Two from Madurai, Dindigul awarded for saving lives of the needy

Two persons - M Anandakumar, 34, from Dindigul and R Kalaivani, 30, from Madurai were among the three from the state who were honoured with the ‘Chief Minister’s State Youth Award’ for saving several lives. They received a medal, a certificate and Rs 50,000 each from chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami during the Independence Day celebration in Chennai.

Anandakumar was recognized for his contribution to blood donation and saving the lives of many. Anandakumar, who has completed Class XII, took up the social cause when he visited a government hospital along with his mother a decade ago. He saw a helpless elderly woman, who was wandering in search of blood for her pregnant daughter.

“It was the first time I donated blood. I did it as my mother asked me to do so. I saw contentment and happiness not only on the faces of the helpless woman and her daughter, but also on my mother’s face. There was no looking back since then,” he said.

The father of two has taken up social work full time and credits his wife and family members for their support. He has so far donated blood 30 times and motivated hundreds of people. He is an important point of contact for blood through the state. “I would like to dedicate this award to hundreds of faceless youths for their timely help in saving lives . So far, through our Bharatha Madha Foundation, we have collected more than 10,000 units of blood and 90% of them have gone to government hospitals,” he said.

Kalaivani a resident of Moondrumavadi in Madurai, is a postgraduate in computer science. She was recognized for her service to the abandoned elderly. She enrolled herself as a volunteer in Idhayam trust, which works for such elderly, three years back and has since reached out to hundreds of people.

Kalaivani said that apart from providing them food, they clean them up persons, provide first aid treatment and hospitalization if required, reach out to their family members and take steps to unite them. She also takes part in performing the last rites for unclaimed bodies.