Erode (Tamil Nadu): Manisha, a teenager from Erode who works as a lecturer at a private nursing college, is rehabilitating mentally challenged people having witnessed their helplessness. She has given a good life to more than 300 destitute with her initiative 'Jeevitham Foundation'. The 24-yr old hails from Kundanadi in Erode district and her father Krishnasamy works as a labourer. Her Mother Geetha and Sister Poongodi live in Chennai.
"I had completed my schooling at a private education centre in Erode district. My childhood dream was to serve in the military. I put an end to it due to the family environment and focused on study. I aspired to be a doctor and enrolled in a B.Sc Nursing course due to financial problems. I completed my graduation without missing a year and even received the award for 'Best Student'. My friends and I have been running a volunteer organization termed 'Jeevitham Foundation' since the Covid outbreak. Through this foundation, we are carrying out the task of identifying and rehabilitating mentally challenged people wandering on the roadsides," Manisha said.
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"Rehabilitation is a multi-faceted task of rescuing and reuniting them with their families and setting them up for employment. So far we have rehabilitated 340 people by rescuing those stranded on the roadsides through the foundation, sending children to government schools and providing them with their daily needs, such as food and clothing," Manisha added, saying that the helpless and mentally challenged are even taught various exercises, including yoga, and those struggling with bad habits are counselled.
The teenager further went on to say that she had been helping the mentally challenged since her college days and many of them are in a good health today. "During my college days, I would help people who are mentally challenged. I came to spend the existing savings on this. After finishing college and working at a private hospital in Trichy, I began to understand the difference between sympathy and empathy. I have been doing small favours which include providing meals and bedsheets. Through this, I was able to win the love of the common people. Also, I started a new venture to continue my service. As a result, in 2019, had initiated a voluntary organization called Jeevitham Foundation", Manisha says.
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