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{{Short description|Indian social worker}}

{{Undisclosed paid}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Uma Preman
| image = Uma Preman.jpg
| caption = Uma Preman, c. 2016
| birth_date = {{birth date|1970|5|31|df=y}}
| occupation = Social worker
| organization = Shanthi Medical Information Center
| citizenship =
| nationality = Indian
| spouse = Preman Thaikad
| parents = TK Balakrishnan and Thankamani
| website = {{URL|santhimedicalinfo.org}}
}}
'''Uma Preman''' (born 31 May 1970) is an Indian [[social work]]er from [[Kerala]], India. She is the founder of Santhi Medical Information Center, a [[Nonprofit organization|nonprofit]] [[charitable organization]] that provides medical guidance, care and rehabilitation for patients with limited income and resources.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=An 'unhappy marriage' that has saved thousands of lives |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51398525 |access-date=2021-05-01}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Comatose Indian worker finds guardian in Kerala |url=https://gulfnews.com/going-out/society/comatose-indian-worker-finds-guardian-in-kerala-1.2086453 |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=gulfnews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

== Biography ==

=== Early life and marriage ===
Uma Preman was born to TK Balakrishnan and Thankamani in [[Palakkad]], Kerala and grew up in [[Coimbatore]], a city in the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], India. Balakrishnan, a medical college drop-out, used his basic medical training to offer care to the locals while working in a [[cotton mill]] for livelihood. The admiration he received from the community made Uma interested in social work and the medical profession. When Uma was eight years old, her mother, Thankamani, abandoned the family for another man, leaving Uma fending for herself along with her three-year-old brother.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Destiny, don't meddle with Uma! |url=https://englisharchives.mathrubhumi.com/amp/features/women/english-news-1.193853 |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=English Archives}}</ref>

At the age of 18, Uma travelled to [[Kolkata]] to meet [[Mother Teresa|Mother Teressa]] and join [[Missionaries of Charity]]. After a brief period, she was assigned back to the Mission at Kerala, where she served as a [[caregiver]] for elderly and [[Terminal illness|terminally ill]] patients.<ref name=":4" />

During this time, Uma reunited with her mother, Thankamani, who asked Uma to move to [[Guruvayur]], a town in Kerala, to live with her. By that time, Thankamani was separated from her second husband and was overwhelmed with debt. In desperation, she pressured Uma into marrying Preman Thaikad, a wealthy travel agent that promised to pay off her debt in return. Uma soon found out that Preman, who was 26 years older than her, was suffering from a severe form of [[tuberculosis]]. Due to Preman's worsening condition, the couple spent most of their times together in hospitals. Preman died seven years later in 1997.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />

=== Santhi Medical Information Center ===
During her frequent visits at the hospital with Preman, Uma noticed that many patients were failing to get appropriate medical care not just because of the lack of resources, but also the lack of medical information. She started helping other patients fill out medical forms and connecting them to doctors and services they needed. After Preman passed away, Uma continued receiving pleas for help, which prompted her to set up a medical advisory organization, Santhi Medical Information Center (SMIC), in [[Kottapadi]], a village near Guruvayur.<ref name=":0" /> She travelled round the country for three months, gathering information on available medical resources for specific ailments. Upon returning home, she sold the house inherited from Preman and set up office in a rented house. As the service grew popular, Uma started receiving charitable donations from various sources,<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=George |first=Joseph |title=Why this widow donated her kidney to a stranger; Now UAE NRIs help her - News - Emirates - Emirates24{{!}}7 |url=https://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/why-this-widow-donated-her-kidney-to-a-stranger-now-uae-nris-help-her-2015-11-16-1.610616 |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=www.emirates247.com |language=en}}</ref> which allowed SMIC to move to a permanent location and increase the scope of the services provided. Over time, the organization added [[Emergency medical services|ambulance services]], [[kidney dialysis]] facilities and rehabilitation clinics for [[Paraplegia|paraplegic patients]].<ref name=":4" /> As of 2019, SMIC facilitated 20,500 heart surgeries, 650 [[kidney transplantation]]s and [[kidney dialysis]] for 2,000,000 patients.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=ஃப்ரீடா,வெங்கடேஷ்.ஆர் |first=ஜெனி |title=துயர்களை வென்ற மனுஷி! |url=https://www.vikatan.com/gender/how-uma-preman-from-coimbatore-is-leading-a-change |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=Ananda Vikatan |language=ta}}</ref> The organization also helps [[Repatriation|repatriate]] and rehabilitate [[Migrant workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council region|migrant Indian workers]] with chronic conditions.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=‘Guardian angel’ flies home second bedridden Indian worker from Dubai |url=https://gulfnews.com/going-out/society/guardian-angel-flies-home-second-bedridden-indian-worker-from-dubai-1.2241101 |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=gulfnews.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Organ donation ===
In 1999, Uma became one of the first altruistic [[Organ donation|organ donors]] in India when she donated one of her kidneys to Salil Balakrishnan, a 24-year-old patient with [[kidney failure]]. Because of strict government regulation for [[organ donation in India]], Uma had to present her case before the [[Organ transplantation in Tamil Nadu|Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu]] and get approval.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goklany |first=Tania |title=Are Altruistic Donations The Answer To India's Organ Deficit? |url=https://sites.ndtv.com/moretogive/donating-to-a-stranger-the-world-of-altruistic-donations-1050/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=NDTV-Fortis More to Give: Be an Organ Donor |language=en-US}}</ref> In the following decades, Uma's role in public education about organ transplant along with campaigns led by [[Davis Chiramel]] and [[Kochouseph Chittilappilly]] helped Kerala become the leading state in India for organ donations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Choudhury |first=Kushanava |title=Kerala’s mass movement for organ donation |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/the-body-politic-kerala-movement-organ-donation |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=The Caravan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Kerala is leading the way in organ donation |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-an-evangelist-is-leading-the-way-for-organ-donation-in-kerala/story-IGRq5YaqdgWyUewBadbakL.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

