For over two decades now, Cherian Kurian has worked for the downtrodden, providing them with medical, educational and financial assistance.
More specifically, he has been rehabilitating those considered the flotsam and jetsam of society, by providing shelter for the homeless and reuniting the destitute and the mentally-challenged picked up from the streets, with their families.
His work has brought him many accolades, yet this former professor of English literature at Madras Christian College, East Tambaram, maintains a low-profile.
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“After my visit to Europe in 1988, I understood the extent of poverty in India. On my return to India in 1990, I decided to work for the marginalised and rescued many people from the streets in and around Tambaram, and have rehabilitated them in various institutions and reunited them with their families. My friend, K. Baskaran, founder, Good Life Centre in West Tambaram (which is a home for homeless children) and a social worker, has helped me a lot in this venture,” he adds.
Says Baskaran, “We were moved when we saw the destitute and the mentally-challenged on streets and decided to work together to make their lives easier,” Baskaran says.
The two have also rescued children of mentally-challenged and of those have died due to AIDS or Tuberculosis. Baskaran supports these children, sponsoring their education and meeting their other expenses.
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The Centre, run by public goodwill, was started in 1996 and now, has more than 150 children, of which, 100 are schoolchildren. Some of the old inmates of the centre are now working, three boys are studying in engineering colleges and three women are married.
“Our aim is to start a free school for the poor children with English as the medium of instruction,” Baskaran and Cherian say.
The Centre is at 7-B Loganathan Street (Near Vidya Theatre), West Tambaram.
For further details, contact: 22264151, Cherian Kurian at 9380508571 and K. Baskaran at 9444994151.