1992
Origins of Puvidham.
Bought and registered 12 acres of degraded land in the dharmapuri district. The only resource on the land was small stones. we used them to make crescent bunds.
1993
Pebbles come to rescue
Made field bunds and planted some 2000 trees. Finished building a mud and thatch house to be able to live on the land to protect it from grazing and poaching. Bought two cows to help improve the fertility. Grew nitrogen fixing crops.
1995
Cows and greens
Built a cowshed and nurtured the trees. Grew millets and pulses organically for our food and fodder for the cows. Saplings began to grow and natural vegetation returned to the land.
2000
Education for sustainable living
The learning centre started with 7 children 2 of Meenakshi’s own children and 4 school dropouts.
The school ran from the house. We wanted to follow MARIA MONTESSORI’S Methodology. But the material was too expensive, so we prepared our own hand made material with cheap local wood based on the principles described in her books. We also included MAHATMA GANDHI’S NAI TALIM , or work as a medium of instruction and RABINDRANATH TAGORE’S ideas on open learning and self-motivated learning with a large component of art and craft and co-operative sports.
2001
Eco-Architecture finds its way into sustainable living curriculum
A need for constructing a new building arises as the number of children increases to 17.
The Mud and Thatch building made with local materials and the architecture find their way into “Education for Sustainable living” Curriculum.
2004
Puvidham gets registered as school
Puvidham gets registered as a school with local authorities.
Rotory Club of Hosur recognizes Mrs Meenakshi’s efforts and confers The “Best Teacher Award”
2007
Common hall and class room.
Functional architecture.
Puvidham becomes home for 50 children and time to construct a new building which goes on to become our architectural trademark.
We were also fortunate a acquire 3 acres of land with a well. This enables us to do irrigated farming.
2008
Green cover – Home for birds and insects
The land gets regenerated into DIVERSITY center with 30 different species of trees, home for 50 species of birds, Hundreds of insects and butterflies.
2009
A new home
A new Hostel Building. Home for 20 Girls and 18 Boys.
2010
It rained awards and recognition for puvidham in a draught hit Dharmapuri
Having got Organic Farming and Architecture into the curriculum of Sustainable Education, Time for Arts and Crafts.
Puvidham was getting recognized through out India and started getting awards for education and rural development.
2014
A progressive school for Sustainable Education
Puvidham becomes home for 102 children with 35 of them in hostel
With support from Asha for Education, AMM Foundation, Udhavum Ullangal, Puvidham Support Group in Columbia and London, Puvidham gets progressive.
2015
Science for Sustainability Park finds it day
A new hostel gets constructed with financial support from friends and wellwishers.
Our dream project “Science for Sustainablity Park” makes a beginning with support AMEF Foundation Chennai.
2018
Tedx and Puvidham gets a DBT Foldscope Grant
2024
POST COVID
The school operations were minimized and work was started with local farmers to help them to convert to organic farming and help them setup small green enterprises