Hi everyone,

It has been sometime since I blogged on my experiences from India. I had been busy with a lot of things ranging from work, duty and other activities.

For the last few months I have been working as a volunteer for Karunya Vishranthi Bhavan,a palliative care institution on the outskirts of Trivandrum city. It houses about 100   inmates who fall into 3 categories. Those afflicted with terminal illness like cancer ,and are too poor to afford treatment constitute the first group. The elderly shunned by their families ,as they are perceived to be a burden to them constitute the second group. The third group is the poor and the destitute who have nowhere to go except the streets and are housed here on request. Free boarding , lodging and food is provided to them in this institution. Free medical care is given to them with help from agencies like Pallium India, for palliative care ,and by doctors like myself working on a voluntary basis. We also maintain a list of specialist doctors who are more than happy to come on request. The institution survives on Grants from the Malankara Orthodox Church and from voluntary donations. Since social support for the elderly and the poor who are shunned by the society is low in the government sector , institutions like these render yeoman’s service in this regard. Most inmates have been shunned from their families due to their old age ,illness or “lack of productivity” to the family.

The border between these issues being a medical problem  ,or a social problem is wafer thin is most cases. Often they go hand in hand ,and perpetuates the vicious cycle. For a person who has sold his house and belongings for treating a disease like cancer ,where does he have the money for follow up chemotherapy/radiation, or for that matter even three square meals a day? Some of these patients come to premier institutes in the vicinity like the Regional Cancer Centre ,and Sree Chira Institute from all parts of the state.(Both of these are prominent national institutes ).Most people in this group belong to the lower socioeconomic group and come to these government institutions for subsidized healthcare. However cost of  accommodation and food, for those accompanying them can turn out to be sky high in Trivandrum city. This institution has set up another building , near these national institutes ,to provide free food and accommodation to these hapless people.

The question I often get from peers is as to why I am rendering free service .I tell them that it is my way of contributing back to the society which has subsidized my medical education, in the government medical college I studied. People then give me the dirtiest look ,as if I gave an arrogant answer. My take on the issue is clear, if you cant contribute its ok, but don’t discourage or frown upon others willing to do so. The concept of voluntary work is yet to catch up among the youth in India. While in the west it is appreciated , encouraged and incentives are given ,in this part of the world, forget incentives, it makes people think you have lost your mind. For me the smile and warmth on the face of the inmates I see in the institution is the incentive and guiding force that spurs me to move forward.