About Us
Currently serving over 180 villages with educational institutions and facilities, SDET strives to bridge the urban rural divide by bringing high quality education to the rural students, which is on par with the best academic programs in the country .
We currently manage three schools, one Arts and Science College, four student homes, an Ayurvedic health care center, a vocational training center, an old age home, a yoga retreat and a school of traditional Vedic learning.
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Our Vision & Mission
To bring quality education to the children and youth of Manjakkudi and surrounding villages, by establishing and managing educational institutions with proven pedagogy and qualified teachers in a well developed academic infrastructure on par with urban India.
By serving rural educational needs, allowing the underprivileged to realize their complete potential and become contributing, responsible members of society.
Our Fields of Experience
- Childcare, Primary and Secondary Education
- Graduate and Post Graduate Education in Arts and Science
- Propagation of Spiritual Heritage through Veda Pathashalas, Yoga
- Improving Hygiene, Sanitation, Drinking water
- De-silting of ponds, temple tanks and local water bodies
- Organic Farming
- Eco-conservation, afforestation, garbage recycling and other environmental programs.
Our Founder
Swami Dayananda Saraswati is one of the greatest teachers and practitioners of the Vedanta, and Founder of a movement for societal transformation through service – AIM for Seva. He is committed to bring about transformation at a grass root level to create confident and contributing young Indians.
A remarkable author who conveys his thoughts lucidly in his writings, and a pillar of the Sanatana Dharma and the Acharya Sabha, he is known for his secular approach in promoting tolerance and global understanding through religious dialogue.
Born in Manjakkudi, Swami Dayananda is keenly aware of the needs of this region and has actively encouraged its development in the educational field. His vision is to bring quality education to all the remote areas of India. A philosopher and vedanta guru, Swami Dayananda’s ability to relate and communicate with today’s youth is highly regarded.
Ms.Sheela Balaji, our Managing Trustee is a successful entrepreneur who embarked on the mission of rural transformation after a chance meeting with the Swamiji . Committed singularly to this cause, she has been instrumental in spearheading the growth of the trust and has successfully implemented several projects initiated by the Swamiji. Her leadership has brought in professionalism and high degree of accountability. She is the guiding force, inspiring and motivating team members with her dedication and single minded focus.
Manjakkudi - Where change began
Manjakudi, a village in Tiruvarur District is the birthplace of Swami Dayananda . Today, as the outcome of SDET’s initiatives, the Swamiji’s hometown is a model village, equipped with one of the finest educational facilities in rural India where a child can start with Kindergarten and emerge with a M.Phil degree.
20 years ago:
- The local communities in Manjakkudi and surrounding villages were from backward and most backward classes.
- The average monthly income of a family was only Rs 300. Children were seen as an extra pair of hands in the fields.
- With just one primary school and a high school in the village, conservative parents were reluctant to send their children to nearby district for higher education , especially girls.
- A lack of awareness on the importance of education, health, hygiene and nutrition prevailed.
Today:
- Manjakkuddi is the educational hub of the Kudavasal Taluk and a model educational institution in the Tiruvarur District. Though it has a population of just 2500, everyday over 4800 students arrive from surrounding villages.
- The educational facilities at Manjakuddi serve 180 other villages in a 15 km radius. Bus transport is provided to the students for safe and convenient travel to and from the village.
- It is one of the few villages in India where education facilities from kindergarten to a Masters program, including M. Phil, are provided. In fact, the quality of our education and infrastructure is at par with most urban institutions.
- Every year, at least 10 students from Manjakkudi’s schools and colleges successfully finish among the top 1% in the Tamil Nadu state exams.
- The infrastructure of the village and the district has been developed to increase awareness on health, hygiene, nutrition and education among the parents of students. In fact, several families are now relocating to Manjakkudi and its surrounding areas.
- There is no girl child in Manjakkudi and surrounding 20 villages , who is above 18 and not a graduate.
- Manjakkudi is now home to WIPRO’s first rural BPO, a 120 seater facility,expandable to 500 seat by march 2013.