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 UDAVUM KARANGAL is a welfare organization founded by PAPPA VIDYAAKAR, a person of monumental dedication, compassion and perseverance. It was started two decades ago and dedicated itself to the protection and care of the destitute and abandoned. It seeks to give back to them their dignity as human beings - something that was cruelly snatched from them by misfortune and due to no fault of their own. It is a movement to bridge worlds and to make miracles in the lives of less fortunate ones in the society.
The organization is a Non-governmental, non-political and non-profit one and it lays emphasis on involving the community in supporting the less fortunate. It gives residential care to not only the abandoned children but also to mentally challenged persons, HIV positive children, discarded aged people and AIDS afflicted persons who have been picked up from streets and garbage dumps. 
This was started in a small rented hut and due to the support and compassion extended by the kind-hearted donors it has moved to its own campus consisting of a few buildings. It has since grown and took shape by itself and emerged as a
‘round the clock service home’ taking care of over 1900 persons from new born babies to dying destitutes nearing the grave. It is a story of ‘CRADLE TO THE GRAVE’.
A band of dedicated volunteers both male and female numbering about 75 are rendering round the clock service in all our units and they help the organisation in creating a home for the unfortunate people under our care.
For the benefit of the growing boys and girls the organization has started its own school by name ‘Ramakrishna Vidya Niketan’ in Thiruverkadu which has classes from LKG level to 12th standard. The school is recognized by the Govt. of Tamilnadu and it is catering to the needs of deserving children living in the neighbouring villages. Over and above the resident children of Udavum Karangal, many a children from outside seek admission to this institution and at present 1700 students are studying in this institution.
Similarly, a branch has been opened in Coimbatore to render help to abandoned orphans, discarded elders and destitute psychiatric patients in the region and nearby areas. This unit is also growing day by day. A primary school also has been started for the benefit of resident children and deserving community children.
Numerous persons who have gone abroad have been visiting our units in Chennai and Coimbatore and regularly donating to our centre. In order to mobilize their support and to extend them the necessary guidance we have opened our chapters in U.S.A and U.K.
During the last two decades about 21000 children have sought the help of Udavum Karangal. 6700 of them have been restored back to their parents and relatives. 4921 have been given guidance and counselling, 5206 have been referred to other specialised organisations, 3220 have benefited on long term and short term basis and 1600 have informed and left.
Totally 7697 psychiatric patients have been looked after on long term and short-term basis. Majority of them have been rehabilitated. Some of them have been restored back to their families. Some of them have left without informing. Some have joined the band of caregivers and continue to live with us.
About 3346 aged and dying destitutes have so far been cared. We were able to put back some of them with their families, some of them expired and some are still under our care.
In final, it has to be said that this is the only NGO of its kind, which has been duly certified by ISO.
Some Milestone Cases
Here are some stories of few people, whose life has been transformed because of the care and love given by Udavum Karangal.
 Craiza & Ahmedali :- Its literally a rags to riches story. Four year old Craiza along with sibling, three year old, Ahmedali and their psychiatric mother was rescued from the streets ten years back.
Rajamma :- My parents died in a liquor tragedy when I was barely ten. I became an unwanted girl child for the relatives. I had no choice but beg on the streets. I was then rescued and today I am a self confident teenager doing my higher secondary schooling.
Raji: - My mother died in a tragic train accident when I was just three years old. My psychiatric father absconded leaving me alone. When the future looked so bleak there came two caring hands to comfort me. Now I am a happy seventeen year old doing my school final.
Samyukta :- She was found abandoned in a hospital, as a new born, by her unwed mother. Today Samyukta is a twelve year old, beautiful and smart girl.
Mymoon :- Born as a third girl child Mymoon was unwanted and her parents surrendered her to an adoption agency. Later on when Mymoon was diagnosed as spastic, the adoption agency also did not want to take care of her, thus she was handed over to us.
Saicharan: Saicharan was found abandoned near Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai and was handed over to us by good samaritans. He is an intelligent and well behaved child
Valli & Deivanai were orphaned when they were barely two. Their parents died of cholera and the children were handed over to us by well wishers.
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