Karuna Pain & Palliative Care Society, Chengannur

Compassion has excelled at Chengannur. ‘Karuna’ provides exemplary compassionate care…
Compassion and mercy are the purest fragrance emanating from humans. Tears flow out of mercy and compassion. And it becomes a flood of goodness and empathy. It touches the world and beyond. And it lifts man up to the sky.
In such a way, a caring hand with compassion is been provided at Chengannur by Karuna Pain and Palliative Care Society (so-called ‘Karuna’).
Palliative care is a caregiving approach. It improves the quality of life of patients and their families, including young children, who are struggling with aging (bedridden) with no one to care or has terminal illnesses such as cancer, chronic heart disease or a life threatening illness that cannot be cured.
Palliative care is an approach to reduce one's anxiety or stress that addresses their life as a whole, not just their disease. The goal is to treat the symptoms and side effects of the disease as well as create conditions for the concerned person to provide psychological, social and spiritual fulfillment. It is not just the family’s responsibility but also the community has a duty to look after and protect these palliated or bedridden patients.
Karuna Pain & Palliative Care Society in Chengannur is such an organisation that has reached this goal in such a short period of time.
‘Karuna’ was founded in 2014 with its headquarters in Chengannur, Kerala State under the chairmanship of Mr. Saji Cherian, currently the honourable Minister of Kerala State. In a short period of time ‘Karuna’ became a model movement for other organizations in the world. It is known for implementing innovative treatment methods and innovative ideas to relieve the pain of the needy and helpless.
‘Karuna’ has been working in all 177 wards of Chengannur legislative assembly constituency with the help of it’s convenors assigned to each ward. ‘Karuna’ has dedicated and experienced healthcare workers who carefully review each patient and provide them with the necessary care and treatment.
In this way, ‘Karuna’ treats 4250 patients at their homes, out of which more than 380 are totally bedridden.
For this, ‘Karuna’ has 16 vehicles for home-centred care and 2 fully equipped ambulances to take patients to a hospital in case of an emergency.
To provide guidance and support to these noble activities through ’Karuna’, there are 51 governing body members and 19 zonal committee members below the governing body members. Also there are 11 Executive committee members to co-ordinate the daily activities provided through’Karuna’.
’Karuna’ owns 17 acres of land which was gifted by generous people who keep love, empathy and goodness in their mind. ‘Karuna’ gratefully remembers people who kindly gifted their land at the beginning of this project such as Elizabeth Teacher, Mr. Damodharan Nair and Mrs. Jessie Rajan.
’Karuna’ takes another crucial project to find the home and landless. 31 houses have been constructed and handed over to the homeless in various wards of Chengannur. Another 6 houses are in it’s final stage of construction under the leadership of ‘Karuna’.
’Karuna Homes’ is a huge house and land project in Punthala, Chengannur. The foundation stone of the Karuna Homes residential project has already been laid on the 90 cents of land donated by Mr. V. Damodaran Nair, where ‘Karuna’ plans to build 48 houses.
’Karuna’ has a state of the art blood testing laboratory with ISO NABH certification. A mobile unit of this lab goes to the homes of bedridden patients and conducts blood tests at very low cost.
In addition, ‘Karuna’ has opened up a medical pharmacy store with discounted rates for all the products in store.
Furthermore, Medical Help Centres are opened for locally held events. For example, there were help centres opened for Parumala Church & Sabarimala pilgrims and also for Chakkulathukavu Pongala participants. Food and medical aid was provided to all the pilgrims who attended this help centre.
’Karuna’ is constructing a Rehabilitation Centre to care for 100 destitute people at Kozhuvallur, Chengannur and is entering at its final phase. The well-wishers of Chengannur has been providing immense financial support for this.
’Karuna’ has already won many awards from the State Government and various organisations around the world.
’Karuna’ aims to grow organic vegetables, fish farming and farm tourism in the future to help raising funds for the day-to-day costs of housing for the needy at this Rehabilitation Centre.
I gratefully remember my brotherly mentor Mr. Saji Cherian, our loving and caring MLA, founder of ‘Karuna’ who is a very compassionate and merciful man. Mr. Saji Cherian protects ‘Karuna’ as a baby under his broader wings and hold ‘Karuna’s hand to teach to walk along. Also I thankfully remember Mr. NR Soman Pillai and Mr. KR Mohanan Pillai who continues to serve him even after their retirement from their official jobs. I also thankfully remember every officials and members who put their effort to ‘Karuna’ for it’s success.
’Karuna’ will be with you as a shadow in any crisis.
Let’s get together, be compassionate to everyone and let us do this through ’Karuna’.