The Centres


The Alison Davis Home for Disabled Children - Annavarapadu, Ongole	The Enable Home for Disabled Children - Cherukumpalem, Ongole

The Alison Davis Millennium Home for Disabled Children (above, left) was named, at the children’s request, after Enable’s co-founder Alison Davis. The naming of the centre was a testimony to the love and esteem that the children feel for the woman they call “Mummy Alison.” It was formally opened on Alison’s birthday, 8 January 2001.

The Centre was built primarily as a residential centre for disabled girls, who attended local schools during the day. During the day the centre functioned as a school for blind children.

Since criminal investigations began against him in June 2006, the former Director of Enable’s work in India, Gali Arulraj, has tried to deny that Enable has any legitimate role in the Centres (so that he can misuse the Centres for his own personal gain). He has, for example, removed the plaque showing the name of the Centre (and the fact that it was founded by Enable’s founders), and covered up the name on the Centre’s minibus.


The plaque unveiled at the opening of the Alison Davis Home	Photo taken in January 2006

The Enable Home for Disabled Children (top of page, right) was opened on 8 January 2006. Its plaque, unveiled at its opening, makes it clear that its founders, on behalf of Enable, are Alison Davis and Colin Harte.

Enable Home for Disabled Children plaque

8th January 2006: The Opening of the Enable Home for Disabled Children at Cherukumpalem, Ongole

The Enable Home was opened in the presence of Enable’s founders, with several trustees and supporters of Enable present. The banners put up by Arulraj and the DNSSD on the day acknowledged their gratitude to Enable. Later in 2006, Arulraj removed all photographs and references to Enable, as part of his attempt to pretend that the properties had nothing to do with Enable, and that his embezzlement of funds and closing of the institutions was no concern of ours.

Enable’s founders and supporters were recognised at the opening of the Enable Home in January 2006. Arulraj is now attempting to rewrite the history books, claiming the Enable Home has nothing to do with Enable!

The Kanigiri Centre

In 1995, when Enable was formed, all of the DNSSD’s work for disabled children was based at a small, undeveloped rehabilitation centre in the town of Kanigiri, 50 miles from Ongole. It could comfortably accommodate about 35 children.

August 1995: Alison Davis visiting the Kanigiri Centre when it was a very basic single storey building in undeveloped land. At this time, Gali Arulraj expressed his concern that on account of a shortage of funds his work for disabled children would soon have to stop.

Because of Enable’s support, the property and land at Kanigiri was substantially developed, so that by 1998 the Centre was caring for 80 children.


The Kanigiri Centre in May 1997	The Kanigiri Centre in November 1998

In 2003, Gali Arulraj informed Enable that the children and staff at the Kanigiri Centre were not safe on account of government rebels called naxalites who had become active in that area. Enable accepted Arulraj’s advice to move the children to Ongole, where we were informed they would be safe. At first the children were moved to temporary accommodation in Ongole. The Enable Home at Cherukumpalem, Ongole was then built as a replacement for the Kangiri Centre.

Before Arulraj’s embezzlement of funds became known, Enable and DNSSD had decided to sell the Kanigiri Centre, and the proceeds were to be used for the work of Enable/DNSSD in Ongole.

Enable now has a legitimate claim to the Kanigiri Centre, because its development and ongoing functioning could not have happened without us. We will oppose any efforts that Arulraj may make to keep control of this property, whether he attempts to keep it in his own name or that of DNSSD. We will ensure that the Kanigiri property or any proceeds from it are used solely for the benefit of disabled children.

Properties built from embezzled funds

Since June 2006, Enable has learned that Arulraj has bought a range of land and properties in and around Ongole and as far afield as the city of Bangalore. The police and the income tax department are currently investigating these purchases, which are believed to have been funded illicitly and criminally. Enable lays claim to the proceeds of any properties that have been bought from funds provided by Enable and/or received by DNSSD for the benefit of disabled children.

Given the criminal actions of Arulraj and the DNSSD the Indian authorities should act properly and withdraw the Society Registration of DNSSD. The DNNSD should be disbanded and all properties, utilities and assets should be transferred to Enable so that we can properly use them to benefit disabled children.

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