IMFS Tamilnadu Organising Committee held a rally on August 27 at Elliot’s beach, Besant Nagar, Chennai. At the start of the program veteran science activist, Mr Elango sang an ode to science and its role in dispelling ignorance from people’s lives. Dr Uma Ramachandran, Convenor, IMFS Tamilnadu, spoke about the objectives of the March. Mr Ilango Subramanian explained the necessity of IMFS. The March was flagged off by Prof V. Aravindan, Dept of Genetics, Madras University. There were around 60 children leading the March. Students, researchers and professors from IIT, IMSc, Madras University and Anna University and school teachers and general public numbering more than 250 participated in the rally holding placards highlighting the demands of IMFS. Throughout the March, apart from raising demands, songs on science were sung by Mr Elango, Prof Athreya and some youngsters. At the end of the March, students from IIT Madras, from Velammal school and from government school spoke about the various issues raised by the IMFS. The program ended with a concluding speech by Prof V B Athreya, a distinguished scientist and social activist. Several print and TV media came to the spot and took interview and gave a good coverage.
A Nature walk was conducted through the marsh lands in Sholinganalloor, Chennai in the morning hours on August 27 as part of IMFS program. The initiative for this was taken by an environmental organization ‘Soozhal Arivom’.