As Onam brings hope and happiness across Kerala, families living in the state’s remote forest fringes often remain on the margins, grappling with poverty and deprivation. For the past 13 years, UAE-based social worker and philanthropist Kiran Raveendran has been making an effort to change that, taking the festive spirit deep into the forests and reaching out to tribal families with clothes, food and other essential assistance.
Originally from Changanassery in Kottayam, Kiran has sustained the annual initiative without a break for 13 years. The programme initially began in collaboration with Dr Shanavas. His charitable activities, however, date back 15 years, when he began distributing Onakkodi to destitute parents, orphans and people living on the streets across Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Wayanad, Pathanamthitta, Adoor and Pandalam.
An arduous trek into the forest
This year, Kiran was accompanied by his mother, Usha Raveendran, and Forest Officer Baiju. The team spent nearly eight hours visiting tribal settlements and interacting with families, while also witnessing the difficult living conditions they face.
Several families were found living in makeshift shelters covered with plastic tarpaulins, while many children had little more than worn-out clothes to wear. The challenges of everyday life were evident in small but telling details. Monkeys often snatch food from the rudimentary kitchens, while women are sometimes forced to stay in separate sheds outside their homes during menstruation.
The settlements are also located close to routes frequented by wild elephants. Yet, the communities have developed a remarkable coexistence with the surrounding wildlife and rarely encounter serious conflict.
Taking the spirit of Onam to the forest
As part of this year’s initiative, Kiran and his team distributed set saris, set mundus, kasavu mundus, children’s clothes, nighties and lungis, along with sweets. Financial and medical assistance was also extended to elderly people and those dealing with illnesses.
The initiative reached around 150 people from 50 tribal families. Kiran also distributed festive clothing to more than 500 underprivileged people in other parts of the state.
For Kiran, who works as a Senior Accountant at Tri Star Logistics in Dubai, the smiles of the families he meets remain the most rewarding part of the initiative.
His Onam outreach follows a similar charitable drive during Christmas last year, when he visited tribal children in the Laha region of Sabarimala. He distributed new clothes, toys and festive cakes to the children as part of his efforts to bring some cheer to their celebrations.
For communities living far from the celebrations and festivities of Onam, such gestures offer more than just material assistance. They serve as a reminder that they, too, are part of the celebrations.
