Kochi: Sajini Mathew, a low-profile social worker from rural Kerala who brought up more than a hundred destitute girls and empowered them, will be honoured with the Social Service Award-2015 instituted by Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika, a sister publication of The New Indian Express, at a function to be held in Kochi on August 20.
Sajini Mathew who runs ‘Snehibhavan’, at Muttom, Thodupuzha, has been providing shelter and care to destitute girls for the past 15 years and helping them come up in life. She started her Samaritan work in February 2000, and has brought more than 100 orphaned girls to mainstream life. Currently, there are 14 girls growing up at the institution under her care. The inmates are students ranging from Class-IV to Plus-II.
She has been rendering this humanitarian service without getting any financial assistance from the government or any private agency. Snehibhavan is managed by a seven-member committee headed by Sajini.
Sajini has also been working among the tribals and dalits for many years, with the support of her husband Mathews and other social workers.
The award, comprising a plaque, citation and a purse of Rs 1 lakh, will be presented to Sajini by writer Sarah Joseph in the presence of film director Aashiq Abu, actress Rima Kallingal and writer and documentary maker Manilal.
Malayalam Vaarika has been honouring social workers with an award since 2012.