SKDT: a legacy of 45+ years

How it began

Prior to 1947, Villivakkam was a small hamlet, out of the Madras Corporation limits, where most of them were Telugus, living below poverty line. Since there was no Telugu Medium School, in that vicinity, a Telugu Elementary School was established in 1947, in a vacant place in Grama Nattham (S.No.348/1A, Koonoor Village, Villivakkam), allotted by the TN Govt, near the Arulmigu Damadara Perumal Temple, by collecting donations from philanthropic Telugu people.

To raise funds to build a High School, a Drama was enacted in Vijayawada in 1948, collecting Rs. 21,000. Accordingly, the Villivakkam Telugu Higher Elementary (VTHE) School Society was formed and registered under the Madras Societies Act, in 1949. The Schools were named after the popular deity of Vijayawada, Sri Kanakadurga.

Built with the community

Both Schools are managed by a Society headed by Prof C M K Reddy for the past 30 years. Though elections were taking place once in 3 years for the Management Committee, there was no need for them for over 9 terms, with the Committee elected unanimously, which speaks of the performance and clean administration of the President and the Committee. Pukka buildings were built with all Lab & Sports facilities through donations.

A 3-storeyed Block was built in the Primary School, at a cost of Rs. 10 lakhs, with the support of the builder and School Vice President, Sri S Chittibabu, which forms a special attraction to parents, who want to join their children in Telugu Medium School.

Free education for every child

The medium of instruction in both Schools is Telugu and no admission fees is collected from any student nor any student was refused admission, as most of them belong to low and middle income groups. On many occasions our students won the State ranks in various subjects, including Telugu language. Inspite of financial hardship we are able to run the Schools successfully, with the support of philanthropic donors.

Ours is a non-profit Educational Society which does not get any donations or contributions from agencies abroad and our schools have no other source of income. The Ashok Leyland Employees Welfare Union headed by Sri R Kuchelar has been magnanimous to build an additional new block with two floors in the School at a cost of Rs. 13 lakhs, as part of their Charitable scheme in 2009.

The Govt of Tamil Nadu has been generous in waiving off the Property Tax for all the Educational Institutions, but Water & Sewerage Tax is still being collected. The Govt of Andhra Pradesh and Tirumala-Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD) had helped the School with financial aid of Rs. 50,000, through the International Telugu Centre of Sri Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad in 2007.

A new generation of leadership

A new block, renovated at the cost of Rs. 18 lakhs, donated by the School Correspondent & Vice President, Dr C Mohan Reddy, was inaugurated in 2018. The committed service by the benevolent Correspondent, has transformed the SKDT Schools as the best in that area, catering low income population. He took personal interest in starting Computer Classes, English language teaching, Spoken English Classes, Personality Development Classes and Smart Classroom in the School. He ensured safe drinking water and hygienic toilets for the students. He donated free uniforms and shoes to all the Primary School children. Every year free note books were supplied to all the students as a kind gesture by the Andhra Social & Cultural Association (ASCA) Trust, Chennai.

Mrs Nirmala, wife of the President Prof CMK Reddy was an old student of the School and takes special interest in School affairs and honoring the teachers when they retire. After the demise of Dr C Mohan Reddy in July 2020, as per his last wish, his nephew Dr C M Kishore took his place as Vice President & Correspondent. As expected, Dr Kishore is bringing in several new concepts and technological ideas, to make the Schools as Model Schools in that area. During last elections in 2021, Prof CMKR decided to bring in young blood into the Management. Accordingly, a young industrialist Sri J Rajasekar Babu, Sri R M Kishore (son of R S Munirathinam, Chairman, RMK/RMD Engineering Colleges & Schools), Sri MVN Mahendra Babu (son of former Vice President, Sri M V Narayana Gupta), were co-opted as Vice Presidents. Sri P Srinivasa Rao, a very active President of SKDT Old Students Association, is chosen as the Secretary of the Management.

Honoured guests & recognition

Several AP Ministers, Film personalities and other dignitaries attended our School Anniversary functions. AP Ministers: Hon Sri P Rathnam, Hon Sri S Chandramohan Reddy, Hon Sri B Gopalakrishna Reddy, Hon Sri D L Ravindra Reddy, Hon Smt N Rajyalakshmi etc. and TN Ministers, Hon Sri E Madhusudhanan, Hon Sri S Semmalai, Hon Sri D Jayakumar etc. had attended our Anniversary functions. TN Governor Hon Dr K Rosaiah was the Chief Guest for the Anniversary in 2013 and inaugurated the SKDT Old Students’ Association.

TN Educational Officers who visited our Schools on several occasions, had appreciated the commitment of the Management towards the discipline and quality of teaching in the Schools as well as the encouragement given to the sports and extracurricular activities. The Higher Sec School is chosen as one of the Examination Centres by the Govt. for 10th and 12th std. Board exams.