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Thomas is 10 and lives in the slums with his family. He doesn’t have a father, so each household member has to scrounge for a living. But with the help
of Concern, he has been able to attend the Corporation School in
Mandaveli, where he is
learning to speak conversational English. After school, he tends to the herbal nursery. In
turn, Concern attends to his needs – makes sure he has a shirt on his back and a meal
in his stomach.
"Concern is a unique welfare
organisation," states Vasantha Soundararajan, the founder secretary. "It creates
environmental awareness and works for the uplift of the economically weaker strata of
society." Malnourished children mired in poverty, are its pivots.
 But isn’t Exnora into similar activities too? "Concern
goes a step beyond Exnora" clarifies Vasantha, a philanthropist and naturopath by
profession. Green Education is the chosen medium for resurrection into the mainstream of
society. "For all problems we have one solution. Grow plants." But for
Pete’s sake how will injecting greenery into the surroundings help? "There are
so many toxicants and pollutants in the air, damaging good health. So, we teach children
to raise medicinal plants in addition to the ornamental ones," explains Vasantha
patiently, as if to an errant child.
"After all, how many people can afford expensive
allopathic treatment like bypass surgery for instance?" she queries. (pauses for effect
before proudly announcing) "Hmmm…. natural medicines, even the poorest of the
poor can avail." Eureka!
Since its inception in 1993, Concern has gained recognition
for it’s unconventional mode of operations. Sunday school for children is held in a
beautiful park in Abhiramapuram. "There are about 200 houses in that area, but till
some time back no one knew of its existence," opines the lady. But shakes her head
vehemently in the negative when queried about whether she has taken prior permission from
the Municipal Corporation. "We would have been still waiting in the wings if the
Municipal Corporation had its way."
 At both Sunday and Weekday School, emphasis is on teaching crafts
and conversational English. Incidentally, Concern has adopted the Corporation School in
Mandaveli, and is all set to transform it into a role model. Surprisingly only two
teachers are bringing about this metamorphosis – the founder secretary and the craft
instructor.
But why this undue stress on speaking an alien language?
Even the most menial of jobs requires a smattering of English according to the naturopath
(How’s that for an explanation?). If you can somehow beat your peers to it
you’ve got the job. It’s a complicated world!
Interestingly, school children maintain the herbal nursery,
the hub of life in
Concern. The majority of them hail from the slums so they carry these values home too. So
what do their parents feel about this novel system of education? They’re thrilled to
bits, if Vasantha is to be believed. "You can watch the Sunday movie if you attend
school" states one enthusiastic mother to her chirpy ward. In fact, the special
noonday meals play no small part in the scheme of happenings.
 As expected, Concern is into multifaceted activities - setting of herbal
gardens in city schools, income-generating schemes (manufacture and sale of fruit juices,
herbal medicines and plants), environmental projects, seminars, workshops, Nature Cure
Camps, books on naturopathy, a tailoring centre and ‘Kanyashran’ -a project for
the welfare of women.
Friends, business enterprises and members are always ready
to pitch in
financially. "If only someone would donate an Omni Van, we would be much more
mobile" whispers Vasantha wistfully. So much work still to be done. 'The woods are
lovely, dark and deep And I have promises to keep, Miles to go before I sleep, And miles
to go before I sleep.....’
You can help Concern through voluntary
services and contributions.
Contact:
The Founder Secretary
Shobha Mathur Pandian
Concern
5, Pattammal Street
Mandaveli
Chennai –28.
Tel. # 4354566
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