Sri Sathya Sai Seva organisation completes 20 years of social service

Functioning from a small-bunk provided by the Railway department, Sri Sathya Sai Sevadal men in white-and-white uniform and a turquoise coloured scarf, have been offering their services to the general public who visit Chennai from various parts of the country.

The main function of the utility service centre is to provide information to the passengers who come from far off places about local city-bus routes, lodges, and tourism information.

Says Veerabadraiah, an octogenarian and a Sevadal, the information service centre was inaugurated in late 90s with the sole idea of guiding first time visitors to Chennai. Earlier, the service centre functioned on the outside of Central station. Later, then Southern Railways GM, Gopinath was kind enough to provide a small place inside the station for the centre.

The sevadals have divided their service activities into three different shifts, i.e., 6 am to 9 am, 9 am to 11.30 am and 3 pm to 8 pm to offer their volunteer services. “If any Sevadal could not attend to their service activities on any day, he would give information to other members, so that, our services to the general public would not be affected” says Ram Mohan, another Sevadal, who was earlier doing various social activities in government hospitals.

Everyday not less than 500 persons approach the utility service centre for guidance, adds Ram Mohan. Due to increase in the floating population in Chennai from various parts of the country and lack of knowledge of Tamil language, Sathya Sai Devals who are versatile in more than one language, including Hindi would guide the passengers who approached the centre.

More than 45 sevadals throughout the week were offering their service in the public utility service, says Mahadevan from Villivakkam.