Started in October 2013, Vilankuruchi-based AEG Krishnasamy Naidu Memorial Trust has supported over 1,000 families with a special service – it provides freezer box, chairs, tents and vehicles to transport the deceased, free of cost.
K. Selvaraj, a realtor who is paralysed after a road accident in 1995 in which his spinal cord was affected, founded the trust to extend support to those in need at a time they would not have enough money. The service began with 200 chairs and 20 tables. Now, the trust has 1,500 chairs, 160 tables, five freezer boxes and three vehicles including an ambulance.
More than 1,100 chairs and four freezer boxes were sponsored by those who had availed themselves of the service, and by various organisations and associations. They started with three to four calls a month and are now rendering service to three or more families a day. According to him, more than 80 per cent of the beneficiaries are slum dwellers. In March this year, they started organising eye donation and have facilitated over 100 eye donations.
