Sri Arunodayam’s Special Mom Awards brought together families, supporters and distinguished guests at Bharani Studios in Saligramam on May 10 to honour 20 extraordinary parents raising children with intellectual disabilities. This time, a father was among the awardees.
The event was graced by chief guest, S. Govindaraj, Commissioner from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, along with Justice P. N. Prakash, former judge of the Madras High Court; S. Kumar, District Differently Abled Welfare Officer (Tiruvallur District); S. Thenpandian, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (Tiruvallur District); Srikanth, SP, Crime Against Women and Children (CAW & CW) Wing, Chennai; and T. Srinivasan, President of MEL Systems and Services Ltd.
Children of Sri Arunodayam lit up the stage with joyful performances, which was followed by sharing of powerful stories of courage and determination, offering a deeply moving glimpse into the lives of these families, said a release.
The 20 finalists from Tamil Nadu are Akila Vaidyanathan, Catherine Rathnabai S, Gayathri R, Geetha Varadharajan, Jayanthi T, Jeeva S, Kavitha D, Mahalakshmi V, Manimegalai N U, Meenakshi Kulkarni, Meera Balaji, Rajeshwari Krishnamurthy, Renuga Devi K, Rupavathi R, Sandhya Krishnamoorthy, Sharmila J, Sritharani M, Umamaheswari S, Vanitha Pushpam O, and Velliyamoodu Govindaraj Devaraju. Each awardee received a cash prize of ₹15,000, a certificate, a special trophy, and lifetime free services from Sri Arunodayam. Since 2017, the awards have supported 125 families while continuing to advocate for their rights, added the release.
Launched in 2017, the initiative seeks to shine a light on families who choose commitment and dignity in the face of adversity, rather than taking the easier path of abandoning their children. It challenges persistent social stigma and calls for a more inclusive and compassionate society.
Sri Arunodayam, a Chennai-based non-profit dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of abandoned and destitute children with intellectual disabilities, will celebrate 25 years of its journey in 2027.
Special father wins applause
Fifteen years ago, Velliyamoodu Govindaraj Devaraju’s wife passed away leaving him the sole caregiver of two daughters with intellectual disabilities. A daily wage labourer who finds occasional work at farms in Tiruttani, Devaraju faced immense challenges, juggling work and family responsibilities, which include taking care of his daughters Rajeshwari and Moulishwari, now in their late 20’s. Devaraju sets out early to work and returns by afternoon to take up chores at home. His relatives stay close by and he asks them to have an eye on his children.
Velliyamoodu Govindaraj Devaraju (third from right) receives the award from the dignitaries.
Iyyappan Subramaniyan, founder and managing trustee of Sri Arunodayam, who visited Devaraju says his application was unique. The judges were impressed with the resilience he demonstrated in bringing up the girls despite facing immense financial difficulties as he does not have any steady income. “Devaraju had trained his children to be somewhat independent,” says Iyyappan.