GTD: Will appeal to govt. to hold free summer camps for rural and marginalised children

The Hindu

28-04-2025

Former Minister and MLA for Chamundeshwari G.T. Deve Gowda said he will take up with the government on the need to organise free summer camps for rural children.
Participating in the valedictory function of Parisara Besuge, a children's summer camp organised by a Mysuru-based NGO V-Care, at Hootagalli in the city on Sunday, Mr. Gowda was responding to a suggestion in this regard and said he will soon discuss the matter with the Minister concerned.
He complimented V-Care for organizing such a summer camp that seeks to develop the personalities of children coming from rural and marginalised communities. 'Not every parent can afford camps. Recognising this, the society must come forward to offer such opportunities to the younger generation. I will appeal to the government to start a free summer camp programme for such children', he said.
Mr. Gowda even pointed out that several parents are particular about the education of their children even if they are poor daily wagers. They ensure their children a good education in the hope that they grow up to occupy high and respectable position in the society.
Senior theatre personality Rameshwari Varma, who spoke earlier and suggested that the government should organise free summer camps for the children coming from rural and poor backgrounds, also emphasised the significance of the camps that promote environmental awareness among the children.
'Such camps not only make us more humane, but also support the growth of artists. However, parents should not be overburdened financially, and the government should support such initiatives,' she said.
Meanwhile, Nagalakshmi Chowdhary, chairperson of Karnataka State Women's Commission, who was the chief guest for the occasion, urged the children to exercise caution while using social media and making friends with strangers.
She also emphasised the importance of girls pursuing education before marriage to attain self-reliance. She also called upon the students to dispel notions of inferiority surrounding government or Kannada medium schools. There have been several examples of students studying in such educational institutions excelling in life. 'Success depends on education and not the institution,' she said.
Ms. Chowdhary encouraged teaching courage and resilience to children early in life so that it helps them face future challenges confidently. She also called upon children facing difficulties to contact Child Helpline for assistance.
Founder of V-Care Kumudini Achchi, in her introductory remarks, said the NGO identifies community needs and conducts programmes with local support. 'By using expressive arts therapeutically, we aim to enhance mental well-being. The Parisara Besuge camp had successfully fostered social responsibility and children's mental health,' she said.
Block Education Officer of Mysuru Rural M. Prakash and head of the Department of Psychiatry at JSS Hospital in Mysuru, M. Kishor, also addressed the gathering.
EoM