Background
The Petralthan Pillaiya Trust was formally established in November 2011, however its efforts started from 2009 under Project Connect, a USAID funded programme of Population Services International (PSI). The initial focus of the Petralthan Pillaiya Trust was to provide medical insurance for children living with HIV.
The campaign was run in partnership with iconic actor Kamal Haasan and popular radio station Hello FM. From an initial target of raising funds for 500 children, the campaign went on to raise funds through the public to support over 2500 children in 2009 – 2010 and again in 2010 – 2011.
With funding for Project Connect coming to an end, the founding partners Kamal Haasan and Rajeev Nambiar, then with Hello FM, who had partnered this effort, chose to take continuing responsibility for these children covered under the campaign, thus leading to the establishment of the Trust.
Today, the Trust has expanded its support to the children from not just medical insurance, but also counselling and mentoring, and higher education support to the children thus providing a more holistic approach to the care of these vulnerable children.
The Trust is registered under Section 12AA of Income Tax Act 1961 vide DIT(E)No:2(767) 11-12 dt.22-Jun-2012 with effect from 04-Jan-2012.
Trustees
Kamal Haasan
Padmabushan Dr. Kamal Haasan, made his film debut as a 4-year-old child artiste, in the film Kalathur Kannamma. He is the most decorated actor in terms of awards in the history of Indian cinema and holds the record for the most National Film Awards.
He has always been socially inclined, and even converted his fan club into a social service organization. In this capacity he has been involved in voluntary blood donation for over three decades and his fan club has been among the pioneering groups in breaking the hold of paid donors.
He is also one of the nine celebrities roped in by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a part of his Swachh Bharath initiative to spread awareness on cleanliness and work towards a cleaner India.
Kamal Haasan supported Richard Gere in setting up the Heroes Project – a media and communication response to HIV/AIDS in India. He was instrumental in helping to organize an entertainment extravaganza with participation from leading film stars of the three southern states all coming together to break stigma and dispel myths on HIV/AIDS.
In addition, he has worked on a campaign to protect the rights of people with HIV. This mass media campaign was kicked off with him taking a pledge to support these rights. The “Let’s make it Right” campaign was echoed across Tamilnadu by thousands of people and across a variety of media.
Rajeev Nambiar
A graduate from the University of Madras, Rajeev Nambiar is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in the media and entertainment industry. He has held several high-ranking positions, showcasing his expertise in strategic leadership, business development, and operational management. Known for his innovative approach and ability to drive growth, Mr. Nambiar has played pivotal roles in transforming organizations and enhancing their market presence. His career is marked by significant achievements in content creation, digital transformation, and building strong industry partnerships. As a visionary leader, he continues to influence the evolving landscape of media and entertainment.
In his personal capacity, Rajeev Nambiar has always believed in reaching out to help those in need. He also believes that media houses should be known for more than just information and entertainment. It is the strength of these beliefs and commitments that had him join hands with Kamal Haasan to establish the Petralthan Pillaiya Trust and provide guidance and direction to it.
Acknowledging Support
Hello FM
Hello FM has been supporting this project ever since it’s incubation under the umbrella of Population Service International in 2009 and has worked hard to ensure its success. Their support is best captured in the words of Rajeev Nambiar, former CEO, Hello FM “We as a brand of radio, should be known for roles beyond commercial services and entertainment. Am happy we discovered our reach in this very special project- Petralthan Pillaiya.”
Firebrand Labs
Firebrand Labs support the Trust by managing our website.
TNNP+
The Tamil Nadu Network of Positive People has been working with the Trust to ensure ground level co-ordination with the children across the state.