Sevalaya
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 | |
| Formation | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Type | Not for profit |
| Headquarters | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Location | |
| Leader | V Muralidharan |
| Website | http://www.sevalaya.org |
Sevalaya meaning Temple of Service in several Indian languages, is a registered charitable trust headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, with operations across multiple Indian states.[1]
Established in 1988,[2] it provides free education,[3] healthcare,[4] environmental, social welfare and development services,[5] aimed at rural, tribal and underprivileged communities. Inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, and Mahakavi Bharathiyar,[6] Sevalaya operates schools, hospitals, destitute homes for children and elderly,[7] and community outreach programmes across multiple districts in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states. All its services are rendered free of charges without any discrimination based on caste / creed / religion / language / gender.[8]
Sevalaya's Founder V Muralidharan was inspired by the ideals and life of Mahatma Gandhi, Mahakavi Bharathiyar and Swami Vivekananda through exposure to their books at a young age. An alumnus of Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, during his graduation days, he began volunteering along with his friends to provide weekend classes and educational materials to children at Srirampura slum situated close to the campus.[9] By 1988, Muralidharan, then a software professional, along with a group of colleagues formed the charitable trust Sevalaya. Sevalaya's services started on 29 May 1988 with 5 children in a small building at Kasuva village near Chennai, with the aim of providing food, clothing, shelter and education to orphaned destitute children.
Expanding with the support of donors, Sevalaya moved to its own campus spread over nearly 14 acres (57,000 m2) of land at Kasuva Village near Thiruninravur (40 km west of Chennai). Today the campus at Kasuva houses a higher secondary school, children's home, elders' home, a skill development centre, a hospital, a gaushala and a staff quarters.[10] Over the years, Sevalaya has also expanded its centres to various locations across South India through skill-development centres, healthcare services, after-school education to children, environmental and rural development projects through individual and corporate partnerships.[11]