Sun Jan 26 17:39:06 UTC 2025: ## 80-Year-Old Retiree Donates Thousands to Rural Tamil Nadu Schools
**Chennai, January 27, 2025** – N. Subramanian, an 80-year-old retired railway employee, is dedicating his pension to bridging the educational gap in rural Tamil Nadu. For the past 24 years, he has been personally donating books, charts, and educational materials to government schools across Tiruvannamalai and Vellore districts.
Inspired by his own regret at not completing his education, Mr. Subramanian began his initiative in 2001, providing resources like *The Tirukkural*, atlases, and dictionaries. He annually allocates ₹75,000-₹100,000 from his pension to this cause, also donating charts, mats, almirahs, and benches. His efforts extend to donating to the School Patron Fund.
While he previously supported schools in Chennai, he has refocused his efforts on rural areas, highlighting the lack of resources in village schools, particularly in the crucial early years of education. The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted his donations, but he has recently resumed his work, connecting with the School Education Department through the *Namma School Namma Ooru Palli* initiative to identify schools in need. Mr. Subramanian’s unwavering commitment underscores the importance of early childhood education in laying a strong foundation for future learning.
First Piper 