Gandhibhavan International Trust is an Indian non-governmental organization based in Kerala with head-quarters at Pathanapuram, Kollam district. [1] The organization, established in 2002, is dedicated to the care and welfare of destitute persons irrespective of gender, age, health condition, religion or caste. In November 2023, around 1300 persons were receiving the care and attention of the Trust. The Trust was instituted by Dr Punalur Somarajan, a philanthropist, who was awarded the Kerala Sree Award for the year 2023 by the Kerala Government for his meritorious social service. [2]
The Trust runs a host of facilities including Daycare Centre for infants, toddlers and kids, Children's Home for destitute children, Special School for children with cerebral palsy, autism and other types of mental and physical disabilities, Gurukarunya Mandiram as a shelter for women and kids, Old Age Home for men, Jeevakarunya Mandiram for bedridden senior citizens, a full-fledged de-addiction centre and Palliative Care Home for women. [3]
The Trust was bestowed the “Vayoshreshtha Samman” in 2019 by Government of India for being the Best Institution for providing services to Senior Citizens and Awareness Generation. [4]
Sri Mātā Amritānandamayī, often known as Amma ("Mother"), is an Indian Hindu spiritual leader, guru and humanitarian, who is revered as 'the hugging saint' by her followers. She is the chancellor of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, a multi-campus research university.
Kollam, also known by its former name Quilon, is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is 71 km (44 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada river. Kollam is the fourth largest city in Kerala and is known for cashew processing and coir manufacturing. It is the southern gateway to the Backwaters of Kerala and is a prominent tourist destination. Kollam is one of the most historic cities with continuous settlements in India. Geographically, Quilon formation seen around coastal cliffs of Ashtamudi Lake, represent sediments laid down in the Kerala basin that existed during Mio-Pliocene times.
The Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM) is an international charitable organization aimed at the spiritual and material upliftment of humankind. It was founded by Indian spiritual leader and humanitarian Mata Amritanandamayi in 1981, with its headquarters in Paryakadavu, Alappad Panchayat, Kollam district, Kerala. Along with its sister organization, the Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, MAM conducts charitable work including disaster relief, healthcare for the poor, environmental programs, fighting hunger and scholarships for impoverished students, amongst others. It also runs the seven-campus university known as Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, 90 chain of English medium CBSE schools known as Amrita Vidyalayam, and classes in yoga, meditation and Sanskrit.
The Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering, commonly known as TKMCE, is the first government-aided engineering institution in the Indian state of Kerala, with foundation stone laid on 2nd February 1956, and inaugurated on 3 July 1958. The campus is located in Karicode, approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) away from Kollam, Kerala, India. The college was affiliated to Kerala University before getting changed to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University when it was formed in 2015. UGC conferred autonomous status to the institution in 2022.
Sugathakumari was an Indian poet and activist, who was at the forefront of environmental and feminist movements in Kerala, India.
Sevalaya is a registered charitable organisation in Tamilnadu, India. Sevalaya means Temple of Service. It runs an orphanage, school, old age home and hospital all free of cost for the underprivileged people in the village of Kasuva near Thiruninravur about 40 km west of Chennai, Tamil Nadu in southern India. It is also engaged in activities for the welfare of the poor and the deprived.
Kundara is a census town in Kerala and is part of the Kollam Metropolitan Area, India. Kundara is situated 13 km east of Kollam city, 14 km west of Kottarakkara, and 24 km north of Paravur. Kundara is significant for its historic involvement in the Indian independence movement.
Ramavarmapuram is the northern suburb of Thrissur City in Kerala. This suburban area is home to several governmental and other institutions of national importance. The largest menhir type megalithic monument in granite in Kerala is found here. A local catholic church has recently been adorned with mural paintings in the traditional Kerala style. This is the first instance of such a church decoration in Kerala in modern times.
Kochouseph Thomas Chittilappilly is an Indian business magnate, writer, investor and philanthropist. He is the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of V-Guard Industries, a chain of amusement parks called Wonderla, a real estate apartment construction venture Veegaland Homes https://www.veegaland.com/#slider/1 and a wellness park & event hub named Chittilappilly Square https://www.chittilappillysquare.com/. K. Chittilappilly Foundation, a non profit organization founded by him is engaged in charitable and philanthropic activities. Chittilappilly is a recipient of the Rashtriya Samman award from the Government of India for being among the highest taxpayers and the Newsmaker of the Year 2011 award from Malayala Manorama.
