Help real-life hero Dr Somarajan to rescue abandoned elderly from a life on the streets
Campaign by Gandhi Bhavan International Trust
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Story
“We received a call in 2012 that an elderly person had been abandoned at a government hospital in Kollam, Kerala. Our rescue team reached there and what we found shocked us. The elderly man was Sankarankutti Nair, a prominent director and producer in the Malayalam film industry. He was lying there helplessly. His left leg had been amputated and he had lost his vision completely. He lost his wife and was abandoned by his family and ended up on the streets”, says Dr Ponalur Somarajan, founder of Gandhibhavan.
Without Gandhibhavan, Nair and hundreds of other abandoned elderly would not have a home. Over the last two decades, the NGO has adopted thousands of abandoned elderly from the streets and has taken up full responsibility for their wellbeing. Gandhibhavan is currently home to over 750 abandoned elderly and has been their only refuge.
The last two years have been tough for Dr Somarajan. His NGO is sitting on huge debt and Dr Somarajan, with a heavy heart, admits that he will not be able to continue his work without funds.
Help Dr Somarajan care for 750 abandoned elderly who have lost their homes. Donate now.
All donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India), & 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (USA).
A humble beginning
Dr Somarajan, in 2002, found an elderly lady on the street in a visibly distressed condition. Malnourished and ill, the lady was fighting for her life with no one to care for her. Having lost his mother at a young age, Dr Somarajan was moved by her plight, rescued her and brought her home. This encounter led Dr Somarajan to start Gandhibhavan. He rented a two-bedroom house and started rescuing abandoned elderly from the streets. Over the last two decades Dr Somarajan has saved thousands of helpless elderly from a miserable fate.
Abandonment of elderly on the rise
According to Dr Somarajan as migration towards cities grows, the problem of elderly abandonment would continue to rise. “Children leave their parents behind and move away in search of a livelihood. We have several mothers and fathers here who yearn to see their children. Many children are in such good positions today but they do not want their parents. This is heartbreaking for me to see,” Dr Somarajan says.
A herculean challenge
Most of the people who are brought to Gandhibhavan are ailing, disabled or old. Dr Somarajan says, “In order to provide proper medical care we have doctors at Gandhibhavan along with a medical facility. We even need to have our residents admitted to hospitals at times. But all of this comes at a heavy cost and we need support to be able to give helpless elderly the care and love they need”. “We take care of each and every need that a resident has, from nutritious food and comfortable shelter to medicines and clothing. Gandhibhavan is a family and not an old age home” He further adds.
If we do not receive funds urgently we will have to close the gates of Gandhibhavan to countless abandoned elderly parents who are suffering on the streets. Help Gandhibhavan keep its doors open for countless abandoned elderly parents in need of a safe and loving home. Donate Now.
Donate to this fundraiser by Give.do to support Dr Somarajan in his mission to rescue abandoned elderly from a life of begging on the street.
Updates
25 May, 2026
Ailing, disabled, and elderly individuals are often left on the streets in miserable conditions. Gandhi Bhavan’s mission is to provide them with a loving home, ensuring they receive proper care, comfortable shelter, and nourishing food. However, we cannot achieve this vital goal without your support.
During the FY 2025-26, we have actively engaged in the following activities:
- We continued to provide residential care to 756 abandoned elderly individuals (328 Males and 428 Females) with basic amenities, including clothing, bedding, sanitation facilities, and personal care.
- Daily nutritious meals were provided to all inmates, including special diet support for elderly people with medical conditions or who were bedridden.
- Regular doctor consultations, 24-hour nursing care, In-house pharmacy support, emergency medical assistance, and hospital referrals were ensured for all residents at the shelter.
- Regular counseling sessions were conducted by trained professionals, including psychologists and counselors.
- More than 500 physiotherapy sessions and 200 yoga and meditation sessions were conducted for elderly and bedridden residents.
- Over 300 vocational training sessions were conducted for capable elderly residents to enhance their engagement.
- Recreational and cultural programs were conducted for the elderly residents, including music, festivals, and entertainment activities.
Your contribution can help us provide safe shelter and a comfortable life to the abandoned elderly people. Be the reason abandoned and rescued elderly people feel loved and valued. Donate now.
29 Dec, 2025
Our family of abandoned elderly men and women are well taken care of, thanks to the combined efforts of Gandhi Bhavan International Trust and our dear donors. We would like to extend an enormous thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Please take a look at what we have done with the funds entrusted to us for all our 756 inmates in the period April '25 - September '25:
- Provided three nutritious meals and two snacks daily, tailored to the health and age requirements of the residents, including special diets for bedridden or diabetic patients
- A consistent supply of clean, comfortable, and dignified clothing is provided to all inmates, fostering self-respect and basic hygiene
- Provided state-of-the-art medical and palliative care, including regular check-ups, on-site clinics, critical medicine management, and full financial and logistical support for hospitalization and advanced treatment of acute and chronic diseases
- A dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and staff provided round-the-clock intensive care for the elderly, the bedridden, and post-operative patients
- Provided specialized counselling, helping residents cope with the deep emotional trauma of abandonment, grief, and mental health issues
- Offered a range of rehabilitative therapies, including physiotherapy to restore mobility, and vocational/occupational therapies
- Structured sessions for meditation, yoga, and prayer were provided
Gandhi Bhavan International Trust would struggle to fulfill our objectives without your support. Our objective to maintain a care home for all who require it is incredibly expensive, and we need all the help we can get to ensure no one who needs our help goes without it.
Your contributions fund the dreams of the less fortunate. Donate now and change lives.
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