The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Going out of his way to help the poor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Going out of his way to help the poor

P. Sudhakar

Pappuraj collects
donations from
friends and others
to disburse welfare measures to the needy

— Photo: A. Shaikmohideen

Gesture: P. Kannappan, DIG Tirunelveli Range, giving away a hand-pedal tricycle to a benificiary at a function at Palayamkottai on Monday.

TIRUNELVELI: At a time when ‘sharing’ has become rare, a poor youth from Palayamkottai has been setting aside a portion of his paltry income to provide new clothes, a hand-pedalled tricycle, sewing machine, utensils etc., for the needy for the past six years.

Appeal ignored

When photographer Pappuraj started this noble exercise five years ago, only a few came forward to lend a helping hand while others ignored his appeal to help the poor, as they treated it as a “plea from a publicity monger.”

Unfazed by this criticism, he collected donations from friends and some philanthropists here to disburse welfare measures to the needy.

The determination and enthusiasm he showed in helping the poor has drawn more people to Mr. Pappuraj to help him conduct the celebration for the sixth time this year, as usual, in the name of Mother Teresa on Monday.

While Rs. 10,000-worth of dresses were given away to children affected by AIDS, children with mental and physical disabilities received prizes for their meritorious performance in sports events conducted by Mr. Pappuraj.

Sumptuous dinner

A sumptuous dinner was also served to as many as 1,000 children. P. Kannappan, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Tirunelveli Range, who had camped at Nagercoil for more than a week to resolve a triple murder case, came to Palayamkottai to attend the function.

After disbursing welfare measures, the police officer rushed back to Nagercoil since investigation this sensational murder case has attained final shape.

Help assured

RC Bishop of Palayamkottai Diocese Rt. Rev. Jude Paulraj, paediatrician Mohamed Thambi, industrialist Sanjay Gunasingh and District Rehabilitation Officer Manohar lauded the efforts of Mr. Pappuraj, and assured him all help in his ventures in the years to come.

Though the poor youth has done something stupendous, the banner on the dais said, “We, the ill-equipped, are doing only our duty.”

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