PPSSM's School Building Inaugurated!

Each one of us strives hard in life to make a decent earning to lead a joyous and peaceful life. Being born a normal human being is taken for granted. Everyone is capable of hearing, seeing, speaking, touching, thinking and walking about – or so we choose to believe. Until we find some unfortunate child, born with a defect or incapacitated due to disease, struggling to cope with the rest of the world; to perform the tasks, which most of us perform oh-so-naturally. What would life be for the handicapped, the mentally retarded, the differently-abled, as they are referred to lately?

Fortunately, our society is also blessed with specially trained teachers for taking care of the specific needs of such kids. But then special teachers for special kids – can they be taught in general schools, where normal kids go to study? One would need special residential school too! One such school, "Anusuyatmaja Matimand Nivasi Vidyalaya", a dream project of the Punyatma Prabhakar Sharma Seva Mandal (PPSSM) saw the light of day on 12th July 2009 at Igatpuri. Bringing into reality the wishes of the founder trustee of PPSSM, Rukmabai Tallur, who led an austere life based on Gandhian principles, wore khadi, took part in the Independence struggle and worked all life for the poor, tribal and the less fortunate beings all her life.

The “Small Steps Along the Way” blog had featured the project and posted the progress at regular intervals. Some readers have even come forth to contribute generously to the project. I am sure with our support, the PPSSM would cater to many needy children in the region.



The School Building Facade


Kids being welcomed for the inauguration ceremony of their school building
[Photos Courtesy: Vijay Basrur on Flickr]

The other photographs posted by Vijay Basrur of the inaugural event can be viewed here.

The link to the website of the PPSSM is here.

A brief mention about the recent felicitaion of Managing Trustee of PPSSM, Mrs. Shitala Pandit, would be in order. Especially since she has been honoured for her social work by the reputed Kanara Saraswat Association on the occasion of the International Women’s Day in Mumbai. A truly well-deserved honor, one can be sure!

Smt. Shitala Pandit speaking at the occasion


Smt. Shitala Pandit being honoured by Prof. Smt. Sadhana Kamat.
[Photographs Courtesy: Shri Jayant Nayampalli]

The project has been completed with borrowed funds and continues to need the support of those fortunate individuals who would want to support a good social cause for the needy. The Trust has appealed for donations, which may be sent by cheque in favour of
“Punyatma Prabhakar Sharma Seva Mandal”
to the following address –
Mrs. Shitala Pandit, Managing Trustee, PPSSM,
9/11 – 12, Saraswat Colony,
Santacruz (West),
Mumbai 400 054, India.
Tel: 91-22-26601837
Email: ppssmandal2004@yahoo.co.in

Donations are eligible for rebate under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961
Donations can be made in INR, USD, GBP or EUR

An Individual Embedded Name Plaque will be put up at the entrance for generous donations for certain facilities of the School as follows :-

Rs 50,000 – For each of the Classrooms (14 in all)
Rs. 1,50,000 – For the Worship area
Rs. 2,00,000 - For Kitchen, Dining or Workshop areas
Rs. 3,00,000 - For Dormitory or Hall

You may contribute in your personal capacity or can recommend your organization to support the cause as a Corporate Social Responsibility, as many organizations have committed to the uplifting of the under-privileged in our society. Your kind gesture would go a long way in the fulfilling of Late Rukmakka’s last wishes. We do hope the good work continues to bring happiness in our lives.

An Appeal from a Charitable Trust

Punyatma Prabhakar Sharma Seva Mandal (PPSSM)

About the Charitable Trust

The Punyatma Prabhakar Sharma Seva Mandal (PPSSM) is a charitable trust founded in 1986 by Smt. Rukmabai Tallur, a staunch Gandhian, who led an austere life wearing only Khadi all her life. ‘Rukmakka’, as she was fondly called, began teaching in Seva Sadan in 1932 and later set up the Bambai Hindi Prachar Sabha to propagate the use of Hindi. In memory of her brother a patriot, social worker and follower of Gandhiji and Vinoba Bhave, she continued her Brother’s noble work by setting up PPSSM, after his self-immolation in protest against the Emergency declared in 1976.

