Erai Pani Nanbargal Kuzhu (Friends of God’s work team) felicitated Sevalaya Murali on receiving the Tamilnadu State award for the Best Social Worker (Women’s welfare), at a function in Sri Besant Lodge in Tanjore, on November 3, 2016.
Shri D Gopalan, the convener of Bharathiya Ilakkiya Payilagam, recalled that he knew about Sevalaya and it activities since inception and is proud to see its steady and organic growth over the years. He recounted the story of an orphaned infant girl crying in Thiruninravur station who was brought to Sevalaya many years ago. He further added that this girl studied in the school, did her nursing course and is now happily married and settled down in life. He even mentioned that he attended the girls wedding in sevalaya a few years ago. He also recounted that a few destitute senior citizens who were identified by the committee in Tanjore in early 2002, went on to live in the Thiruninravur campus for over a decade with respect and dignity, till their end of days.
Other speakers, District Judge S Rathinavelu (retd), Dr Indira (Sri Ramakrishnar Ashram, Mariammar Koil), and Shri. T Venkatesan, Head of the Thamarai international education committee, and Rtn MJD A Arokiaswamy (LIC, Tanjore) praised the selfless service of Sevalaya Murali and his family, the transparency of the organization, as well as the range of services offered by Sevalaya, all of them free of cost to the beneficiaries.
Shri. V Muralidharan said it was time for the haves to help the have-nots and work with passion to eradicate illiteracy and poverty.
The speakers unanimously said that they want to set up a branch of Sevalaya’s old age home in Tanjore, and that they will provide all material support for the same.
The hosts were very happy to see award and certificate awarded by the TN government, as they could not attend the function, in person.