“My parents have never turned away anyone who asks for help. They are very kind people and I got that quality from them,” says Kavitha Jenarthanan, founder of Kavitha’s Ini Oru Vidhi Seivom, a trust in Tirupur.
She has set up three Anbu Suvar (Wall of Kindness) in the state, one being in Coimbatore.
This is not a new concept, says Jenarthanan. “It is very popular abroad. I read about it on social media. I loved the idea and wanted to do it too. The first was set up at Komarapalayam in Erode; then in Tirupur and the latest in Coimbatore (September 2017).
The wall belongs to the Corporation and is situated near Devanga Higher Secondary School, RS Puram.”
This 300 sq ft wall took a week to be made. “After I received permission from the Corporation Commissioner, K Vijayakarthikeyan, I designed the wall with two plywood cupboards. These are open and accessible to anyone at any time. The walls are painted with instructions on what to and what not to keep and with verses from the Thirukkural .”
Kavitha Jenarthanan
The public can leave old reusable clothes, books, toys, slippers, bags or any other items in the cupboards to be picked up by people in need.
Jenarthanan also has volunteers who tidy the shelves. “Corporation workers also arrange the shelves everyday. The wall is for the people in our city and so it is everyone’s responsibility to maintain it.”
She admits that there are challenges. “People sometimes leave dirty and unusable clothes. Please don’t. The whole idea is to provide decent items to those in need. Those who pull out the clothes do not rearrange them properly. I wish there would be a change in this attitude.”
Jenarthanan is happy that with the positive response. “The racks will always have something to offer and that is a good sign.”
Jenarthanan plans to have more such walls in and around the city.
She also recently organised a Womanathon in Tirupur. “It was to create awareness on women’s safety and education. With the proceeds, 11 children from underprivilaged background were given ₹ 5000 each for their education and healthcare.”
