Vanvasi students who had been groomed under PROPEL (Programme for the Promotion of Education and Leadership) at Attappadi, a Vanvasi hamlet in Palakkad district, along with their mentors, met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, on July 30. They have been groomed under PROPEL, an ambitious project of Vivekananda Medical Mission, Attappadi. PROPEL aims at the education and leadership development of Vanvasi students.
While interacting with the Governor at Lok Bhavan, the students shared their study experiences and the changes that had taken place in their lives after coming under the umbrella of PROPEL.
The programme began with the students introducing themselves. The members of the delegation then explained the activities and objectives of PROPEL. The students spoke about the difference in their lives before and after joining the project. They also spoke in detail about the guidance and training they had received.
Hon’ble Governor Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar interacted with the students of the PROPEL (Programme for the Promotion of Education and Leadership) initiative from Attappady at Lok Bhavan.
The Governor appreciated the students’ confidence, aspirations and remarkable academic… pic.twitter.com/gxZmxflmxM
— Kerala Governor (@KeralaGovernor) July 31, 2026
The Governor then asked the students if they had anything to ask or tell him. One of the girls told him that she was a Vijay fan. She innocently asked the Governor if he could facilitate a short meeting with Vijay for her.
Another girl said that before joining the PROPEL project, she did not know how to use a microphone on a public platform. She said that she now had the self-confidence to stand before the Governor and speak to him. She considered it a great achievement and said she was very happy about it. The training they had received and the support of their mentors had brought about significant positive changes in their personalities and self-confidence.
The Governor appreciated the students’ openness and self-confidence. He advised them to cultivate the habit of reading alongside their studies. He gifted books to the students and encouraged them to read them carefully and write letters to him explaining the thoughts, experiences and opinions they gained from reading.
Mentors, who play significant roles in the students’ academic and personality development, also participated in the meeting. They explained the activities, training and various aspects of the project to the Governor.
Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission has been working in Attappadi since 2004 for the overall development of the Vanvasi community in the region. Initially, it focused on the health sector. Later, its activities expanded to education, skill development, job-oriented training for livelihood, rural development and other sectors.
The PROPEL project was launched in 2020 in collaboration with Vivekananda Learning and Development Foundation. Six Vanvasi students studying in Class 6 were inducted into the project. The students receive personalised guidance and various forms of training from teachers with excellent academic and professional backgrounds.
All the students under the project secured excellent marks and passed this year’s SSLC (Class 10) examinations. Two students secured A+ grades in nine subjects, while the others obtained A+ grades in three to four subjects. At present, all of them are studying in Plus Two at the schools of their choice.
The visit to Lok Bhavan and the meeting with the Governor gave the students immense self-confidence and inspiration.
