As the packed auditorium at Gandhi Bhavan here burst into applause on hearing Jassie Gift’s hit ‘Lajjavathiye…’ on Tuesday morning, the spirit of Onam seemed alive and well.
The occasion was the fifth annual Onam celebrations of the Jwala Foundation which works with the destitute and the visually challenged. It also marked the launch of the Jwala health mission scheme.
Minister for Electricity Kadakampally Surendran inaugurated the Onam festivities. He praised the foundation for its work among the destitute living on the streets. The government, he said, had schemes for their welfare, but at the same time there were voluntary organisations working to bring them into the mainstream motivated by love, thereby spreading light in society.
Singer Jassie Gift who launched the Jwala health mission scheme said it was heartening that people were sharing their love with the deprived sections of society, and spending time for them. He extended his Onam greetings to the gathering.
The Minister also honoured with a ponnada Santhosh, mortuary assistant at the Kollam district hospital who has devoted his life to giving unclaimed bodies a dignified end.
Jassie Gift honoured C. Prashant who suffers from visual, speech, and hearing impairment but has entered the Asia book of records for his amazing memory power.
Cherian Philip handed over keys for petty shops to beneficiaries as part of a Jwala initiative launched in 2015. Twelve such shops are already operational. nakkodi and Onam kits were also given away on the occasion. A sumptuous sadya awaited those present.
