Rising above poverty, this man from Puducherry is helping the homeless

The only things Anumuthu Chinnaraj remembers from his childhood are poverty and child labour.

Born in Tirupathur, Tamil Nadu, Chinnaraj’s father was a woodcutter. Though they were not well off, the family never slept hungry. But Chinnaraj lost his father when he was just six years old, and poverty clutched the family.

Chinnaraj started working along with his mother in a field. He earned Rs 4 a day, and his mother earned Rs 6, and together they had to feed their family of four members.

“There were days when we had no food, and sometimes I would get rice water and pickle. We used to long for good food but that seemed to be an impossible dream,” he tells SocialStory.

From having faced starvation and financial struggles to starting an NGO to helping the homeless, Chinnaraj has come a long way.

Chinnaraj started Snehan, an NGO, in 2008, with the mission to uplift the homeless in Puducherry. The NGO provides medical care and shelter to the homeless and also helps people in sustaining themselves financially. Currently, it has 16 team members.

It also helps in tackling child labour and distributes free food.

A second chance

Chinnaraj’s empathy stemmed from the second chance he got in life. After his father’s passing, a Catholic priest decided to rescue him from child labour and support his education. He was enrolled in a boarding school where he completed his studies.

Later, he moved to Hyderabad to do a course in ITI in the electrical stream.

He recalls that whenever there were events and functions, he liked clicking pictures. This sparked his interest in photography, and so he took a multimedia course at a college in Tiruchy and became a professional photographer and videographer.

But among all things, one thing he always remembered was the day he was given help, which changed his life.

Chinnaraj wanted to give back to the society since the day he went to boarding school. While working as a video editor, he worked for various NGOs.

After working as a video editor for five years, he wanted to quit and be associated with social work full-time. He moved to Puducherry, his wife’s hometown, and started Snehan Home.

“As a filmmaker and editor, I visualise and bring the imperfect scenes to perfection. However, reality stands the same. So, I quit my profession to work with homeless, deprived people on the streets of Pondicherry, to bring changes in their real lives,” he adds.

“Through this project, we rehabilitate and ensure that neglected, homeless people have their basic needs and dignity in society to live a happy life.”

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Helping the needy

Seventy-four-year-old Raman never married and left his house when he was 15 years old.

He used to work as a tea master in a hotel. However, the long hours of standing weakened his knees and crippled his mobility in his old age. Constant pain and swelling of legs soon left him without a job.

Destitution followed.

He started begging on the streets and that is when Snehan rescued him.

“They gave me medical support and after a few months of treatment, I began to walk. They also provided shelter and healthy food. It just felt like home. Also, I was given the opportunity to work which gives me income for my expenses,” he adds.

Today, he sells cotton bags through a pushcart made by Snehan Bags, a separate entity started by Chinnaraj. He earns around Rs 400 a day and has found a way for his survival.

Raman is one of the over a hundred destitute people helped by Snehan.

Chinnaraj explains that every week, their team searches the city for homeless individuals. When they find someone, they offer basic medical care for any injuries or wounds.

In more serious cases, such as paralysis, disabilities, or liver problems, they take the person to government hospitals for treatment. After treatment, they bring them back to Snehan Home, where they provide food, shelter, and care until the person recovers.

Some stay for a few months, but the maximum stay is one year. However, individuals who are disabled or without family can stay longer.

Chinnaraj explains that the stay is limited due to their capacity constraints and because many of the individuals are able-bodied and have families they can return to.

He recalls that when he first started the NGO, he had no steady source of income. There were moments when he considered shutting it down and returning to his job, but his commitment to giving back wouldn’t let him quit.

Chinnaraj decided to launch a brand called Snehan Bags, selling cotton-based products like bags, aprons, and more. Soon, young unmarried women from low-income households joined him, along with many individuals being rehabilitated by the NGO. While some worked on making the products, others helped with sales.

The revenue generated from product sales goes towards paying salaries to these women and rehabilitated individuals, with the remaining funds are used to sustain the NGO. In addition to this, friends have also helped keep the organisation running.

Chinnaraj adds that they also assist people in setting up vegetable carts by providing an initial amount of money or vegetables. They also help them find jobs, like working as security guards, to ensure they can sustain themselves independently.

While Chinnaraj shares that this journey has been fulfilling, it hasn't been without its challenges. Funding has been one of the biggest hurdles and still remains an issue, he says.

“Resources have always been a struggle for us,” he admits. “Finding enough people to care for the homeless at Snehan Home, and securing adequate funds is a constant challenge.”

Despite these problems, Chinnaraj holds onto a bigger vision.

He dreams of building a Snehan Village, a space where all the destitute can live a dignified life together. Until that becomes a reality, his focus remains on expanding his reach and helping as many people as possible.