Kozhikode: Man in ‘auto’ mode to serve needy

Kozhikode: Linking patients with blood donors is a mission for Sreejith Puthuppadi, a young auto driver in the city who has been serving the needy for the last four years.

The young man has turned his auto into a campaign medium with pamphlets, pictures and messages displayed on its body.

For reaching out to the needy in a better way, Mr Sreejith also joined a blood donors’ collective, namely ‘Gift of Heart Charitable Society,’ which has more than 2,000 active members.

He shares donor requirements through a chain of more than ten WhatsApp groups.

The bitter experience he had while treating his 18-year-old nephew at the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, was one reason why he’s here.

“After that, I altered my auto fixing campaign materials to create awareness among passengers on the virtues of blood donation,” he said.

He had received many contacts from his passengers who expressed willingness to join the forum and donate blood.  

“Once a woman was travelling in my auto, and I received a call for ‘B negative blood group. When the passenger came to know about the requirement she called her husband who is ‘B negative’ and sent him to the hospital,” he said;

“That kind of moments are unforgettable." Now, he is planning to fix a digital screen inside the auto instead of the display board with messages, to present videos detailing the value of blood donation.

‘Gift of Heart’ is also organising a programme namely “Snehamrutham” distributing ‘Chapati’ for inmates of Government Dermatology Hospital, Kozhikode.

Students from various colleges and schools, as well as youngsters, join them.