Venkadu is a tiny village, about 40 km from Chennai, in Sriperumpudur Taluk of Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. Venkadu has a population of about 2000 people, in 500 households and a voting population of 1200 people. Agriculture is the main vocation for most people here. The village has 6 small Hindu Temples for worship, a primary school, and no health centres. The village has good approach road connecting to Kunnathur, Sriperumpudur, Somangalam and Padappai. The nearest Bus stand is at Navalur, which is 2 & ½ km distance and Somangalam is about 5 km. 2 buses come here morning and evening connecting Sriperumpudur. Venkadu has two water tanks; one near the Siva Temple is full of Lotus plants and is the main source of water for drinking, bathing and cooking. This tank is perennial, never dries and seems to be vital for the villager's living. Sri Ulaganathan is the elected Panchayat President.

The village has one overhead water tank built and maintained by TWAD Board and supplies unprotected water through taps, distributed throughout the village. Even though the State and Local government has implemented several welfare schemes, the local population desire clean and protected drinking water, good sanitation and healthcare facilities as also some help in proper education for the children among various welfare programmes for the population in the area. One may wonder why this one village and how is it going to help improve the cause of Hindu Dharma at large. Well, every long journey starts with one step and this is just the first test seed for many to follow by many groups and chapters. The place is located close to Chennai and Kanchipuram and easy for the initial plans and activities. Also, the area is soon going to see lots of economic development projects.

Why do we have to take up a small village may be one question. It is in these villages, with poor economic development, illiteracy and concentration of the lower strata of our Hindu community; we see the lack of knowledge and interest in our dharma and become an effective soil for the spread of alternate thoughts and faiths by groups that spread wrong messages while offering some community assistance and education. By the activities of LDSFT, we can assure the Social welfare schemes for the community, which, with adequate cultural education and spiritual knowledge in Dharmic life will help to elevate the community, and will develop well them to join the main line Hindu community with our traditions. Educating and helping these 2000 members of our community will soon be 200 million. This will help us all to encourage other communities to develop similar programs in their villages.

Loka Dharma Seva Foundation Trust [Regd.] of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India in association with LDSF International at Houston, Texas, USA has ambitious plans for economic development of the area along with spiritual development of the community. It will cover the 3 villages under the panchayat and also the 10 surrounding villages. The plans will include the reconstruction and improvement of the ancient Temple along with educational programs in Hindu Dharma, classes in prayers and slokas for the women and children, group involvement in Temple Religious festivals, general educational, social welfare and healthcare programmes. Several organizations in Chennai including Lion's Club in T.Nagar, Volunteers of REACH, Sri Sankara Ayurvedic College in Nazarepet, Poonamallee; Sri Sankara Eye Hospital in Pammal, Chennai with blessings from Their Holinesses Pujyasri Kanchi Periyavals, have shown keen interest in participating in the programmes.

1. A small Siva Temple below the ground level for centuries with no pooja services is to be renovated and reconstructed with Moolavar and Ambal, with supporting Deities. There will be a cemented pathway, a prakaram to have pradhosham and regular pooja services, a mandapan hall in front of the main and Amman Sanctum for various programs and for community members to congregate and worship, and place for religious classes for adults and children. Women and children can be trained in reciting prayer slokas and Pooja methods.

2. Special meetings for women in the community to get together to improve their knowledge in various vocational training. Single teacher programs for primary, kindergarten and adult education, to include studies in our ancient traditions, history, Ithihasas, Puranas and stories, properly explained and interpreted. Senior teachers can be hired to offer special coaching and training for high school students to perform better in their education. The children in high school can have special coaching classes in their studies to excel in their subjects in competitive public exam. Arranging meetings for special coaching in job related professional training and symposium to create interest in alternate professions.

3. It is estimated that about 5 lakhs Rupees will be required for the Temple construction and renovation, which will include the cost of Kumbhabishekam and other inauguration celebrations. Another 25,000 Rupees per year will be needed for annual up-keep and maintenance work. A faith based community development can be planned around this temple area for the local members. This will include the cleaning and maintenance of the Lotus pond /water Tank [Theppakulam] for the water supply, tree planting, gardens, parks for social gathering, Hindu Dharma Religious classes, teaching of slokas and pooja methods as also special coaching for Children in their school education when they come for the religious education.

