Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Nov 4: The Tapasya Foundation has emerged as one of Karnataka’s top palliative care centres, known for its compassionate and selfless service, said Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader. He was speaking after inaugurating the newly constructed Lions Children’s Cancer Care Unit near Mudipu Mittakodi, adjacent to Infosys, built jointly by Tapasya Foundation, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), and Lions Club International District 317D.
“Among the few best palliative care centres in the state, Tapasya Foundation stands out for its dedication to humanity, compassion, and service. It has earned a special place in people’s hearts,” Khader said. He added that such service-oriented initiatives should expand further through collective efforts from social organizations, as Tapasya Foundation has the potential to become a model palliative care institution across India.
Praising service-minded leaders like Lion Sabitha Shetty and Ramanath Shetty, he said their contributions to creating an environment of love, happiness, and belongingness in coastal Karnataka are commendable. “They not only serve people but also wipe tears and show paths of peace and happiness. Tapasya Palliative Care Centre, recognized as a hub of humanity in the district, is an inspiration to all. Such institutions are not just for patients but are living classrooms teaching the value of compassion,” he remarked.
Khader urged citizens to remember and share their joy with such service centres during celebrations at home, saying that ‘true service lies in spreading happiness to those in pain’.
Lions International and LCIF Constitutional Area Leader and former International Director Vamshidhar Babu, who inaugurated the building, said that the Lions International’s childhood cancer project is one of its eight global service priorities. “While our focus was earlier on vision-related programs, we now take a major step toward supporting children battling cancer. This initiative aims not only at treatment but also at spreading awareness, ensuring education for children, protecting parents’ livelihoods, and helping children retain their childhood spirit,” he said.
Babu added that Lions International invests USD 50–60 million annually in humanitarian service projects, with every dollar directly used for service activities. “Around 4.1 lakh new childhood cancer cases are reported globally each year, 90% of them from low and middle-income families. Through this initiative, we aim to bring awareness, education, and hope,” he noted. A pilot project for cervical cancer prevention has also been launched under which vaccines worth ?3 crore will be distributed to girls and young women. The plan is to expand the initiative nationwide in the future.
He also announced that the Mangaluru Beach Festival and Mangaluru Triathlon 2026 curtain raiser will be held from January 9 to 11, promoting the city’s cultural, sporting, and entrepreneurial spirit on a global platform.
Sabitha Shetty, Managing trustee of Tapasya Foundation, presided over the event and shared the emotional journey behind the foundation’s inception. “When I first came here, this was a forested area. But I had a dream—to create a place of peace for those in pain. That dream, born out of the grief of losing a dear friend, took shape as Tapasya Foundation in 2019,” she said.
She recounted being deeply inspired by the Karunashraya model in Bengaluru, leading to the vision of building a centre that felt like a home filled with empathy and love rather than just a hospital. “Today, our centre’s design—its calm architecture, green surroundings, meditation rooms, and compassionate care facilities—reflects that very philosophy,” she added.
Sabitha expressed gratitude to several individuals and organizations for their unwavering support, including former Karnataka Bank CEO Ananthakrishna Bhat, Sudha Aramane, her husband Ramanath Shetty, Anil U P, Vishwas U S, Ravichandra Hegde, C.A. Narayana Shetty, Mohan Shetty, Dr Asha Jyothi Rai, and Padmini Prashanth Rao. She also thanked former trustees Sudha Ram Rai, Tirtharam Valalambe, and Dr Hariprasad Bellippady for laying the foundation of trust.
In 2019, then Health Minister U T Khader sanctioned the approach road to the centre, marking a key milestone. Despite a temporary halt during the pandemic, the foundation persisted. Lion Vasanth Shetty, then Governor, supported the project by helping secure a grant from Lions International, while Suprith Foundation extended valuable post-COVID assistance.
The foundation organized its first fundraising marathon, Shaurya, raising Rs 1.6 lac. Later, with the support of Yenepoya Institution, Rhaad, and Abdullah Kunj, the centre operated an Ayurveda ward offering free care for a year before moving into its new facility. So far, 140 children have received care at the centre, which now also provides services for adults.
“The foundation works with the belief that care, dignity, and respect are everyone’s right,” Sabitha said, thanking supporters including MP Brijesh Chowta, OKHAI, Tata Mumbai Marathon, Mangaluru Triathlon, and Beach Festival organizers. With the support of the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Tapasya has raised funds for expanding to a 13-bed facility.
“This is not just a building; it is a structure of empathy and humanity,” she said. “Every smile, every tear, every touch here redefines the meaning of life. What we have built together is not just a service—it is a beacon of hope for those fighting life’s toughest battles.”
Distinguished guests including Dr Chandra Pai, Dr Harsha Prasad, Lions 317D district governor Aravind Shenoy, first vice district governor Taranath H M Kopp, second vice district governor Govardhan Shetty, Yenepoya University vice-chancellor Dr Vijay Kumar, LCIF administrator Vasanth Kumar Shetty, LCIF 317D coordinator Sanjeeth Kumar Shetty, and Dr Krishna Sharan were present.