Kurian John Melamparambil is an Indian philanthropist, industrialist and writer from Kerala. He is the founder and chief promoter of Melam Group of Companies[1] and the Melam Foundation.[2][3] With his own generated funds, he has provided free medical treatment to over 158,000 poor patients through 1050 hospitals.[3][4] He was honoured by the Government of India, in 2010, for his services to the social cause, with the fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri.[5]
Humanitarianism is not charity,says Kurian John Melamparambil, but is a moral and social obligation of each and every individual and institution[6]
Kurian John Melamparambil was born on 14 May 1954 as the second son of Late John V. Melamparambil (Kunju Kunju) and Leelamma into the 'Melamparambil', a traditional business family of Tiruvalla, a central Kerala town. His early childhood and schooling days, both primary and senior level, were at M.G.M High School, Tiruvalla where he spent time with the family members and imbibed great values from the family elders. After schooling, he joined Pre-degree course in Mar Thoma College(1970–72) and from Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram he completed his Graduation and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Economics (1972–75). He then moved to the Indore School of Social Work, Indore and completed his Post Graduate Degreein social work (MSW) in 1978.[3][4][7]
After his Post Graduation, he joined as the Head of personnel & Administration division in the Cochin unit of Malayala Manorama the largest Malayalam daily.[7]
He entered into business in order to generate funds for carrying out charitable activities.[8]
All applicants for medical assistance from the Melam foundation are met and interviewed before disbursement of any assistance. He personally meets each patient/relative, however large the turnout is. He also provides food on those days to the patients and their relatives.[8]
It is a wholly private activity with no Government funds or public funds or involvement. 48 MP's (both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) from the State of Kerala, 138 MLA's out of 140 from the Kerala Legislative Assembly, and from the border district of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and around 18,000 Councilors/Panchayath members in Kerala have already participated in the selection process.[8]
Kurian John Melamparambil's work has resulted in establishing a network of more than 1025 hospitals across the state for providing specialized treatment to the sponsored patients within a 30 days credit period for reimbursement from him.[8]