Christian evangelist pastor Paul Dhinakaran who is now in soup for amassing crores of money and gold has landed himself in another controversy with evidence of his hospital engaging in converting tribal communities coming to light.
Seesha Karunya Hospital run by Samiti for Education, Environment, Social and Health Action (SEESHA), Paul Dhinakaran’s non-profit organization, has been reportedly trying to convert people belonging to tribal community by luring them with freebies.
An ambulance cum mobile hospital containing freebies like clothes, gifts for children, banners, etc were found near a locality predominantly comprising of native tribes. Photo and video evidence of the same that came out has caused a stir on social media.
A resident of Alandurai was quoted saying in a Tamil news daily that they found an ambulance cum mobile hospital going around tribal villages in the region back in December, 2020. They had apparently followed them and pulled them over near Vellapadhi. Upon questioning the people in ambulance, they had said that they came to give some items to people. Later they were found contradicting their own statements saying that they had come to attend a house warming ceremony and meet a few people. Growing suspicious, the resident informed the Poluvampatti forest ranger Arokiyasamy. Forest department officials upon inquiring found that the ambulance had entered the habitats without any permit.
At the house of the tribal communities, items like bedsheets, clothes, gift items for children, and a banner were found. Local residents allege that this is an out and out attempt by Paul Dhinakaran and his organization Karunya to convert tribals of the region.
They had lodged a complaint with the Forest Department, the Police Department, Health Department and the Madwarayapuram Panchayat Administration. But no action was taken in this regard.
It is to be noted that, last year, seven ecofriendly houses were built on by the government in the Nallurvayal tribal village. A certain amount of money had been provided on behalf of ‘Karunya Seesha’ to build those houses. However, these houses were affixed with the board that read, ‘Houses built under the Eco-friendly homes scheme of the Government of Tamil Nadu with the help of Paul Dinakaran Seesha Karunya Community Development Project’.
They had planned to inaugurate it on Paul Dhinakaran’s birthday. However, after protests from local, the board was removed.
Earlier this week, people of Nallurvayaal protested demanding that their village be renamed to its original name, which is now called ‘Karunya Nagar’, named after Karunya University belonging to Paul Dhinakaran.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.