The Vayovrudha Charitable Trust set up by Dr. Challa Harikumar, an Ayurvedic physician in 1970 with a commitment to offering peace to the aged has now become a 'guiding light' for elder orphans and those in need of essential care and support.

Dr. Harikumar, a graduate of Dr Nori Rama Sastry Government Ayurvedic College in Vijayawada started offering medical services to impoverished families at a very nominal fee. He has also dedicated his services to the underprivileged too. Patients hold unwavering faith in him in his ability to provide affordable healthcare.

When the charitable trust was set up to offer support to elder orphans after conducting a survey, Dr. Harikumar reached out to his friends, relatives, and colleagues to make a contribution of Rs 150 monthly. That secured the procurement of essentials for elder orphans and which has continued uninterrupted.

Later, the trust headed by Dr Harikumar expanded it's reach and appointed philanthropists as managing trustees. Notably among them were, Muthavarapu Muralikrishna, educationist Tatti Arjuna Rao and Tejraj Solanki. The trustees ensure the smooth working of the organization. The distribution of essentials to elder orphans takes place on every third Sunday of the month. Additionally, the trust conducts free medical camps every Sunday to provide medications to senior citizens.

At present, the trust is offering 130 orphaned seniors. Entails comprehensive care and services for them on a monthly basis. Each beneficiary is issued an identity card. In case of the demise of a beneficiary, the trust provides Rs 2,000 as funeral expenses. Furthermore, the trust encourages new adoptions every year - ensuring that the programme looks after to those in need. Tejraj Solanki, a member of the Jain community has urged the other members of his community for this noble cause.

With the current expenses amounting to Rs 65,000 per month, the trust will complete it's uninterrupted services for 200 months by March 2024.

Dr. Harikumar said, 'We are striving to mobilise the capital of Rs 1 crore for the trust to expand it's activities. By doing this, 300 elderly people are adopted per month. We spend Rs 1.5 lakh per month on the distribution of essentials and the conduct of free medical camps. The members are confident of realising the 1 crore target.

The situation of the elderly people and the aged is very bad. They have become dependent on the working population. Seen as a liability in most households. Although, every family member is equally significant still the old are seen as crumpled pieces of paper lying in one corner.

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Reference:

• newsindianexpress.com