Meet a postman who has been extending a healing hand to cancer victims and families who have lost their only earning member to cancer.
Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. This postman has walked that extra mile every day to save people's lives, even as he delivered letters in his neighbourhood.
A saviour for many cancer patients, S Babu works at the Kowdiar post office in Thiruvananthapuram. His goodwill and sincere efforts have saved the lives of countless patients in Kerala's capital city.
For the last four years, the 56-year-old postman has been extending a healing hand to cancer victims and some families who have lost their only earning member to cancer.
"People have great regard for him. It is great to see how he leverages the opportunity of meeting people while on the job for a noble cause," says Sobha Koshy, chief postmaster general, Kerala circle.
"With their support, he reaches out to poor cancer patients. It is a unique gesture where a person makes his work more meaningful and, at the same time, helps humanity at large. His goal is to give back to society," adds Koshy.
Besides donating funds and arranging meals for poor cancer patients, Babu has actively taken part in organising a free cancer diagnosis camp in Thiruvanathapuram.
"It is shocking to see how poverty forces many patients to skip meals during cancer treatment. Though the government offers a 20 per cent discount in treatment expenses to BPL (Below the Poverty Line) citizens at the Regional Cancer Centre, many can't afford the treatment or eat food during treatment. It is heartbreaking to see their plight," says Babu.
A tragedy led Babu to work for cancer patients. His sister Florence, who worked as a nurse in a maternity hospital, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
During his visits to the hospital to meet her, he saw the trauma of other cancer patients, how they suffered without money to buy food or medicines.
"It was depressing to see my sister lose the fight to the dreaded disease. Her loss is irreparable, but she is my inspiration to do everything possible for critically ill patients who cannot afford medical treatment," says Babu.
Babu's parents had read about Florence Nightingale and wanted one of their daughters to be like her. Babu's sister was a caring person who lived up to her name and her parents' expectations. She used to set aside 30 per cent of her salary for charity, besides helping people get medicines and food whenever she could.
Even when she was undergoing treatment, Florence continued to help poor people who could not afford treatment.
Florence died within a year of being diagnosed with cancer; she was just 45.
As a postman, Babu has a rigorous daily routine. He has about 1,000 houses on his 'beat' (area of work). He visits atleast 500 houses every day.
On the performance chart in the post office, Babu has a 100 per cent score.
He says he finds the job a blessing as it gives him the opportunity to interact with people and encounter some good Samaritans.
"Besides being a good worker, Babu is a socially committed person. He has a good rapport with his customers and they consider him an esteemed member of their family," says Koshy.
Babu discovered there were many more people keen to help, so the Santhawnam Charitable Society was formed. This trust has 124 members, who are actively involved in supporting critically ill patients.
He came across several senior government officials like M S Mathews, former additional secretary of the housing board (who is now the president of the Society) and John Koyilparambil, former chief conservator of forests, who were keen to lend their support to his cause.
The Society has offered financial aid worth Rs 1 million since 2007 to poor cancer patients. It gives a donation of Rs 25,000 every quarter to the Regional Cancer Centre at Thiruvananthapuram.
The donations the Society receives are voluntary.
Every month, Babu keeps aside a part of his salary for charity work. The staff at the post office in Kowdiar offer him a sum of money every month.
"We need more generous people. Rich people hardly think of helping the poor. However, you need not be rich to help. Even Rs 100 from each person can make such a big difference," says Babu.
"People's active participation can help millions of people in need. You just need to have a helping mentality," he points out.
The Santhawnam Charitable Society gets many applications seeking help, but the lack of funds stops it from reaching out to all critically ill patients. The Society has currently only Rs 30,000 in its bank account.
Ravi
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Posted by: Ravi Narasimhan <ravi.narasimhan.in@gmail.com>
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