CNBC-TV18 conducted a video shoot on Ekal Activities in Patchalur, Dindigul Anchal

CNBC-TV18, a leading business news channel in India had done a video shoot as part of their ‘Unsung Heroes’ program. It was the first business news channel launched in India and still leads that genre. The channel has been an integral part of the Indian economic story, spearheading and mirroring India’s enterprising times. This channel has a unique program called ‘Unsung Heroes’ which covers about socio-economic happenings across the state.

CNBC-TV18 covered the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), a premium sponsor to the Friends of Tribals Society adopted 100 villages in Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Nilgiri and Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu during 2013-14. The news channel wanted to cover the Ekal Vidyalayas supported by IOB in Dindigul District. IOB adopted 25 villages of Patchalur cluster in Dindigul District. Hence, Mr. Justin, Manger-Development, IOB-Regional Office at Dindigul approached FTS-Chennai on 10 May 2013.  Ms. Veena Krishna, Deputy Editor – Special Projects and Mr. Abhijit S Malge, Senior Producer – Special Projects from CNBC channel came to Kodaikanal with their crew on evening of 12 May 2014.

Mr. Kathrikamanathan, Anchal Pradhinidhi from Dindigul District coordinated the field visits. The team was guided by Mr.L. Boopathi, Manager-Corporate Outreach, FTS Chennai to the villages. CNBC team visited 3 villages viz., Kuppammalpatti, K.C.Patti and Solakkadu.

 In Kuppammalpatti, they covered four different aspects during their video shoot. First, the village atmosphere by shooting the village roads, huts, people with different appearance, etc. Then they shot Ms. Muthulakshmi, Acharya as taking class, teaching letters, numbers, cultural songs. They interviewed Ms. Athilakshmi, Arogya Pramukh to explain about of Ekal Vidyalayas. After the interview with the Karyakartha, two girl students from the same village viz., Baby Ashifa Begam and Shalini were interviewed about their experience with Ekal classes.

K.C.Patti village welcomed the team with Kumbam and Aarathi. Ms. Chitra, Acharya and Ms. Ilangeswari,  Karyakartha taken over the proceedings. Ms. Chitra, prepared a Arogya Life Chart consisting of different types of leaves found in the locality. The chart containing leaves from Neem, Pomegranate, Papaya, Amla and other trees. She explained the children about health benefits of those trees to the children. Ms. Ilangeswari took a class on Surya Namaskaar and helped them to practice the same. After Surya Namaskaar, the children performed different types of Yoga postures.

The team moved to Solakkadu village and interacted with the teacher Ms. Saraswathi and Mr. Sankar, Karyakartha on thelongevity of the Ekal Vidyalayas in the village and how it’s benefitting them. The children lined up to get a smiling shot.  After the completion of shooting at Solakkadu village, Ms. Veena Krishna interviewed Mr. Kathirkamanathan. She asked him on how the IOB’s support helped Ekal Vidyalayas.