4. A Temple renovation and management committee can be formed consisting of the LDSFT Office bearers, some industrialists in the area, Local Village Panchayat President and other village elders. This committee will be accountable to LDSFT, Chennai for checks and balances, for all budget and plan approvals.

5. In addition, we need to organise social welfare activities for the much needed services to the community members. Based on the Temple Temple renovation, economic development of the community can be planned. The estimated capital budget will be around 5 to 10 lakhs Rupees for each of these programmes.

i. A unit of self-help group of women and men of the village can be organized to train them and guide them in developing various village crafts activities in manufacturing marketable items.
ii. A nursery of certain plants for prayer services in Temples and for medicinal use can be organized which will bring economic development to the community and maintenance income for the Temple.
iii. A unit for manufacture of such items like Kumkum, Vibhuthi, sacred threads and Dharbai can produce such marketable items for the Hindu community around the world.
iv. We noted that the area really needs a clean potable drinking water supply, as the village women expressed their problem in the Tank water which is dirty, but the best they could get. A well close to the Siva Temple and Lotus Tank with a sand and activated charcoal can be planned in the area to supply pure drinking water for the villagers at an estimated cost of 2 lakhs Rupees.
v. Periodic Health care camps in general medicine, Eye camps, ENT and Ayurveda examinations can be conducted in the primary school building. It is proposed to establish an Ayurvedic Dispensary near the Siva Temple to be managed by Sri Sankara Ayurvedic College, Nazarethpet, Poonamalle at an estimated cost of 2 lakhs Rupees per year.
vi. A well planned forestation of productivity trees like Jamun, Amla etc., can be attempted around the Lotus Tank of Siva Temple at an estimated cost of 20,000 Rupees and an annual recurring cost of 12,000 Rupees, but will become self supporting.
vii. Agathi [Seshania Glandiflora] plants can be distributed to villagers to be planted at waste water areas as a fodder for the cattle at an estimated of 50,000 Rupees.
viii. Keeping the income after 15 years, Mahagoni plant will be distributed to each house in the village to be taken care by the villagers at a cost of around 3,000 Rupees.

6. With the assured success of our plans, the faith based development of the community will keep our Hindu Dharma as strong as ever in various sections of the local community and will set itself as a model of other communities to develop and other areas to work on.

i. Keeping the Siva Temple and Lotus Tank as focal points, Tourist cottages can be encouraged in and around the area. With these programmes, Venkadu village will be upgraded economically in a few years.
ii. Considering the boys and girls attending the higher schools at Sriperumpudhur, a special coaching class can be arranged at the village for those appearing for the 10th and 12th grade school examinations.
iii. Career couselling and aptitude psychological development facilities can be created for the boys and girls coming out of schools and colleges for better placement in jobs.
iv. Single teacher model of educational programs can be organized to teach moral and spiritual education, Hindu Dharma principles and practices, slokas and prayer methods, training in rituals and other such courses for the community members of all ages utilizing the services of the Temple priests, preachers and Hindu Teachers.
v. Special educational programs for the public on health care maters, sanitation, hygiene, proper nutrition for the prevention of diseases, can be organized. Many of these health related facilities like proper cleaning water, bath and toilet facilities for each house can be implemented with state government aid, where necessary.
vi. Liaison with the State departments like Rural development Agency, Horticulture, Agriculture, Forest, Health and Veterinary departments and District Industries centre for implementation of various government sponsored schemes and subsidies in Venkadu and neighbouring villages.

These social and community based development activities for the poor members of the villages are some areas of work lacking in the Hindu community which has been taken advantage by many other groups. So, while working for the development and propagation of our faith and Dharma, we need to integrate of activity keeping the entire welfare of the Hindu community as a whole. All the above programmes and plans shown as "can" need to be bone, and will be planned and executed with the approval of the trustees and organizing committees of LDSFT and "can" be achieved only with the total support of the able and willing members of the Hindu community at large to develop this area as a model of integrated development program for Hindu Dharma for many others to follow. LDSFT will need volunteer support and financial support from all those interested in the projects. We have a dream for a glorious future for Hindu Dharma, but we need to wake up from our sleep to implement the projects of development in our dream. Voluntary contributions are welcome. For details please see our website at: www.bnaiyer.com/LDSF