Save Life Charitable Trust disbursed Rs 6.5 crore from donors over 1208 projects in past 5 years

Mangaluru: Save Life Charitable Trust in the past five years has raised Rs 6.5 crore from donors and disbursed it to beneficiaries of over 1208 projects, informed Arjun Bhandarkar of Save Life Charitable Trust (SLCT).

After launching the trust it was decided to implement six projects in a year and disburse an amount of Rs 25,000 among beneficiaries who were in dire need of money to clear their medical bills, or complete construction of house or for paying their college fees.

Today the Trust organises 20 welfare programes every month," said Arjun Bhandarkar while addressing a gathering at an unique programme organised to mark fifth anniversary of SLCT at Shri Thirumala Venkataramana Kalyan Mantap in Bantwal on Sunday.

Arjun Bhandarkar said they decided to celebrate the fifth anniversary of trust by disbursing over Rs 36.15 lakh to 227 needy people. Nagendra V Baliga of VNR gold in Bantwal said Arjun was a stickler for transparency and maintaining accuracy in accounts.

Arjun, a techie, takes time from his hectic schedule and makes personal visits to ascertain whether the beneficiary genuinely needs financial help. Arjun spends money from his pocket while making these background checks, he informed.

"Arjun submits documents of the amount spent on beneficiaries and also files returns promptly," Nagendra said. Ravidas Kudva Nandalike from Ananth Securities in Karkala said after witnessing Arjun's charity he realised that true charity is to spare time for social work.

Raksha Pai, Co-founder of Medisense Healthcare solutions private limited in Udupi, said due to team effort the trust was able to reach out to thousands of people in need of help. Rasheed Vitla of M Friends Charitable Trust said social service is a bed of thorns.

He recollected how Arjun had teamed with their association to ensure that benefits like artificial limbs reaches out to every beneficiary.

Bantwal GSB Seva Sangha President N Laxminarayana Mallya handed over a cheque of Rs 25,000 to Arjun on the occasion.

Gayathri V Baliga, NRI Money Clinic Founder Chandrakantha Bhat, SVT Volunteers association President Suresh V Kamath, Past president of Rotary Club Prakash Baliga, V4 News Managing Director Laxman Kunder, Bhagyashree Bhandarkar, Nayana Kamath, Sumatha Nayak, Sanjay Bhat, Girish Pai, Srinivas Pai among others were also present.

Childhood cancer survivors felicitated

The highlight of the programme marking the fifth anniversary of Save Life Charitable Trust was the felicitation of six childhood cancer survivors. Shanwith, Srushti, Dheeksha, Anwith, Vamshith and Rashmith who were treated and cured of cancer at KMC hospital in Attavar were felicitated on the occasion. Trust had spent over Rs one crore on treatment of children diagnosed with cancer, sources said.