Charity Mission
The Mahalingam – Mariammal Manivizha Charitable Trust was constituted in the year 1983 at the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Buildings, Coimbatore.
Under the aegis of this trust and with the guidance of Arutchelver Dr. N. Mahalingam, a number of charitable institutions are being run and looked after by Dr. M. Manickam, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Sakthi Sugars Limited and Mrs.Gowri Manickam.
True to Gandhian ideals, the Institutions situated within the Kasturba National Memorial Trust are reaching out to more people every day, extending their help to destitute women, children and the socially neglected and down-trodden individuals.
The following establishments are being run by the Trust:
Kasturba Gandhi Oral School for the Hearing Impaired, Varadarajapuram, Coimbatore
The Kasturba Oral School for the Hearing Impaired was started on Gandhi Jayanthi day, 2ndf October, 1996. Dr. M. Manickam, Vice Chairman and Managing Director and Mrs.Gowri Manickam together have taken up this initiative for childrento whom the school has given a new ray of hope in life. The unique feature of this school is that teaching is done by Oral Method wherein much importance is given to speech and lip-reading.
In the year 1996 the school was started with a modest strength of 3 boys and 2 girls. At present the strength of the school is 74 students (with 34 boys and 40 girls), studying up to 10th Standard. In April 2008, 4 students passed out of the school with 93% marks in the SSLC Board Examination i.e. a 100% result which holds due significance considering their inherent difficulty in learning. The Tamil Nadu Government has granted recognition for the school for classes from Pre KG, to 10th Standard.
On the 2nd of February, 2002, a beautiful new building inside the school campus was inaugurated by Thiru. Muruganandam, the honorable Collector of Coimbatore District. Built within an area of 4000 sq ft., the building has 11 rooms, used as classrooms and office rooms.
Pursuing its distinct feat of care and supportive learning, today the Kasturba Gandhi Oral School is functioning as a dedicated day school for the Hearing Impaired with 10 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff. The school also uses learning software called 'You can voice' which supports lip reading in 8 regional Indian languages.
Dr. M. Manickam has provided the "Behind the Ear Model" – hearing aids for 27 students of the school. The school also provides hearing aids to selected students every year.
Kasturba Gandhi Memorial De-addiction and Rehabilitation and Research
Centre, Coimbatore
The De-addiction Centre was started in the year 1994. Nearly 80% of the patients who underwent the De-addiction program have given up their drinking habit and turned a new page in their lives. Presently the center has 25 beds and a full- fledged medical team consisting of: Medical Officer, Psychologists, nurses and other supporting staff operating under an Honorary Medical Director.
The medical team attached to the centre is also visiting Industrial Establishments, Colleges and rural areas for creating awareness about drug abuse.
Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Siddha Hospital and Research Institute,
Varadarajapuram, Coimbatore
For those who seek a cure and better recuperation in natural surroundings that will help them heal quickly, the Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Siddha Hospital and Research Institute was started in the year 1991. The Hospital has been built with adequate facilities and is located in a serene environment amidst an abundance of nature. It also has another center in the foothills of Siruvani. A great variety of medicinal herbs have been planted around the hospital and Siddha doctors visit the hospital daily to treat the patients.
At present 3 doctors are working and about 150 varieties of medicines are being prepared here under the Siddha Medicinal System using herbs, foliage, and other natural ingredients.
The hospital attracts people seeking alternate ways of medicine and also those who seek cures for various common ailments. There has been a fairly good response for the treatment given in the hospital. The hospital runs extension centers in and around Coimbatore and an herbal plantation at Siruvani for growing rare genres of medicinal plants and herbs.
Mahatma Gandhi Museum
The Museum was inaugurated on the 14th of November, 1993. The museum has a thematic visual biography of Gandhiji portrayed enchantingly using historic photographs and paintings, thought-provoking quotations, and vintage replicas of the articles used by Gandhiji.
The hall located at the centre of the Museum is used for conducting important meetings and prayers. Days of National importance like Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanthi, and other National events are celebrated here in a grand manner with the participation of Gandhian scholars and eminent personalities.
The Museum also hosts an exclusive library with more than 700 books on Gandhiji and his teachings. These handpicked collections of books provide facts on history, inspiring real life stories, and knowledge that is useful to general visitors, researchers, and scholars alike.
Suicide Prevention Counselling Centre
No misery cannot be given solace. In moments of despair all we need is the right wisdom, courage to face life, a hand of support, and words of reassurance. Such help will calm one's mind and avert impulsive decisions. Even those at the brink of taking their lives can still be saved by timely counseling and support.
The Suicide Prevention Counseling Centre helps those who need counseling and remedies to eject suicidal thoughts. Counseling is given by phone to persons seeking guidance. The Telecom Department has allotted a Special phone number – 106 –for this purpose. Moreover, research students from various colleges are visiting the De-addiction Centre and the Suicide Prevention Counseling Centre for study purposes.
Sakthi Thiranalayam (Sakthi Skills Development Centre)
With the motto of "Disabled is differentially Abled”, Mrs. Gowri Manickam, wife of Dr .M. Manickam, took up the cause of the 'differently-abled' by starting Sakthi Thiranalayam in the year 1987. The centre which started with training, now provides both employment and training for blind women. It engages them in tasks they can take up to help themselves. Here they make Agar Bathis, Phenyl, Envelopes, and Wire Knitting of chairs. Seemingly simple, the tasks give them the much needed assurance in life that they too are capable of earning their livelihood. The center currently employs 15 differently-abled individuals.
