Times of India
18 October 2010

He wanted to dedicate his life to a humanitarian cause. And to make his dream come true, he started off RVM Humanitarian Home for the Destitute and Needy (RVM–HHDN) with a 15–bed capacity, along with RVM Humanitarian Hospital (RVMHH) that is growing from a 150–bed capacity to 1500 beds. RVM stands for Ravi V Melwani, well–known businessman and philanthropist, who wanted to contribute to the deprived and bring a change to their life.

"Make a difference, that’s what I always believed in. Be it on my professional front or for the poor, difference is what society looks at and admires. So I decided to open a hospital and a home for underprivileged people, all for free," said Melwani. RVM–HH was chiefly opened to medically aid the poorest of the poor, who have no option other than giving up hope on the streets when disease strikes them.

RVM–HHDN is like a transit home, where the poor are taken from the streets and given shelter, food and clothing. They are later shifted to other homes or destitute centres, kids are given education, and elders get extra care and that rare thing called love. "RVM–HHDN has people who are later transferred to other homes. It might take two months or even longer. It depends on the state of mind of the person or child and also the availability of the right home for them. We have a good network with other homes in Bangalore, and so it becomes easy for us to send them to other homes," added Melwani. "I plan to start such centres all over India and hope people will help us in our work."

There are doctors, nurses and administrative staff available at the hospital, who are actively involved in identifying and rescuing the needy during an emergency. There is a rescue number which people can call, when they encounter needy or diseased people on streets or near their homes. Aashika Ramesh, a housewife, found her second child at the home. She adopted a boy, who was born at the centre. When the child’s mother gave him up for adoption, Aashika came forward and took in the baby as her own younger son.

"I have an elder son, but he understands entirely. He was just six months old, and his mother didn’t want him. It was my motherhood that made me adopt the child, though I could have given birth to another child. He is studying in Class 9 at St Joseph’s School now," said Aashika. She added that officials at the centre come over to check up the child’s health and keep a note of the environment in which the child is being raised.

RVM–HHDN
Survey no: 34/2, Chikkagubbi village, Hennur Main Road, Near Alpha Engineering College, Bangalore–562149 Rescue number (Home and Hospital): 9739544444