03/12/2025
PLEA TO THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU
Soulfree is a public charitable trust functioning from 2013 to empower Persons with spinal-cord injury to lead a life of dignity and purpose by providing them with better opportunities in rehabilitation, education, employment, entrepreneurship, sports and social reintegration.
In 2021, we established India's first Integrated Spinal Rehabilitation Centre, the Soulfree INSPIRE Centre, in a 20,000 square with disability at the old GH (General Hospital) in Thiruvannamalai.
At the time we were given the building, it required extensive renovations to the tune of 3 crores. The district collector at the time assured us that we are doing yeomen service that is not happening anywhere else and therefore NO government would evict us – the government norms are that they can only give three years lease but it will be recurring as long as we're continuing to serve person with spinal-cord injury.
We are the only integrated spinal rehabilitation centre in the country that provides services free of cost. We charge ₹ 2000 per month including food for the resident and the co-resident (a family member/caregiver). The other cheapest facility charges rupees thousand per day exclusive of food.
So far at least 300 beneficiaries have already completed their rehabilitation and been reintegrated into mainstream society with the ability to be physically, psychologically and socio-economically self-reliant. The uniquely experiential framework we use provides individualised, holistic healing and treatment programs with a transformative impact. We call them our butterflies because they have transformed themselves after their life-altering injury.
In 2019 when we were given the building, I would go to the centre everyday to oversee the renovation. When the pandemic caused shutdowns on an unprecedented scale, I still fought and ensured that while many persons with spinal-cord injury were dying away because Government hospitals were denying them admission due to COVID, we would have a dedicated Bedsore Care Unit at the Centre that could save lives.
As a quadriplegic, I have overcome tremendous odds to ensure that others in my position have hope and access to quality rehabilitation services.
Today, our lease is going to lapse. Third December, 2025 – International Day for persons with disability is going to be the day that removes hope for persons with spinal cord injury in India, who are unable to afford paid care. We have been struggling for the last two years to get a renewal – enthusiastically for 33 years at first but even the three-year renewal is not possible.
We have built unique infrastructure including India's first wheelchair accessible fully temperature controlled automated hydrotherapy unit and wheelchair accessible terrace garden amongst many other innovations. We cannot just shift our beneficiaries to any rented space. They need the unique infrastructure we have.
I pray to the government to reconsider their decision and allow us to continue in the current facility for at least three more years. Or at the very least, we need to give us space and time to construct appropriate alternate facilities. Demolishing what we have built with such great sacrifice and struggle against all odds will decimate many lives. It is my humble plea that this position will be overwritten to benefit the most vulnerable segment of society – people who are facing a lifetime of paralysis and learning to navigate the world as wheelchair users. It might seem easy to discard us because we cannot fight back, but I pray that our voice will also be heard.
https://youtube.com/shorts/lLzER5B3OoM?si=Sx-T_OM4zc0Ym-2M
I request all of you to this message with as many people as possible. With your support, maybe our voice will be heard because otherwise too many lives are at stake and many wheelchair users will be brought onto the streets. This is not about politics and I'm not being aggressive – I am pleading to continue to have the opportunity to provide the transformative services that we have developed at the Soulfree INSPIRE Centre. If you are a journalist, medical practitioner, member of the government in any position, I request you to look into the merit of the work and support it if you feel it is deserving. Thank you!
Dr Preethi Srinivasan
Founder Trustee, Soulfree
+91 9994477147
preethi@soulfree.org
www.soulfree.org
Wheelchairs are essential tools for PwSCI. They provide mobility and the ability to manage daily activities. Besides, wheelchairs help prevent deformities by maintaining stable positioning. Feeling comfortable and confident in their wheelchair positively impacts an individual’s self-esteem and ove...