Vidyaben Shah was an Indian social worker and activist known for her work with children, women and the elderly in India. While she was already serving as Vice-President, she was appointed the first non-officio President of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. She has held several leading positions in the field of social welfare since the 1940s. Vidyaben Shah died at the age of 97 on 19 June 2020 at her residence in Delhi, her son Mihir Shah confirmed the news of Vidyaben Shah death.
Azad Moopen is an Indian healthcare entrepreneur. He is the developer of many healthcare facilities in Asia-Pacific. He is also the chairman and managing director of Aster DM Healthcare, a healthcare conglomerate in the Middle East and India founded in 1987.
Sree Narayana Polytechnic College (Malayalam: ശ്രീ നാരായണ പോളിടെക് നിക്ക് is located in Kottiyam near Kollam, Kerala in southern India. It is named after the Saint and social reformer "Sree Narayana Guru". SNPTC was founded in 1957, by the Sree Narayana Trusts, Kollam under the initiative of the secretary, the late Sri.R.Sankar, former chief minister of Kerala. In the period 2006–07, the college celebrated its Golden Jubilee.
Mundakkal, also spelt Mundackal, is an important residential area and industrial hub situated in the city of Kollam, Kerala, India. The place is considered as the capital of India's cashew processing activities. Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Limited(KSCDC) and Cashew Export Promotion Council of India(CEPCI) are headquartered at Mundakkal in Kollam city. It is an important tourist place in the city and a part of Downtown Kollam which gained in significance because of the presence of a flourishing beach. During 'Karkidaka Vavubali', thousands of devotees arrive on the beach to perform the Vavubali Tharpanam. Vavubali is an important ritual observed by Hindus in Kerala in the month of Karkidakam. The ritual involves people offering Bali to the departed souls. The ritual is performed by men, women, and children.
Kollam or Quilon is an old seaport and a city on the Laccadive Sea coast in Kerala, India, on Ashtamudi Lake. The city remains notable as the ancient commercial capital of Kerala and the southwestern Indian coast, in addition to its fame as the "Cashew Capital of the World". The Kollam Municipal Corporation has the second largest budget in Kerala in terms of revenue and expenditure.
B. Ravi Pillai is a Dubai-based Indian billionaire businessman. He is the founder and chairman of the RP Group. As of May 2023, his net worth is estimated at US$3.1 billion.
Madan Mohan Sabharwal OBE, was an Indian business executive, social worker and a former president of the HelpAge India. Born on 21 August 1922, he graduated in Economics from the St. Stephen's College, Delhi before starting a career which saw him holding senior positions at several business enterprises. He has served such companies as Dunlop India, Bata India, Britannia Industries, Indian Oxygen Limited, Needle Industries India and Precision Electronics Ltd as the chairman and has been a member of the Board of Directors of Oil India Limited, National Aluminium Company, Federal-Mogul Goetze (India), Avery India, Fibre Glass Pilkington Limited and Ranbaxy Laboratories. In 1980, he joined HelpAge India, became its president in 1986 and is associated with the organization as its President Emeritus. He sits in the boards of Nutrition Foundation of India and the National Council for Older Persons.
Thomas Raja, popularly known as Auto Raja is an Indian humanitarian, social worker and the founder of the New Ark Mission of India (NAMI), a non governmental organization engaged in helping the destitutes of Bengaluru, a south Indian metropolitan city. The organization houses around 750 inmates, providing them food, shelter and healthcare. Raja is a recipient of a number of awards including the NDTV Man of The Year Award, the CNN-IBN Real Heroes Award and the Namma Bengaluru Award.
K. Chinnamma was a feminist, social worker and woman activist from Kerala, India. In 1918, she started Raja Sreemoolam Thirunal Shashtyabda Poorthi Smaraka Hindu Mahila Mandiram, Kerala state's first home for destitute women. She founded the institution with the aim of educating, empowering and rehabilitating girls from less privileged backgrounds, irrespective of religion or caste.
Abhishek Shukla is an Indian geriatrician and palliative care physician. He is the expert on Hospice and palliative medicine.
Aastha Hospice & Geriatric Care Centre is an Indian charitable organisation and research institute located at Aliganj in Lucknow, India. It provides specialised geriatric services for elderly patients. One of the services provided is an old age shelter home at its Aastha Old Age Home Resort.