May 2025
KUTTIKKOOTTAM
(Children’s Summer Camp 2025)
From April 24 to 26, 2025, the JMM Study Centre at Mannanthala buzzed with laughter, learning, and the bright energy of young minds as Pallium India successfully hosted the Kuttikootam Summer Camp 2025.
This special initiative, designed for children of care seekers of Pallium India, aimed to nurture their emotional well-being, inspire learning, and build a strong sense of community among them. 44 participants, from Grades 9 to 12, are students whose education is fully supported by Pallium India — and for some of them, this camp was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, being the very first camp they had ever attended.
Read more on: Kuttikootam Summer Camp 2025
Welcome to a new edition of Pallium India’s newsletter. Thank you for joining us. Here you can find updates from the palliative care world, upcoming events including training for professionals and volunteers, interesting articles, career opportunities and so on.
. Read previous issues of the newsletter | Ask your friends to subscribe .
KOOTTAM 2025 (Volunteering Carnival)
Tagore Theater in Trivandrum witnessed a gathering of more than 30 odd NGOs across the city, with their stalls put up on two days 26th and 27th April! In stall number 24, Pallium India offered a variety of engaging activities to attract people and over the two days it was an unforgettable experience.
Read More: KOOTTAM 2025
FOOD FEST 2025
Pallium India’s Annual Food Carnival ‘Food Fest‘ was held on the 4th and 5th April, at YWCA Hall, Spencer Junction. This event brought together volunteers, staff, and well-wishers who prepared a variety of homemade dishes to raise funds for Pallium India’s palliative care initiatives. The festival featured a diverse range of meals, snacks, juices, and desserts, offering attendees a delightful culinary experience. All proceeds from the event were directed towards supporting patient care, and other palliative care activities.
Watch Food Fest Covered on Media: Manorama News
International
UN ECOSOC Youth Forum Side Event
As part of the UN-ECOSOC Youth Forum Side Event held between 15th to 17th April worldwide, Pallium India organised an online 1 hour session titled Caregiving and the Youth: Gaps and Solutions, A growing phenomenon that is changing the landscape of care.
Moderated by Smriti Rana (Head, Strategic Programs and Partnerships, Pallium India) the panel included three youngsters who joined from India and the Middle East, sharing their caregiving experiences of their loved ones. This side event was co-sponsored by NIVARANA and International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC).
Click to Read More
National
Empowering Ageing with Compassion and Care:
On Sunday, April 6, 2025, in the serene premises of Brahma Suncity Society in Wadgaonsheri, Pune, Pallium India organized an awareness session to commemorate World Health Day, observed globally on April 7.
Click to Read More
Palliative Care in Nagaland
The launch of Serene Palliative Care, a compassionate community home-based palliative care initiative, marked a pivotal step in addressing the urgent and underserved need for palliative care in the region. Held at the Sumedem Church Conference Hall in Lengrijan on 26th March 2025.
Click to Read More
Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS), Pallium India
| Beneficiaries reached till March 2025: | 28,244 | |
| Palliative Care centres / services catalysed: | 211 | |
| Stakeholders trained (virtual and onsite): | 11,424 |
Upcoming Events, Trainings & Conferences
Volunteer Training Program
Click to Register
Openings
For more openings, visit our CAREERS page:
https://palliumindia.org/category/career
In case of queries, please write to us: career@palliumindia.org
Stay tuned for palliative care news, views and updates
Reports / News / Articles
PODCAST
The Open Hour welcomes you to our podcast Palliative Care in India, Realities, Complexities and Challenges. A compassionate approach to healthcare that focuses on improving quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses. In this episode, we explore what palliative care really means, how it supports patients and their families emotionally, physically, and spiritually, and why it’s an essential part of modern medicine.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a caregiver, or someone seeking clarity, this conversation aims to bring understanding, empathy, and awareness to the journey of care and comfort. Dr. Jayan Philip in conversation with Dr. M R Rajagopal, Dr. Asha Deshmukh and Mr. Binod Hariharan.
WORLD HEALTH DAY
Dr. Rajagopal attended the panel discussion on World Health Day at the Bangalore International Centre on April 4th. The topic of the panel discussion was based on “The Age of Care | Health and Well Being among the elderly population in India”. Dr. Arvind Kasthuri (Head, Geriatric Unit, St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru) joined as a co-speaker. Social isolation, intergenerational gap, changing family structures, lack of mobility etc. were among the key issues discussed.
