Category: Tamil Nadu

  • How it began at Vidyarambam

    Mr. Ranganathan is the founder of Vidyarambam. In his previous avatar, he was an automobile engineer and travelled to various places to work. In 1982 he decided that he wanted to motivate and inspire learning in children who have little access to the joy of education. He says, “I took my sons for summer holidays…

  • How it began at Vishwas, Vision For Health Welfare and Special Needs

    Armed with a post graduate degree in biophysics, Neelam Jolly moved to Delhi from Chandigarh in the late eighties. After switching to Delhi, she decided to switch tracks and underwent a course as a Therapist with AADI – an NGO devoted to educational and social integration of disabled children with the mainstream.  This was an…

  • How it began at Asha Kiran

    The mission of my trip was to see firsthand the wonderful work that Mr. Prakash of Asha Kiran was doing for the underprivileged. I was so eager to reach my destination that I was standing by the door of the moving train. It was around eight in the morning. The fresh breeze invigorated me. In…

  • Taking care of Madurai’s disabled

    It was a ten-minute drive from my accommodation to Arapalayam where JK MAASS has its centre – a small, one-level building with a big hall and one room in a corner. The hall was separated into three sections by cardboard sheets. One section is for children with IQs below 50. The second section is for…

  • How it began at JK MAASS

    On obtaining a degree in Physiotherapy, Mr. Sudhakaran, the founder of JK MAASS started working at a multi-specialty hospital. Most of his patients were mentally and physically disabled children. He served them relentlessly for ten years. It was during his tenure at the hospital that he understood fully the disparity between the rich and the…

  • An organisation that provides CSR provides material and emotional support to HIV+ people

    Nagercoil derives its name from a temple located in the town. With windmills and coconut groves everywhere, it is situated on the coastal side of Kanyakumari, a 20 kms drive alongside the Bay of Bengal. We walked into one of the coconut groves which was a kilometer ahead. There was no road but just a…

  • How it began at Centre For Social Reconstruction(CSR)

    It all started in the year 1974 when Mr. Ram was pursuing his college studies and there was a tussle for the Kanyakumari district between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Unfortunately, the youth of the region were affected the most. When the youth went to Kerala for employment opportunities, the government officials would send them away…

  • This organisation supports poor women and gives school supplies to kids at a refugee camp

    Pudukkottai, the Chettinad district of TN was once ruled by the kings. When I entered the city, I was awe struck by the ancient buildings which now house courts, colleges etc. Painted an earthy red, these buildings definitely grab ones attention. What also grabs one’s attention is the great work being done by CARD, which…

  • How it began at CARD

    Pudukkottai, the Chettinad district of TN was once ruled by the kings. When I entered the city, I was awe struck by the ancient buildings which now house courts, colleges etc. Painted an earthy red, these buildings definitely grab ones attention. What also grabs one’s attention is the great work being done by CARD, which…

  • By transforming the way these women think, this organisation has ensured that its impact will flow from mother to daughter, teaching future generations the importance of education, employment and independence

    When I first heard about ANEW, I figured from its name that the organisation was working in an area that posed to be quite a challenge in modern society. And that became clear to me as Sathya, who is on their Managing Committee, walked me through the work that they do. ANEW specializes in offering…

  • How it began at Association for Non-traditional Employment for Women (ANEW)

    The Association for Non-traditional Employment for Women (ANEW) was conceived by the management of Paracor, a New York based private equity firm. The inspiration for ANEW came from an organisation in the USA named Non-traditional Employment for Women (NEW). Mr. M.K.Kumar, the then Chairman of Pierce Leslie India Ltd. and a member on the Advisory…