Pallathur, Sivaganga : The AMM Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the esteemed Murugappa Group, reached a historic milestone on Monday as it celebrated 100 years of dedicated service. The occasion was marked by the inauguration of the Centenary Block at the AMM Hospital in Pallathur, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu. Azim Premji, Founder Chairman of Wipro Limited, graced the event as the chief guest and unveiled the inauguration plaque.
Founded a century ago, the AMM Hospital, affectionately known as the ‘oru ruba’ hospital for charging a nominal one rupee fee from patients, has been a cornerstone of quality healthcare for the local community. The newly inaugurated Centenary Block enhances the hospital’s capabilities, introducing state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities, including CT Scan services.
To commemorate the AMM Foundation’s enduring legacy, which encompasses various hospitals, educational institutions, and community initiatives, a coffee table book titled “A Century of Service” was unveiled. The book, authored by historian and heritage activist Sriram V, was released by Mr. Premji, with the first copy received by P Chidambaram, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, and former Union Minister.
Addressing the gathering, M V Subbiah, former Managing Trustee of AMM Foundation and former Chairman of Murugappa Group, reminisced, “In 1922, my grandfather laid the foundation stone of the AMM Hospital, and the hospital opened in 1924. That tiny seed has grown into the AMM Foundation that today serves communities surrounding the places where our businesses have prospered.”
Reflecting on philanthropy and its diverse forms, Mr. Premji emphasized, “No action is too trivial. We need to do whatever we can for our community and society in our own sphere.”
Mr. Chidambaram praised the AMM Foundation’s willingness to give back to the community, stating, “To engage in philanthropy, one must first find the willingness to do so. And the AMM Foundation has shown over and over how willing they are to give back to the community.”
MA Alagappan, Managing Trustee of the AMM Foundation and former Chairman of the Murugappa Group, outlined the Foundation’s various activities and future plans, stating, “Going into the next century, we have four verticals — education, healthcare, sports, and environment. When the opportunity arises, we will expand into other initiatives to benefit the community.”
Meenakshi Murugappan expressed gratitude in the vote of thanks.
About the AMM Foundation: Established in 1924 with the inauguration of the AMM Hospital in Pallathur, Sivaganga, the AMM Foundation manages several institutions and projects across India. These include five hospitals, five educational institutions, higher education support through the AMM Murugappa Chettiar Centenary Scholarship program, practical science education initiatives, the Murugappa Youth Football Academy, and the water rejuvenation project called Nanneer in the Sivaganga region, restoring seven water bodies to date.