Adimali: Thrissur Sahodaya has emerged champions in the closely contested CBSE state youth festival held for the past four days at the Viswadeepthi CMI Public School here. They secured 1,666 points, while Malabar Sahodaya and Kottayam Sahodaya secured second and third places with 1,589 points and 1,533 points, respectively.
Kerala CBSE School Sahodaya Ernakulam bagged 1,412 -points in fourth position while Palakkad Sahodaya finished fifth with 1,318 points. In the school level, Silver Hills CMI Public School, Kozhikode crowned champions with 214 points and adjudged the best school. Devamatha CMI Public School, Thrissur is in the second place with 124 points and Lakeford School, Kavanad, Kollam finished third with 112 points SN Public School, Vadakkevila finished fourth with 110 pints and Lemer Public School, and Nattika finished fifth with 108 points along with Devagiri CMI Public School, Kozhikode.
In the final count, in 144 events on 21 stages, 836 schools participated and the total number of participants was 7,574, the organisers said. They belonged to 26 Sahodayas. A total of 189 judges evaluated the events. The CBSE Management Association and Sahodaya office-bearers said that in view of the allegations over judging this year, the panel which judged events this year will not be considered for judging in the next three years. They also said that this doesn't mean that the entire panel is under a cloud. "Some may have erred so we have taken this decision," said Sahodaya office-bearer K A Francis.
Chief organizer of the event and principal of the Viswadeepthi School Fr Tomy Nambiaparambil said that he was happy to turn the conduct of the festival from a loss making venture into one of no-profit no-loss. “Last year the organising incurred a loss of Rs 12 lakh. This year we could raise Rs 36 lakh for the event and it is neither a profit nor loss. A small hilly place called Adimali has proved that it can host an event of this magnitude,” he added.
The concluding ceremony was inaugurated by Pro-Vice-Chancellor of MG University, Dr Sheena Shukkoor. Actor Anusree, Kerala CBSE Management Association office-bearers Indira Rajan and T.P.M. Ibrahim Khan and Sahodaya office-bearers K Unnikrishnan and K A Francis attended.
