THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ‘Mission One Million Carnival’, a sports-music-dance extravaganza, organised by IT professionals to raise funds for charity, drew large crowds with people from all walks of life pitching in with their support.
The event was held at the Jimmy George Indoor stadium, the other day by the Group of Technology Companies (Gtech) which is an industry body of IT and ITeS companies in the state, based in Technopark.
Thousands including professionals from Technopark, their friends, families and other invitees flocked the stalls at the Carnival to participate at the various games such as archery, mini-golf, dart, dribbling challenge and basketball challenge. The Carnival buzzed with activity as people including children gathered to get their face painted, caricature drawn and ‘mehndi’ done.
IBS Software Services beat Tata Consultancy Services to win the Corporate Dodge Ball Championship organised as part of the Carnival. The highlight of the Carnival was a spontaneous dance performance involving around 400 people including visitors and organisers.
“It took the movie ‘Taare Zameen Par’ to familiarise a lot of people with learning disabilites among children. Events like these will mobilize more support to develop an educational system that helps children with special needs,” said Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor.
“We could raise funds of over Rs 8 lakh through sale of tickets alone. An equal amount was contributed by various companies and individuals inside and outside Technopark. The response from the IT community was truly inspiring,” said Vijay Kumar P, Convenor of GTech Corporate Social Responsibility team.
Sporting activities were arranged by Sportz4You as 150 volunteers comprising top management professionals.
IT professionals and staff from other support functions from various companies in Technopark managed the stalls.
Renowned poet V Madhosoodanan Nair and Anoop P Ambika, Secretary of GTech also spoke on the occasion.