FB group of VIT students acts as social service brigade

Started by a small team of five students, who are now pursuing their final year MSc at the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), the group received appreciation from the public when they fed nearly 2,100 persons in Vellore on the World Hunger Day recently.

“We cooked the meals inside a temple within the Fort and our volunteers packed the food, which was then distributed to destitute and other needy persons at Katpadi, Bagayam, Konavattam, Sathuvachary and Adukamparai,” said V Swathy, a co-founder of the group.

“Money is not an issue as public, who are aware of our activities, contribute generously” added S Poornima, another member.

V Vignesh, a co-founder, said, “the aim was initially to make Vellore a green zone, but over a period, we started undertaking various other people-centric welfare activities also.”

The group has ventured into environmental missions like planting 400 saplings, purchased at Rs 5 each, in various government schools located in and around Vellore, while another 600 saplings were planted near Chitheri and Otteri lakes. The group members also removed Seemai Karuvelam, a shrub, from the Otteri and Murukeri lakes.

Asked about their plans, S Lakshmi, another member, said, “we have approached villagers to purchase palmyra (palm) saplings at Rs 10 each. We will plant them on lake beds to prevent soil erosion.”

“Since our studies remain unaffected, our parents lend full support to our missions,” said Deepika, another student.