Nethrodaya awards toppers

Visually challenged students who scored well in the recently concluded Class 10 and 12 examinations were given cash prizes of Rs 2,000 by Nethrodaya, an NGO for the visually challenged, at its premises on Saturday.

M V M Veeramani, CEO of Velammal Engineering College sponsored the cash award for 130 students from both classes.

He also said he is interested in funding a BED college that Nethrodaya is planning for the visually challenged.

R Vinothini, a visually challenged student, scored 1108 out of 1200 in the Class 12 board exam.

She hails from a remote village of Thirumaathurai in Perambalur district. Her father is a mason and her brother is bedridden with paralysis. Vinothini went to St Johns Sangam Trust school and has now joined Quaid-E-Milleth college to study English literature.

“I want to study a lot and become a lecturer,” Vinothini to Express.

Nethrodaya helps the students find a good college and gets concession in fees if the student opts to study at a private college.

K Vignesh Kumar, one of the students who received the award, is the State topper in Class 10 among the visually challenged with a score of 484 out of 500.

The cash award was given by B Valarmathi, Tamil Nadu Minister for Social Welfare. Valarmathi said the government is always ready to help the children.