Chapter Leader

Mr. Sonna Belliappa Pemanda
(RSI 78)
Pemanda Monappa Foundation
1A, Gee Gee Minar
23 College Road
Tamil Nadu
Chennai 600006
India
Phone: 91-44-2825-3241
E-mail: sonnabel@gmail.com

Mr. Panchapakesan Subramaniyam - Vice President

Dr. S. Rajamani - Secretary

Dr. R. Rajamani - Treasurer

K.B. Sankaran - Member, Projects

Dr. Roopa Nagarajan - Member

Ms. Vasanthi Ranganathan - Member

Dr. Sayed Ali Mujtaba - Member

The Chapter was established in 2003.

Under the able leadership of Mr. P. M. Belliappa, the Chennai Chapter has already taken upon itself two important activities.

The first one relates to raising of funding support to the project on National Initiative for the Blind of VIDYA VRIKSHA, a dedicated voluntary organization, which, in collaboration with the IIT Chennai, uses science and technology for innovative teaching of blind children. Already the first tranche of donation has been given to the organization by Dr. Dan Berman, the then President of the EWCA, Hawaii, in the month of September 2003 at a function held at the IIT Chennai for the purpose.

The other project is about offering guidance and counseling to scholars who want to avail of the scholarships and other academic programs offered by the universities in Hawaii as also by the EWC of Hawaii. Close to a dozen scholars have so far been provided with such information or guidance.

In addition to these, there is a proposal to have a tripartite arrangement between the University of Madras, the EWC-Hawaii and the Chennai Chapter of the EWCA to have scholar exchange program. The details are being worked out.

A similar proposal has come from the Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College for Women, Tiruchirapalli, an autonomous college of the Bharatidasan University. This is being followed up for working out the details.

The Chapter provided financial aid to victims of earthquakes in northern areas of Kashmir and relief to tsunami victims in Tamil Nadu.

A teaching English language program has been initiated for economically backward students in rural areas with a view of enhancing their employment potential.

A meeting among EWC and Fulbright Alumni was held September 21, 2007. At the meeting, the Chapter decided to undertake an Environment Awareness Programme, the goal of which is to enhance awareness and education on environmental issues in four Southern states of India. A Coordinating Committee of three was formed to carry forward the action plans. For more information and updates about the Chapter, visit http://www.chennaionline.com/events/2007/06article11.asp.

The EWCA Chennai Chapter had recently organized an event in collaboration with the Association of British Scholars (ABS) at the British Council, Chennai. This was the first time that both these alumni associations of Chennai came together for an event, thanks to the initiative of our President, Mr. P. M. Belliappa. The event was a talk given by Dr. S. Venkatraman of UNESCO Bangkok on "Putting Children Back in Schools," on January 3, 2009. Click here for a report on the event.

For this quarter, the chapter regularly held meetings among its senior officers to plan for new activities and review the status of current activities. A significant major event on November 9, 2011 was coordinated by the chapter with the collaboration of the global NGO “Hand in Hand” (a UK charity established in 2006 with the focus of mainstreaming gender issues, reducing poverty, and encouraging economic and social empowerment). The NGO is active in India, Afghanistan, Southern Africa and Eastern Africa. Among the distinguished guests & presenters were members of the media and academia, members of the Asso. of British Scholars, other NGO’s, EWC alumni and Jennifer McIntyre, US Consul General, Chairperson Kalpana Sankar of Hand in Hand (EWC alumnus who was selected for a “Changing Faces Women’s Leadership Seminar at the EWC, HI), and P.M. Belliappa, Chennai chapter President. The latter highlighted the EWC and reiterated the Chennai chapter’s Best Chapter award for 2006.

The Chapter reported that they are planning activities for the following quarters. There was a change in the US Consul General, the patron of the Chapter. A committee meeting of principal office bearers was held to discuss suitable programs for a formal function inviting the new US Consul General. The Chapter also is pursuing further activities in the areas of environment and public health.

On June 6, 2011, collaborating with the Association of British Scholars and the Pemanda Monappa Trust, the Chapter organized a Presentation of the Oscar winning Producer, Mr. Hugh Welchman (winner of 20 international awards/nominations), at the British Council, Chennai. Mr. P.M. Belliappa, Chennai Chapter President presided over the event, which was followed by noted film critic panelist presentations and interactive audience participation. The event was likewise observed as the EWC Day 2011. Vice-President Mr. P. Subramaniyam proposed a vote of thanks at the end of the event.

1) The Chapter’s warmth and hospitality welcomed Ms. Ni Ni Win, EWC awardee who worked with institutions in the State of Tamilnadu on HIV/Aids Control. Chapter President M. Belliappa and Chapter Vice-President P. Subraminayam guided her during her entire stay and provided her with an overview of the program and issues involved in HIV/Aids control and treatment. 2) It is with great honor and pride that the Chapter announced the bestowal to their Chapter President , M. Belliappa, the Award of “Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)” in recognition of his services to environmental protection and the promotion of alumni relations. The award was from Her Majesty the Queen of England and was given by UK’s Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai. The Consul General of the US in Chennai attended the important occasion along with other guests. The Chapter plans to hold a Career Guidance Conference soon and will continue to jointly organize areas of mutual interest with the Association of British Scholars in Chennai.

The Chapter is developing 2 programs:  1) With the collaboration of academic institutions, employers and interested agencies, effort has started towards organizing a Career Guidance Conference for city college students.  2) Extensive consultations with leading academics in the areas of the environment, public health, education and empowerment of weaker groups are ongoing, with the goal of organizing a workshop on pressing environmental issues facing the city of Chennai.  On December 15 2010, Jefferson fellow Dr. Raghuvir Srinivasan (who was in Hawaii in November, 2010), delivered a well attended talk on “Musings of a Journalist- the UK & US Experience,” a joint effort delivered by the Chennai chapter and the ABS (Assoc. Of British Scholars).  Students of media and journalism in particular, attended the event.