Woman on a mission to help needy, orphans

Musheerabad: An NGO, Sri Sai Shakti Sahaya Seva Samithi, headed by founder-chairperson Yerram Purna Sai Shanthi, who hails from Srikalahasti in Chittoor district, has been doing yeoman service to the needy people who are in distress, as also orphans bringing light into their lives. She is a firm believer in the dictum that money is not required to help the poor; all that is needed is a motive to do a good deed. Shanthi told The Hans India that ‘all I wish is society to be tension-free. To enable them to be happy, I do my humble best with a service motive’.

Purna Sai had completed her SSC in Kalahasti and it was her father’s business that brought the gusty lady to Hyderabad. ‘It is here that I settled down after completing a degree from the AP Open University. I also set up tailoring coaching units and took up ‘maggam’ work at home at the age of 16’. It was her father who encouraged her father to complete the education and said to her that a kind heart is god’s shelter and that she should spend 75 paise of a rupee for the benefit of others, while retaining 25 paise. ‘I also worked with the aim of giving back something to society. After my marriage, my husband Yerram Bhaskar, mother-in-law, besides my parents also encouraged me’.

Shanthi immersed herself in social service. Initially she began helping poor meritorious girls, who completed SSC, but could not pursue higher studies because of poverty. Simultaneously, she began taking care of road-side elderly persons who have none to look after them. Shanthi provided treatment to these elderly people and got them enrolled in old-age homes. In a phased manner, she was able to help about 500 families in Shantinagar Colony of Peddambarpet, who have been in distress unable to tend for themselves even for a day. Besides, these families had no means of livelihood. Also, none was giving them any work. As the colony lacked RTC bus stop, she persuaded the corporation officials to provide a stop. Shanthi also prevailed upon some school managements to cut fee for children of these families.

While noticing Mogilipalli Srinivas Gupta of Secunderabad performing the last rites of orphans, she was deeply moved by his service activity. Shanthi also started emulating his example of doing the rites. She serves the needy with a motive to show to society noble service can usher in a change. She shared these details with THI, while attending a felicitation function conducted by a prominent organisation recently in Tyagaraya Ganasabha, Chikkadpally. The felicitation was in recognition of her committed social work. In return for her laudable social service, she received many awards, including Savitribai Phule Award, ‘Vaishya Emulative Lady’; IAPL Best Social Award, National Keerthi Puraskar and Womenergy Social Award.