MEDICAL CAMP
To observe the World Health Day, Pallium India team conducted a medical camp on April 6th at Njaranelli, Palode. The Home care team accompanied by Dr. Amirtha graced the camp.
Finding Purpose Through Palliative Care: A Volunteer’s Journey
Ms. Darshana Jain (Private Tutor and Volunteer, Mumbai) writes:
It’s been a great and different experience for me dealing with patients and patience in the palliative care set up. Never knew that I would get such immense satisfaction while talking and caring for them, sharing their problems and being empathetic with them.
Initially I was not very confident as to how to deal with patients, but Sunanda from Pallium India guided me at every step and also helped me by coordinating with the Sukoon Nilaya team. Patients were hesitant to interact with me in the beginning but when I kept visiting them regularly they started talking to me freely. Their family members also cooperated with us.
After taking training under Pallium India I joined Sukoon Nilaya Palliative care centre in Mumbai. Here are a few patient experiences that I would like to share with all:
A stroke patient had her left hand and leg paralysed, and she hated exercising as she found it difficult but slowly we helped her to exercise & made her comfortable. She was now happy & started responding well. Finally she was discharged & went home walking happily.
A 15 year old boy from a tribal community fell down from a tree and damaged his back. He was hospitalized and underwent surgery but unfortunately his spine was damaged and he had to take the wheel chair for his life. I got him some story books and asked him to read in front of us and narrate it back to us. He enjoyed doing exercise with the hope that he would get well soon and go back to school. At the beginning he looked very sad but gradually I saw him smiling frequently.
I would love to spend time with more patients. It gives me happiness, peace of mind & mental satisfaction.
Video of the Month
‘UN-ECOSOC Youth Forum Side Event 2025: Caregiving and the Youth’
Click here to watch the video: UN-EECOSOC Youth Forum Side Event 2025
Subscribe to Pallium India’s youtube channel for videos related to palliative care and our activities. You can watch previous webinars and training sessions, as well as listen to caregivers, survivors and others sharing their experiences.
Join us in making India pain-free! Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
Book of the Month
Do We Care by K. Sujatha Rao
.A critical insider’s account of India’s public health system by K. Sujatha Rao, a former Union Health Secretary. Drawing from her vast experience in policymaking and public administration, Rao highlights the systemic challenges, policy gaps, and governance failures that plague India’s healthcare. She discusses major health initiatives like the National Rural Health Mission, the HIV/AIDS control program, and the handling of healthcare budgets, offering detailed insight into the political, economic, and institutional hurdles in delivering quality care.
The book emphasizes the urgent need for greater political will, public investment, and administrative reforms to ensure equitable, accessible, and efficient healthcare for all citizens. This richly detailed book favours increasing the health budget, greater use of technology and providing leadership and good governance. Rao argues that unless good health is prioritized as a national goal, India’s growth story will remain largely self-congratulatory.
Walk with the Weary – by Dr M R Rajagopal
A masterclass in how to care for others deeply and compassionately no matter who they are, Walk with the Weary is simultaneously the story of Dr Rajagopal’s life and his calling and the world of Indian palliative care.
Palliative Care Telehealth
Call us: +91 964 588 4889 /
+91 860 688 4889
PARTING SHOT
A Pilgrimage to Pallium India
The most wonderful thing that happened in my life was the visit to Pallium India! It was both an insight into myself and into life as a whole! Was life preparing me for this home-coming all these 66 years? I saw a blend of compassion, resilience, selflessness, joy and spirituality!
Doctor Rajagopal asked me how I felt after visiting pallium india. It’s hard to express, but I said all faces, whether care receiver, care provider, cook or driver, radiated loving smile.
He said “We give everyone the permission to smile!” That was too beautiful! I understand he meant every one has a right to smile which should be protected! I smiled!
Mrs Sarala Haridas
Teacher by profession
Arimpur, Thrissur
Inspired by Dr. Rajagopal’s book “Sneham Santhawanam”
Follow us on Social Media for updates
Contact us: info@palliumindia.org / 97467 45497
Thank you for reading our newsletter. Read previous issues here
Don’t miss any updates! Subscribe to receive our monthly newsletter via email: https://www.freelists.org/list/palliumindia
Have feedback? Let us know. Write to us: info@palliumindia.org
Comments are closed.
