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| Rejina, Munderi, Kalpetta |
She is the single teacher in the Kokkuzhi School at Vengappally, Wayanad where adivasi children are the students. So her work includes teaching in the classroom as well as enabling them to come to school by solving their problems.
Rejina is the eldest of the three children of Sulaiman and Safiya of Munderi, Kalpetta. While Sulaiman was a trader, Safiya was the homemaker. From a young age Rejina was fond of helping others by gathering willing school friends. Further she used to take part in cultural activities and awareness-building programmes. These took her to ‘Srishti’ an NGO in the cultural field and this has further expanded into welfare activities for adivasis in areas like Narangakkandi, Thonikkadavu and Mailadi. Literacy training, help to adivasis in claiming the benefits of Government schemes, pension, ration card, vocational training, women empowerment etc are areas where she is actively involved.
She has been the recipient of district and state awards of Nehru Yuva Kendra. Rejina, who is pursuing a postgraduate degree in Social Welfare is a graduate in economics from Government College, Kalpetta.
She showed her social commitment after receiving the award. Rs.15000 that came her way as part of the award was shared by her among deserving 15 persons in the area.
She is a good singer too and has won state level awards for Oppana and Folk Dance. Their organization, Srishti is trying to preserve art forms that are threatened with extinction. As part of the cultural delegation to China, she had an opportunity to visit and experience the changes there.
After her father’s demise, Rejina is looking after the household. Her only source of income is the intermittent salary from the teaching job. But she has no complaints. For she believes that mind is the source of all sorrows and joys.
Courtesy:
V.R.Jyothish (text), Harikrishnan, Badusha (photo), Vanitha, 1-14 June,
2012
Contributed by: Administrator
