Dalit students overcome obstacles to complete course

Updated on: Monday, August 22, 2011

For both M. Veerababu of Keeranur village near Palani and U. Sampath Raja of Kurundhampattu village near Karaikudi, their rural educational background did not deter them from successfully completing the foundation course of International Air Transport Association (IATA), Montreal, Canada.

The two are among the 16 Dalit boys and girls who completed the course, which was funded by the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing Development Corporation (TAHDCO).

Mr.Veerababu said a relative told him about the course. His schooling was in Tamil medium because of which he initially struggled.

C. Vijayaraj Kumar, Managing Director, TAHDCO, said a total of 20 students were enrolled in the Academy, which is the first batch. The TAHDCO had spent Rs. 40,000 each to the students for completing the course. The IATA certificates are internationally recognised ones with which the students were able to get a good job in tourism industry, he said.

Vani Murugesan, Manager (Operations), Kuoni Academy, Chennai, said it is a foundation-level course, jointly conducted by the IATA and Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association. The examination papers are corrected by a team at Montreal, she said.

N. Subramanian, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Minister, distributed the certificates and placement letters to the students and congratulated them.

Dalit students overcome obstacles to complete course

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