'IIT Madras students beautifying the Velachery Railway Station in Chennai, Tamil Nadu with help of Fine Arts Club at IIT Madras'
Chennai, 04 October 2017: Indian Institute of Technology Madras students are celebrating the week-long festival of philanthropy – Daan Utsav – from 2nd to 8th October 2017.
The Joy of Giving Week is celebrated every year through "acts of giving" - money, time, resources, and skills - spanning the corporate, NGO and the government sector besides schools, colleges and the general public. This is the second year IIT Madras is celebrating Daan Utsav, which is organised by the IIT Madras Branding Cell of International and Alumni Relations Student Council.
Speaking about the initiative, Prof. R. Nagarajan, Dean, International and Alumni Relations, IIT Madras, said, "The students of the International and Alumni Secretariat have been playing a major role in the past two years with IITM's Daan Utsav, and this year too, have come up with some laudable initiatives. Just as our alumni give back to society by creating jobs and boosting the economy, so do our students-- albeit in a different context. I'm proud of the philanthropic work they do, and their total dedication to such worthwhile causes."
Last year, IIT Madras students celebrated Daan Utsav by organising Thanksgiving Lunch for the support staff and mural painting at Kasturibai Nagar Railway Station. This year, students have planned several activities:
* Thanksgiving Lunch on 4th October 2017 for the support staff (security guards, cleaning staff, mess workers, bus drivers etc.)
* Beautifying of Velachery Railway Station with the help of Fine Arts Club on 7th October 2017
* Informal Games - in collaboration with Hindi Mitra Mandal
* Donations – to the Cancer Institute, Chennai
Elaborating on the initiative Ms. Vineesha Badabhagni, Secretary, International and Alumni Relations, IIT Madras, says, “As a part of Daan Utsav festival, people all over India come together and celebrate the joy of giving. We at IIT Madras want to celebrate the same in our capacity. Every student here is encouraged and given a chance to volunteer. The span of activities is also versatile giving a student flexibility to contribute - time, money, efforts, etc. This festival evokes a sense of giving among IITians who are the makers of future India”.
