International Women’s Day was celebrated at Sevalaya’s Kasuva centre on 8 Mar
2025. G Meenakshi, Writer, Journalist and Editor- Rani, Tamil Weekly Magazine,
KVJ Dr Sumithra Prasad, Founder and General Secretary, DORAI Foundation and
Maresa Olea from Mexico who is a part of DORAI Foundation graced the occasion
as Chief Guests. Two long-time members of Sevalaya staff, Jaya and Kanchana C
shared the stage with the guests and shared their experiences with the gathering.
Speaking on the occasion, Meenakshi said she was happy to hear the experiences
shared by the staff members Jaya and Kanchana. Addressing students, she said
that they were under the inspiring leadership of Sevalaya’s founder Muralidharan.
She urged the students to focus not just on their studies but on identifying
their own innate talent and to shape it into a skill in which they gain mastery,
by spending time on it daily. She requested teachers to constantly identify talents
in students and bring them out. Praising the gesture of books being gifted to
staff on their birthdays, she encouraged students to read books daily even though
today’s generation has many distractions. She cited incidents from the life of
Arignar Anna, who was reading a book before his surgery and Bhagat Singh, who
was reading a book before his execution. She advised the students to succeed in
their career and give back to Sevalaya. She also donated books to the Sevalaya library.
Dr Sumithra Prasad in her speech shared that she was happy to spend the day with
exemplary women. Every woman has infinite potential within her that arises from
self-confidence she said. She urged the students to keep working towards their
goals without giving space to any form of hesitation, lack of courage or weak
thoughts. She also presented gifts made by differently-abled persons using waste
materials to the guests. Dr Narmatha Inbaraj, a Sevalaya alumna who now works at
Apollo Hospitals as a doctor was awarded the Shakti Women Icon Award by DORAI
Foundation on the occasion. In her speech to the students she asked the students
to think of their education at Sevalaya as the first step of their success journey
and to build their life with this education as their foundation.
Kanchana C who works as a Housekeeping staff shared her story: I have been working
in Sevalaya for 18 years. My qualification was Std X but through Sevalaya I
received not just a job but also an opportunity to pursue higher education. My
children receive free education at Sevalaya. Today I live in my own house and Sevalaya
changed my life, she said.
Jaya, another Housekeeping staff shared her story: I have been working in Sevalaya
for 12 years. My husband did not support the family but my 2 children are educated
by Sevalaya, including their higher education. I did not receive any education but
I am proud to say that my children are graduates of Agriculture and Microbiology.
Sevalaya is the biggest pillar of strength in my life, she said.
The monthly manuscript magazine ‘Vidiyal’ prepared by students with the guidance
of teachers was released on the occasion. Students, staff and elders from Sevalaya
presented engaging cultural performances.
Earlier Anupriya L N, Head, Quality and Volunteering, Sevalaya welcomed the gathering.
Kanchana S, Head, Value Education, Sevalaya delivered the Vote of Thanks. A memento was
presented to the Chief Guests.
The day was celebrated across various Sevalaya centres in South India, including
Chengalpattu, Chennai, Dharmapuri, Nilgiris, Tenkasi, Tiruvannamalai, Uthiramerur and
Chamarajanagar, Karnataka.
