------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANNUAL REPORT OF VANAVASI ASHRAM TRUST FOR THE YEAR  ENDING ON MARCH 31ST 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vanavasi Ashram Trust completed its five years of  activity in the field of education  for the  tribals.The school started with 41 tribal children in  May 1997 and now there are 237 tribal children(141  boys and 96 girls) of five communities namely  Kuruchiyas, Kurumas,Kattu naikas,Paniyas and  Adyars. Among them three are primitive communities. This year the school started on 6th of June and closed  for summer holidays last week of March.  At present there are 26 members in the school.Regular  class room instruction starts at 8.30am and  ends 1.30pm.After the break vocational training  starts from 2.30pm and ends 5pm.Computer  education,Carpentry,Stiching and Tailoring and  agriculture are the vocations.  Computer education was inaugurated by the District  Collector sri.R.Prabhakaran on 22nd of July 2001.  Music,dance and stick play are also practiced.Standard  1st to 8th are functioning.Next year 9th standard will  be started.   Cultural activities :- As usual the school celebrated Independence Day   with colourful procession to the  nearest town with students,teachers and  parents.Different cultural activities were also shown.  Annual Day was conducted on Republic Day with  dances,one act play,stick play and other local tribal  entertainments.   Archery competition :- The traditional Archery Was  conducted on competition basis on 18th of  November.There were separate competitions for  gents,ladies ,boys and girls.More than hundred archers  participated.Our school bagged several prizes.  Study tour and cultural exchange :-  Two study tours were conducted.A group of 51 members  visited nearby state of Karnataka and performed  different tribal cultural activities in vivekananda  tribal school of Kenchanahalli and Mata  amritananandamai school of Mysore.Tribal students of  vivekananda tribal school paid a visit to our school  and performed their cultural activities.  The second group went to nearest district of Kannur  and visited Kannur central Prison,Milma dairy,St.Angelo  fort,Kannur beach and Taliparamba.This team also  performed different cultural activities in Shanti  nagar recreation club.   Annual sports :-  Annual sports day was conducted in January.Students  were divided in four houses and several items and  matches were played.Individual champions of boys and  girls were selected.Our students participated in  district and state level competitions and got prizes.   Financial support :- Ministry of Tribal Affairs,Govt.Of India sanctioned  first instalment of Grant in aid for honorarium of  teachers,food and uniform etc to the  students.Eventhough it is not enough to meet the  expenditure we were relieved from the financial  problem to a certain extent.The second instalment for  the present year has not received so far.  Asha for Education supported financially for the  construction of a three room RCC building .  Aid India helped us by giving I2 fund last financial  year.With the amount we puchase agriculture land,milch  cow,teaching aids and constructed a cattle shed.  Idrf Supported financially to install steam cooking in  the school hostel.  Anandashram encouraged us from the beginning.  This year Aid Boston Volunteer Sri Madhu Suresh and  Asha volunteer Sri Ranjit Chauhan Visited the school.   Conclusion :- Wayanad district is the home of majority of the  tribals in Kerala.This is the most backward area of  the state as well.The school could change the attitude of  tribals towards education.Earlier the children used to  run away when the social workers approach for enroling  the school.Now they show positve attidude.Still there  are several students anfd parents who are not  interested to come to school especially primitive  community.Through education of the children change has  come in the health and social awareness of the  tribals.  Vanavasi Ashram trust is trying its best to enroll all  the tribal children who are not attending any  school.But fund is the main problem  Let us conclude this report by sincerely thanking each  and every one who supported us for educating the poor  tribal children   Sincerely Sri.A.Ramachandran[Sd]  (Secretary)  Dr.M.P.Appanu Nambiar[Sd]  (Chairman).