History of Asraya

Asraya is a registered voluntary organization (Reg. No. T 1684/99) founded in 1996. It all started when Mrs. Santha Jose happened to accompany one of her relatives, a cancer patient, to the Regional Cancer Centre in Trivandrum for treatment. The plight of hundreds of cancer patients struggling with the same disease moved her so much that she firmly resolved to make a difference in their lives. She shared this idea with a group of like-minded ladies. With this vision in mind, they met Dr. M. Krishnan Nair, Director of RCC, Dr. Paul Sebastian, HOD of Head and Neck, and Sister Vijaya, the Chief Nursing Superintendent.. 

The RCC authorities gave great encouragement to this idea of starting such a support system. Thus Asraya All Women Charity Organisation was founded in 1996. Ever since, Asraya has been rendering exemplary service in this field for the past 22 years.by Mrs. Santha Jose and a few of her friends with an aim to support poor cancer patients and their families socially, emotionally and financially. 

Asraya volunteers comprise of around 400 service-minded women, mainly housewives and retired career women. They are motivated by concern, sympathy and love for the poor and suffering. Asraya was started when there were no other welfare agencies providing this level of support in the Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum.