace Christopher, Project officer and Mr.Daniel Raj, Project officer were also present for the monitoring meeting. The staffs from all the blocks were told to be present and 28 women were present on the day. Mr.Micheal conducted the meeting for the staff and called it monitoring meeting as the department wanted to understand the right perspective of the staffs work, how effectively they have done their work or an analysis of their work in brief and last but not the least to help them in planning for the next few months and then to have a clear analysis of that plan. This meeting was a success as the purpose was achieved.

Issue 39 August - 2012

Organized orientation Programme on community based rehabilitation for community disabled facilitators (Volunteers) on the 25th of August, 2012 at Thiruvalankadu. Mr.Ramadas and Mr.Vinod Kumar were the resource persons and 28 people participated in this programme.

Issue 39 August - 2012

Mrs. Danalakshmi, a member of Semanthi SHG

from Saidapet received a loan of Rs.60,000/- to start a tailoring unit. At present her net income is

Rs.12,000/- and not just that she is also training

12 other members in tailoring.

DMI Development Department organized a cancer awareness programme at Painacy village in Kuppam, Tirisulam and Poonamallee. In Tirisulam and Poonamallee the awareness programme was conducted by Mrs. Geetha Mohan, Awareness Educator from PENN NALAM on the 21st and 25th of August, 2012. PENN NALAM is an organization that was founded by a woman for the wellbeing of women who suffered or suffer from ‘Cancer’. The

awareness programme was conducted over just 2 hours by Mrs.Geetha and was very interesting, simple and educative all the same time. She spoke of cancer with respect to its causes, symptoms, cures and tests with the help of a documentary and puppet show. By the end of the programmes in just 2 districts Tirusulam and Poonamalee around 235 women were sensitized and educated on Breast and Uterus Cancer.

Cna yuo raed tihs? I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and

lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and we awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

While sitting at your desk make clockwise circles with your right foot. (go ahead no one will see you) While doing this, draw the number “6″ in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction – that is a fact. Pretty interesting, huh?

The right answer to the previous puzzle was Mother Theresa and we sincerely thank you all for actively participating and sending us your answers. Sr.Michaelammal - Shenbaganur, Sr.Ramona - Zambia, Sr.Anthony Mary - Malawi, Sr. Velankanni - Joevilla, Sr. Alangaram - Kuppam, Fr. Anthony David - MMI, Mr. S. Satish Sivendra - DFT software system DMI Development Desk sincerely Thanks you all for being part of us through this editorial and we extend our heartfelt wishes for your prayers and support and humbly ask you all to continue this over the following years to come.

Issue 39 August - 2012 ANSWER TO PUZZLE

He was born in a poor Telugu Brahmin family in Tiruttani, Tamil-Nadu. He completed his M.A.Philosophy from Madras Christian College and He went on to become the second President of the then Independent India. No matter what position he held whether as a President or Vice-President or an Ambassador he essentially remained a Teacher all his life. The teaching profession was his first love and above everything else.

Our question to ‘Light to Life’ readers is to identify the name of the person in the

above picture and send it to dmisociety@gmail.com, your answer will be expected on or before the 20th of September, 2012.

SPECIAL DAYS TO REMEMBER IN SEPTEMBER Issue 39 August - 2012

DATE HIGH LIGHTS OF THE DAY

05.09.2012

The birth date [5 September] of the second President of India, academic philosopher Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan is celebrated as ‘Teachers Day’.

It is a regular working day except the day’s activities includes games,

competitions and celebrations with students performing and entertaining and thanking their teachers for everything.

08.09.2012

September 8 was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO on November 17, 1965. It was first celebrated in 1966. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.

10.09.2012

World Suicide Prevention Day is observed each year to promote worldwide action to prevent suicides. Various events and activities are held during this occasion to raise awareness that suicide is a major preventable cause of premature death.

11.09.2012

First aid is one of the simplest basics of preventive and protective health care. Everyone in the community needs to be aware of the importance of first-aid. On this day public awareness is generated on how first aid can save lives in everyday incidents and crisis situations. As well as volunteers are encouraged and honored for their contributions in first aid campaigns.

16.09.2012 After the world found out about depletion of certain area in the ozone layer, representatives from 24 countries met in Montreal in 1984. They expressed their deep concern over depleting ozone layer and decided it’s time concrete steps needed

to be taken to stop destruction of ozone layer. That’s how “Montreal Protocol on

Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer” came into existence. Thereafter in 1994,

United Nations General Assembly declared September 16 to be the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

21.09.2012

This day is dedicated to peace and specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. Day of Ceasefire includes both personal and or political.

22.09.2012 Rose Day is dedicated to those battling cancer all over the world. It all began when 12 year old Melinda Rose from Canada, was diagnosed with Askin's Tumor, a rare form of Blood Cancer and inevitably terminal in February 1994. In spite of great weakness she positively made each day in her remaining life meaningful. Her letters, poems, and emails to other children suffering from cancer helped cheer them. Since then September 22 is dedicated to all cancer patients, to share their trauma and to empathize with their anguish and pain.

30.09.2012

World Heart Day annual observance and celebration is held on the last Sunday in September that is intended to increase public awareness of cardiovascular diseases, including their prevention and their global impact. Around the globe heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death.

Published by, DMI Development Mission

Amala Bhavan, Rudra Road, St.Thomas Mount, Chennai 600016