THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Awoman’s determination to institute a lasting memorial to her mother is now part of history with the government issuing a special order to legalise an endowment in the name of the deceased.
K Padmavathy of Pravachambalam died at the age of 90 in September 2015. Her daughter Girija Pradeep who works as law officer with the Audit Department says the sudden death of her mother shocked her.
“We were very close and she was quite active even at an old age. After one year of her demise, I felt I should do something fruitful to keep her memory alive,” Girija said.
Girija’s first thoughts were to construct a waiting shed or some other public infrastructure facility. It was a friend who advised her to institute an endowment for the class X topper in Souhruda Gramam Residents Association at Pravachambalam where Girija lives.
Being a law officer, Girija wanted to institute a government-endorsed endowment. A government-endorsed endowment is one registered with the charitable endowment wing of the state audit department.
But then came the hurdle - only individuals or organisations can register an endowment. And officials were confused whether a residents association would come under the definition of organisation.
There started Girija’s fight. Her transfer from the Secretariat Law Department to the Audit Department made things a bit easier. After clearing several obstacles, Audit Department agreed to sanction her application. Still, confusion prevailed over the department which would issue the government order instituting the endowment.
Hearing about the woman’s struggle, the then additional chief secretary (Finance) and present chief secretary K M Abraham decided that Finance Department will issue the order on the endowment. After an year of difficult times, government issued a gazette notification in September legalising the K Padmavathy Memorial Endowment.
“Since a precedence has been made, it is easy to institute endowments by residents’ associations or their members in future. I wish this will be utilised by people who want to help their fellow beings,” Girija said.
Girija’s husband is D K Pradeepkumar, CRPF inspector posted in Kolkata. The couple’s daughter Pavithra G Pradeep is a fourth standard student.