S. Mala outside Children’s Garden Higher Secondary School, regulating traffic
During peak school hours, one can spot S. Mala with her students on Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai 7th Lane, the approach way to Children’s Garden Higher Secondary School, sometimes instructing parents to wear a helmet or not to use the mobile phone while driving. During weekends, the scene shifts to busy junctions such as the one near Phoenix Mall in Velachery or Tidal Park, where Mala would be regulating traffic.
For close to two decades, this teacher with Children’s Garden Higher Secondary School in Mylapore has been a volunteer with the Tamil Nadu Police Traffic Warden Organisation that assists the police in regulating traffic, promoting road safety and spreading traffic etiquette. On September 5, she was among those who received the Vidhya Seva Samman Awards 2025 instituted by Lions Club of Meenambakkam and Mission Guru Devo Bhava.
“I was always fascinated about working with the police department, so when I was asked if I could attend a training programme in 2006 to become a traffic warden I gladly accepted it. I was single then and wanted to do something good in the kakhi uniform.
S. Mala (left) with Road Safety Patrol students at an event organised by Tamil Nadu Police Traffic Warden Organisation and Greater Chennai Traffic Police
Later marriage and other responsibilities never came in my way to volunteer,” says Mala, who teaches English and Social Studies to Class X students.
The school takes road safety lessons so seriously that every week a period is marked in the timetable for it. Not only children take these lessons, but also parents, especially during Parent Teacher Association meetings. Road Safety Patrol is accorded the same importance other club activities are, if not more. School sports day often features drama/skit on road safety.
“I must give it to the school principal and correspondent for encouraging me and giving me the freedom to have these lessons in the curriculum. We are encouraged to take children for outdoor awareness programmes as well. What we noticed is continuous engagement does bring about change in children and parents,” says Mala, a resident of Velachery.
She says the school currently has 244 students from classes VI to XII enrolled in the Road Safety Patrol programme. Most school days, between 8 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. students take turns to regulate traffic during peak hours.
Mala has lead the Road Safety Patrol Girls contingent for Republic Day parade for five years.
Lakshmi Kantham, headmistress of Children’s Garden Higher Secondary School, says it is commendable to see Mala managing her time well to fulfil her regular responsibilities in the school impressively and also function as a traffic warden.
Teachers from Mylapore schools honoured with Vidhya Seva Samman Awards
The awardees with the special guests
Twenty teachers who have made a lasting impression on children and in the education system were honoured at the event organised on September 5 by Lions Club of Meenambakkam and Mission Guru Devo Bhava at D.A.V. Girls Senior Secondary School in Gopalapuram. The awardees are: A. Vidhya Dharani from The Children’s Garden Higher Secondary School; PMS Saravanan and V. Chitra from Savithri Ammal Oriental Higher Secondary School; A. Chitra and T. Theivakani from Ganapathy Iyer Girls High School; R. Sarathy and S. Augustin Irudayaraj from P.S. Higher Secondary School; M. Rani Sowmiya and B. Sowmia from Rani Meyyammai Girls Higher Secondary School; Karlin Saral and Rita Juliet from CSI Monahan Girls Higher Secondary School; M. Anitha Devi and Sujith Kumar from Kesari Higher Secondary School; S. Jayanthi and S. Biruntha from Lady Sivaswami Ayyar Girls Higher Secondary School; R. Susanna Mary and S. Juliet Samuel from CSI St. Ebba’s Girls Higher Secondary School; Dr. Elias I. and E. Arokia Mary Jonita from Santhome Higher Secondary School.
The awardees were selected by school correspondents and headmasters, and each awardee received a citation and a cash prize of ₹21,000, said a release. Irai Anbu, former chief secretary of Tamil Nadu, presented the awards.
CA Anil Khicha, co-founder, Mission Guru Devo Bhava, said the initiative was launched in 2012 and it aims to “enhance pride in teaching and honour of teachers”.
Published – September 06, 2025 10:30 pm IST
