“Letting people remain hungry is a crime. If your neighbor is sleeping hungry, how can you go on with your life without bothering about them?” wonders Venkatraman Iyer, the founder of Swabhimaan, a charitable trust dedicated to uplifting and empowering the underprivileged since 2000.
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Venkatraman’s journey is a testament to resilience and compassion. Growing up in a chawl in Mumbai, he experienced hunger and poverty firsthand, watching his parents struggle to put food on the table. Through sheer determination, he secured a job in Muscat and found success. Yet, every visit to India with his wife, Vijaya, weighed heavily on their hearts. They saw people starving and poverty rampant, and they knew they had to make a difference.
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Leaving behind their comfortable life in Muscat, they moved to Bangalore, Karnataka with a mission. Today, Venkatraman and Vijaya work tirelessly, feeding thousands of people in the slums every single day, driven by the belief that no one should go to bed hungry.
For Years Now, They've Been Transforming Lives One Meal At A Time
In 2000, Venkatraman and Vijaya began their mission by identifying 15 young girls from the slums, all children of single mothers. They took these girls, then just three to five years old, under their wings and raised them as their own daughters. Today, these girls are teenagers embarking on their college education.
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The inspiration for their feeding program came from a poignant incident Venkatraman fondly recalls.
“One day, as I was wrapping up work, a volunteer named Khader walked with me, carrying two packets of food. When I asked who it was for, he pointed to a dilapidated building where two elderly women lived under the staircase. Despite his own poverty, Khader was bringing them food from his home every day. He told me that although his parents were no longer alive, he felt it was his responsibility to care for these women as if they were his own parents. That beautiful thought showed me what we had to do.”
With Vijaya as the driving force, they started cooking meals for 250 people. As word spread, the need grew, and more people came to them for food. Eventually, Venkatraman partnered with corporations to provide their unused food while continuing to cook meals themselves.
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Today, Swabhimaan feeds over 2,000 people every single day, with 1,200 meals coming from corporate donations. They provide food for migrant workers, elderly widows, single mothers, children, and many others in need.
“There are so many people who need food,” Venkatraman explains. “Whether it’s work or going to school, nothing can be done on an empty stomach. How will a child study without support? Many women here are single mothers, often left without groceries midway through the month. For 2,500 families like this, we provide groceries every month as well.”
With Increasing Costs, They’re Struggling To Continue Their Feeding Program
Despite their unwavering dedication, Venkatraman and Vijaya are struggling to continue their feeding program due to the rising costs of groceries. While they leave no stone unturned, the increasing expenses have become a significant challenge, and they’re struggling to feed even half the number of people they used to.
However, with your support, this can change. They need your help to provide groceries so they can continue to care for the poor and helpless families that rely on them for daily nourishment. These meals are not just food—they are hope. Your support can make a world of difference in their mission to ensure no one goes to bed hungry.
About the NGO: Swabhimaan is a registered charitable trust in Bangalore, dedicated to community development in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Since 2000, they have provided services such as free health clinics, daily food drives, small business support, educational scholarships, livelihood programs, and interest-free microloans. Their efforts also include soft skill training, computer education, and the distribution of grocery kits and surplus meals. Central to their mission is their extensive feeding program, which provides daily meals to thousands of underprivileged individuals. Swabhimaan aims to uplift underprivileged families through comprehensive support and empowerment initiatives.
