Maithri Trust founder R. Sridhar passes away at 80

R. Sridhar, the founder of the Maithri Educational and Charitable Trust in T. Nagar, passed away on Friday morning after a brief illness at the age of 80. His last rites were held on Friday evening. Mr. Sridhar contracted polio at 18 months old, which left his left hand and both legs paralysed. Although he only attended school until age eight, he taught himself to speak English by listening to radio stations like the BBC and Deutsche Welle, and also picked up some Spanish, German, and Hindi. Despite being wheelchair-bound, he regularly participated in Citizens' Runs and completed the full 10-kilometer distance.

The Work of Maithri Trust

Having been unable to finish his own schooling, Mr. Sridhar established Maithri as a trust in 1983 to support persons with disabilities in their education. Over time, the scope of the trust expanded to include children from poor and broken homes. Donations received by the trust were directed toward children's education, emergency medical costs, resolving family disputes, and helping mothers from broken homes earn a livelihood with dignity. He also used earnings from his knowledge of astrology to support the charity, which recently celebrated its 35th anniversary.

Context

Charitable trusts play a vital role in India by stepping in to support vulnerable populations, such as children with disabilities and families facing financial distress, where formal state support may have gaps. Grassroots organizations often rely heavily on community donations and the personal dedication of their founders to sustain their services over decades.