The Noble Work being carried out by the Charitable Trust

With the support of one and all, the trust began working on various projects for the uplifting of the poor in rural and tribal population in state of Maharashtra. The work has made a difference to the lives of more than a million people living in areas deprived of basic educational, healthcare and self-help programmes.

Under an adoption scheme, started by Rukmakka, nearly 500 students are being educated at various centres, where students are imparted employment oriented trades along with their studies, with a view to be self-sufficient as they grow into adulthood.

PPSSM supports other charitable organizations such as Viklang Swavalamban Kendra in Chandrapur, which teaches Typewriting and Computer Centres for the Handicapped, by helping the physically handicapped with cycles to be mobile so that they can benefit from the Kendra’s facilities.

PPSSM supports a library, Jnanaganga Vachanalaya in Ambhora village, Chandrapur. The library, which benefits 12000 literate farmers has gained Government recognition and has been nominated for an award.

PPSSM also assists in making available teaching aids, furniture, school uniforms, notebooks, mid-day meals, an prizes for excellence in sports, etc. PPSSM reaches out to more sections of the needy by working with seven institutions working for special children.

Besides the patrons who have supported the Trust ever since its inception, the teaching staff and all support staff who has been serving the Trust have played a key role in the functioning of the Trust by imparting educational and vocational job-oriented training to the beneficiaries of the program, which are primarily rural and tribal children and youth in Alandi, Chandrapur and Igatpuri and several such villages in the interiors of our country.


New Project - A Boarding School for the Mentally Challenged named "Anusuyatmaja Matimand Nivasa Vidyalaya"

When Rukmakka completed 100 years of her selfless, austere, dedicated life on 8th January 2005, she was presented by many of her well-wishers. She immediately committed the cash gifts she received to her dream project – to build a Boarding School for the mentally challenged Adivasi students in Igatpuri. A school was opened in October 2006 at a temporary place offered by a well –wishers, until a proper Boarding School was built for the purpose.

The best tribute to Rukmakka would be to continue the good work she has left for the Trustees of PPSSM to bring to reality – The Boarding School to be named “Anusuyatmaja Matimand Nivasa Vidyalaya”, on a plot procured by “Ghatandevi Shikshan Prasarak Mandal”. The cost of the project is Rs. 85 Lakhs. The Trust wishes to complete the project by December 2008.

The Trust has appealed for donations, which may be sent by cheque in favour of
“Punyatma Prabhakar Sharma Seva Mandal”
to the following address –

Mrs. Shitala Pandit, Managing Trustee, PPSSM,
9/11 – 12, Saraswat Colony,
Santacruz (West),
Mumbai 400 054, India.
Tel: 91-22-26601837
Email: ppssmandal2004@yahoo.co.in

Donations are eligible for rebate under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961
Donations can be made in INR, USD, GBP or EUR

An Individual Embedded Name Plaque will be put up at the entrance for generous donations for certain facilities of the School as follows :-

Rs 50,000 – For each of the Classrooms (14 in all)
Rs. 1,50,000 – For the Worship area
Rs. 2,00,000 - For Kitchen, Dining or Workshop areas
Rs. 3,00,000 - For Dormitory or Hall

You may contribute in your personal capacity or can recommend your organization to support the cause as a Corporate Social Responsibility, as many organizations have committed to the uplifting of the under-privileged in our society. Your kind gesture would go a long way in the fulfilling of Late Rukmakka’s last wishes. We do hope the good work continues to bring happiness in our lives.


The image of the Building under Construction at Igatpuri

Sources: The Kanara Saraswat Magazine,June 2008 Issue and the PPSSM Appeal Brochure.

For more details about PPSSM, log into their website