Kavignar Eagalaivan
The Story Behind the Trust – From Pain to Purpose
I am Ekalavan. I was born into deep poverty, where survival itself was a daily struggle. At the age of 13, a tragic train accident took away one of my legs and changed my life forever. Poverty, disability, and social neglect became constant companions on my journey.
Yet, I refused to surrender to despair. Through relentless effort and countless hardships, I completed my education and was eventually blessed with an opportunity to serve at Periyar University. My own suffering opened my eyes to the silent pain of countless persons with disabilities who fight every day for dignity, recognition, and hope.
To bring their unheard stories to light, I wrote 20 books celebrating the lives and achievements of differently-abled individuals. But books alone were not enough. Meeting them, hearing their cries, and witnessing their struggles ignited a deeper calling—to create real, lasting change. That calling gave birth to Nambikkai Vaasal Trust in 2012—a doorway of hope for the forgotten.
Our Services – Serving with Compassion Since 2012
For over 14 years, Nambikkai Vaasal Trust has stood beside society’s most vulnerable, offering not charity, but dignity.
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Free physiotherapy for children with disabilities, helping them take confident steps forward
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Free wheelchairs that restore mobility, independence, and self-worth
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Free tuition classes for underprivileged government school students, ensuring poverty does not steal their dreams
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Monthly essential grocery support for families of persons with disabilities
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Feeding 100 homeless and destitute people three days a week, ensuring no one sleeps hungry
Nambikkai Vaasal Free Old Age Home – Where Abandonment Ends
Moved by our service, the former District Collector of Salem, Mr. Karmegam, encouraged us to extend our compassion to abandoned elderly citizens. Thus, in 2022, the Nambikkai Vaasal Free Old Age Home was born.
Our Promise to the Elderly
This home is a sanctuary for elders who were once forgotten by their own families. Here, they live without fear, without loneliness, and without humiliation—surrounded by care, respect, and human warmth.
Facilities – More Than Shelter, A Home
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Yoga and meditation to heal both body and soul
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Medical check-ups twice a month to ensure continuous care
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Monthly grooming services to restore confidence and self-respect
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Nutritious, wholesome meals served with love
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Celebration of all religious festivals and national days to create belonging
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Recreation facilities including television, indoor games, and a bird aviary that brings joy and calm
Our Greatest Struggle – Lack of Permanence
Despite years of service, our deepest pain remains the absence of a permanent home.
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We are forced to relocate rented buildings every two years
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Securing rental spaces for a free old age home run by a person with a disability is extremely difficult
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Each relocation tears the hearts of our elderly residents, reopening wounds of abandonment
A Call from Nambikkai Vaasal – Help Us Build Forever
Today, Nambikkai Vaasal Free Old Age Home stands as the only free old age home in Salem District run by persons with disabilities. Our dream is to shelter 100 abandoned elders, offering them not just survival—but happiness, dignity, and peace.
To make this dream permanent, we have begun work on a dedicated facility named “Nambikkai Karunai Illam”—a home built on compassion, stability, and hope. Your support can turn uncertainty into security. Your kindness can give the elderly a place to finally call home.