Kochi : Infosys co-founder S.D. Shibulal and his wife Kumari Shibulal Sunday announced a donation of Rs.36 crore to their charitable institutions Sarojini Damodaran Foundation and Advaith Foundation which support underprivileged children.
“Compassion is something I have watched my mother practise when I was a little girl growing up in a village in Kerala. Someone would come to our house and ask for food. My mother would either share from her plate or starve to feed another. I made a promise to myself that I would do the same,” Kumari said.
Shibulal and his wife have been involved in philanthropic activities through their foundations for the last 15 years.
The Sarojini Damodaran Foundation (SDF) was launched in 1999 to extend educational support for underprivileged students.
Under the SDF scholarship programme, thousands of students have completed their higher education in engineering, medicine, nursing and polytechnic training.
In all, SDF has supported 3,306 student years till date and in the current academic year, it is supporting 617 students.
This year, 164 students have been awarded scholarships. The SDF, in partnership with Vidya Poshak, placed 1,127 students in jobs. Free school supplies were given to 10 government schools at Alappuzha.
The Advaith Foundation was registered in July 2004 and is based in Bangalore. It provides opportunities to underprivileged children.
Shibulal has retired from Infosys and is now pursing various projects through his family concern, Innovations Investment Management Ltd.