CHENNAI: In the 18th century, one of the oldest charity homes, Monegar Choultry, was built by the British, in the city. For over 200 years, it has been providing succour to the underprivileged in and around Royapuram. Remembering it and several other charity homes (now called NGOs) were the CIOSA (The Confederation of Indian Organizations for Service & Advocacy), CSIM (Centre for Social Initiative and Management and LIVE – Loyola Institute of vocational education, through an event called ‘Charities in Chennai that was Madras’, at Loyola College recently.
Students from LIVE and representatives from CSIM made presentations on 10 such homes. They traced their growth over the years and gave an account of the services they offer. A software professional associated with the CSIM, Sudha Y, gave a presentation on Voluntary Health Services. She presented facts about the hospital’s growth that started off with ten beds and now provides full-fledged health services, with 465 beds. “I had spent over five days meeting the concerned authorities and also collating the information from other sources. It’s very important to note its innovations and gradual expansion and how they paved its way to become a sustaining model,” she said.
The other NGOs whose growth and services were presented were the Andhra Mahila Sabha, Avvai Home, Guild of Service, Madras Seva Sadan, Indian Council Children Welfare, Mercy Homes, Bala mandir, Monegar Choultry and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals. Listening to the achievements with pride were the representatives from each NGO. Aparna from the Guild of Service added that although the facts presented gave a glimpse of the organisations’s history, the time was too little to accommodate all of their services. But this will serve as an eye opener, she added.
Prasanna S, who heads CIOSA and was also the sponser, said that these NGOs are rarely recognised and such presentations are the best way to celebrate Madras day. “Sacrifice, selflessness and dedication made the NGOs reach wherever they are now and their services should be highlighted through such presentations. We had tied up with the CSIM and LIVE to put forward this event,” he added.