Epitome ofselfless Social Service – Vishranthi Founder passes away !!
கோப்பெருஞ்சோழனுடன்தானும்வடக்கிருந்துஉயிர்துறக்கவந்திருந்தபிசிராந்தையாரிடம்வாழ்நாள்பலவாகியும்மயிர்நரைக்காமல்இருப்பதற்கானகாரணத்தைஅங்கிருந்தோர்வினவினர்
'யாண்டுபலஆக, நரைஇலஆகுதல்யாங்குஆகியர்?' எனவினவுதிர்ஆயின்,
பண்பாலும்அறிவாலும்நிறைந்தமனைவிமக்கள், கற்றறிந்தசான்றோர்வாழும்ஊர், அறம்வழுவாநல்லாட்சிதரும்அரசு - தீங்குசெய்யாஅரசன்ஆகியோர்அமைந்தமையால், தமக்குமுதுமைஎய்தியும், நரைவிழவில்லைஎனஇயம்பித்தாகபுறநானூறுகூறுகிறது. சங்ககாலமானாலும்எந்தகாலமானாலும், முதுமைஇயல்பே !முதுமைஎன்பதுஏதோஒரேஇரவில்வருவதல்ல !முதுமையாரைப்பீடிக்கிறதோஅவர்களைமட்டுமல்ல, அவர்களைசுற்றிஇருப்பவர்மீதும்தாக்கத்தைஏற்படுத்தும்அவ்வையார்இயம்பினார்.
கொடியதுகேட்கின்நெடியவெல்வேலோய்!
கொடிதுகொடிதுவறுமைகொடிது
அதனினும்கொடிதுஇளமையில்வறுமை.. ..
இந்தகாலகட்டத்தில், கொடியது, முதுமையில்வறுமையும்தனிமையும். பெரியகுடும்பங்கள்என்றகட்டமைப்புஇல்லாததால்வயதுமுதிர்ந்தோர், கவனிப்பார்இல்லாமல்கஷ்டப்படுவது, மிகவும்வருத்தத்தைதரும்
Corona has affected people – the older and poor people have been affected badly.The state of affairs prevailing has pushed them to becoming destitutes – a sad living whence one struggles for money, food, home, possession and the like. .. .. .. sadder still, for we grieve the demise of a person who fought these ills !
it perhaps started as a small effort by 20 housewives to help the needy 50 years ago concretising into an organisation which strove for social causes. Monday Charity Club founded by philanthropist Savithri Vaithi has been helping underprivileged students, senior citizens and families since the 70s.The club’s 50th anniversary was celebrated at the start of this year 2020 along with its 200-odd members. Through the organisation, Mrs Savithiri and others have helped many by providing support in the form of education, shelter, healthcare and more.
Vishranthi, an old age facility at Tiruvanmiyur is the epitome of compassion and social service.Founded in 1978 by Mrs Savithri Vaithi, the facility now accommodates 200-odd senior citizens. The club started a series of welfare programmes such as medical ‘Dhanvantri scheme’, a book bank scheme to lend books to underprivileged and ‘Undrukol’, a scheme to assist elderly.
Mrs. Savithri Vaithi was a great visionary and through her dedication and commitment, she transformed the lives of innumerable people. Basic comfort during life and dignity in death comprise the rights of a person. Mrs. Savithi Vaithi ensured this comfort to the inmates. She has herself performed the last rites for countless number of destitute inmates.
The society is grieving today for Mrs Savithri amma is no more !Savithri Vaithi, founder of Vishranthi, a home for the elderly, died in Chennai today. She was 90. Her niece Srilekha said Ms. Vaithi had suffered a cardiac arrest in the early hours of Saturday.Mrs Vaithi, who hailed from a family of judges in Mylapore, was raised in a joint family. She began her journey in social work when she was barely 16. She, along with a group of women, started a charity club. She was the founder president of the Madras Charity Club and of Vishranthi Old Age Home.She spent her time taking care of these women who have no one else to rely on.
Right from her teens, She worked in the slums of Choolai in Chennai, as part of a group called ‘Barefoot Walkers’ who would take care of the health, education and other needs of the slum dwellers.Through Vishranthi, Savithri gave new purpose to the life of many destitutes. She started it in the late 70s with support from Help Age India and Dr. Natrajan, a geriatrist at the General Hospital in Chennai.
Sad in her passing away and in her demise, the City has lost a great woman who cared for others throughout her life.Real definition of social service, caring for others without thinking of any recompense.
Remember her participating in SYMA Women’s day function organized at Bharathiyar Illam on 23.3.2008.
With grief – S. Sampathkumar10.10.2020.
