Where compassion cuts through scepticism & silence

The organisation has an ambulance for rescue works and has even acted upon requests from outside the district. Besides, it is also engaged in performing the funeral rites for the orphaned

dead. “We have performed the last rites for about 2,000 deceased individuals. Sometimes, we get sponsors, and for the rest, we spend out of our pockets,” said Deivaraj, who became a tea

seller after moving from Aathupalayam to Pothampalayam. Sivagami, who married Deivaraj when she was 21, runs a petty shop in the village, and the two have five kids, including two children,

whom they adopted after their father – a friend of the couple – passed away. Sivagami said, “Once I understood my husband’s intentions, I never hesitated to travel with him. The money could

be spent towards the development of the family, however, it is not greater than the satisfaction we get from the service.” From time to time, the trust building has sheltered surprising

visitors. Recalling one such incident, Sivagami said one Marimuthu (55) from Pollachi in Coimbatore district, due to a disagreement with his family, lived alone in Tiruppur. After a stroke

left him unable to tend to his needs, he developed lesions in his body. “When the trust rescued him from the roadside, we admitted him to a government hospital. After his family refused to

take care of him, Marimuthu stayed in the trust for six months, during which period we treated the lesions. In December last, he was reunited with his family,” she said. The family has found

a kindred spirit in R Parthasarathy (66), an orphan from Thoothukudi who lost his job at a knitwear firm after an accident three years ago had severely injured his arm and leg, forcing him

to go homeless. “I fought hard to overcome hunger. I did not know whom to turn to for help. In early 2024, the trust found out about me and rescued me. Till now, I’m living with the Deivaraj

family, who serve me the food they eat.”