Malayalam poet Sugathakumari’s death orphans Abhaya Gramam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Sugathakumari’s death, hundreds of inmates of Abhaya Gramam have been virtually orphaned. She had donned the role of Amma for all of them and they could always reach out to her.
Though there is a trust and experienced leaders to carry forward the NGO’s works, which has been focusing on providing shelter to hapless women and destitute people, and empowering them, Sugathakumari’s death has left a vacuum in the lives of the inmates.
It was the plight of the patients in the mental hospitals in the state that prompted Sugathakumari to start a shelter home for them. Mental patients, mostly women, were not welcome at their homes even after completion of treatment. She founded the NGO in 1985.
Started as a home for destitute women (Athani) and a day-care centre for the mentally ill, Abhaya has now expanded and the NGO spinoffs cater to several disadvantaged sections of the society. Bodhi provides care for drug addicts while children of socially rejected women are housed at Abhaya Bala. Mitra provides free accommodation for women. Shradhabhavanam, a home for taking care of chronic, mentally-ill women and a project to rehabilitate street children are the later initiatives of the NGO. Adalath for women to resolve their complaints is another regular activity undertaken by Abhaya.
In 1992, the foundation stone for Abhaya Gramam was laid at Thachottukavu, around 15km from the heart of the city by Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. “I too am a refugee and I am here because of the kindness of India. Let this land be a refuge for the homeless and unfortunate,” the Dalai Lama had said.
The peepal tree planted by the Dalai Lama now guards the 10-acre scenic campus at its entrance. Most of the projects of Abhaya now function from Abhaya Gramam while Athani still functions at Vanchiyoor as a city centre of the NGO.