=== Santhi Gramam ===
In 2014, Uma became aware of the low [[standard of living]] in the [[Attappadi|Attapadi]] tribal [[Tehsil|taluk]] in the ''[[Palakkad district]]'' of Kerala, and created ''Santhi Gramam'' ([[Literal translation|lit]]. Village of peace), a social welfare project, to alleviate the hardship of the locals. Under this project, SMIC set up several healthcare and educational institutions as well as basic infrastructure like water tanks, toilets and community kitchens. The project also created employment by incentivizing organic farming and [[Putting-out system#Cottage industry|cottage industries]] manufacturing agricultural products.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Pal |first=Sanchari |title=How One Dedicated Woman Set up Kerala's 'Village of Peace' |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/94610/santhi-gramam-attappady-uma-preman-kerala/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=www.thebetterindia.com |language=en-US}}</ref> A major focus of the project was on improving [[Menstrual hygiene management|menstrual health]] of young females. As parts of the initiative, a [[Menstrual pad|sanitary napkin]] manufacturing unit was set up in Attapadi and exclusive toilets stocked with [[Feminine hygiene|feminine hygiene products]] were created for adolescent girls <ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Attappady’s hygiene initiative gets nationwide attention |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/attappadys-hygiene-initiative-gets-nationwide-attention/article19824017.ece |access-date=2023-07-11 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Santhi Gramam also invested in low-cost, sustainable and climate-responsive housing solutions,<ref>{{Cite web |title=This model house at Attappady was built within 10 days on a budget of Rs 5 lakh |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/lifestyle/decor/2019/02/23/this-model-house-attapadi-built-10-days-budget-5-lakh-uma-preman.html |access-date=2021-05-02 |website=OnManorama}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Social activist comes up with prefab houses for the flood-hit |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/lifestyle/decor/2018/09/29/social-activist-comes-up-with-prefab-houses-for-the-flood-hit.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=OnManorama}}</ref> which were applied in the rapid construction of 51 [[anganwadi]]s (rural child care center) in [[Arunachal Pradesh]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=‘വെളിച്ചം പോലുമില്ലാത്ത നാട്ടിൽ അക്ഷരവെളിച്ചമായി 51 അംഗൻവാടികൾ’: നന്മയുടെ കരംനീട്ടി ഉമ പ്രേമൻ {{!}} uma preman anganwadi projects {{!}} arunachal pradesh anganwadi project |url=https://m.vanitha.in/justin/uma-preman-arunachal-pradesh-anganwadi-project.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=vanitha.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Venugopalan |first=Malavika |title=A Woman of Endearment – Uma Preman |url=https://fwdlife.in/a-woman-of-endearment-uma-preman |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=FWD Life {{!}} The Premium Lifestyle Magazine {{!}} |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== APJ Abul Kalam International Residential Tribal School ===
In 2017, Uma Preman founded APJ Abul Kalam International Residential Tribal School in Attapadi to accommodate primary education in the local tribal languages with a view to boosting student enrollment and retention in the tribal communities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ezhutchan |first=Ramesh |title=രാജ്യാന്തര നിലവാരത്തിലുള്ള സ്കൂൾ; ഫീസായി ഒരു രൂപ പോലും വേണ്ട! |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/education/education-news/2019/10/06/apj-abdul-kalam-residential-school-attappady.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref> In 2021, Uma helped launch a local television channel in Attapadi to [[Broadcasting|broadcast]] educational content to the students in their native languages and deliver daily news to the locals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala's Attappadi tribal students to attend online classes in their own Irula language |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/oct/04/keralas-attappadi-tribal-students-to-attend-online-classes-in-their-own-irula-language-2367210.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

== Recognition and reception ==
Uma Preman received over 150 awards,<ref name=":2" /> including the ''Woman Icon Award'' 2018, ''Vanitha Woman of the Year'' 2015<ref>{{Cite web |title=ഉമിത്തീയില്‍ ഈ ചിരി വിരിഞ്ഞു; ‘വനിത വുമണ്‍ ഓഫ് ദി ഇയര്‍ 2015’ ഉമ പ്രേമന്റെ കഥ {{!}} Uma Preman {{!}} Vanitha Women of the year 2015 |url=https://www.vanitha.in/specials/womens-day-special/vanitha-woman-of-the-year-2015-uma-preman-story.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=vanitha.in}}</ref> and ''CNN-IBN Real Heroes (Health and Disability'') 2010.<ref>{{Citation|title=Uma Preman-'CNN-IBN Real Heroes Awards 2010'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CV3iGa_hig|language=en|access-date=2021-12-28}}</ref>

The 2015 Malayalam-language [[biographical novel]] ''Nilachoru'' written by Shabu Kilithattil is inspired by Uma Preman's life.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Biographical novel on organ donor set for release |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/biographical-novel-on-organ-donor-set-for-release/article7890373.ece |access-date=2023-07-11 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In 2020, Tamil [[Film director|director]] Vigneswaran Vijayan (Vicky) announced a [[Multilingualism|bilingual]] ([[Tamil language|Tamil]] and Malayalam) [[biographical film]] on her life.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Biopic of Uma Preman to be directed by Vigneswaran Vijayan |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/biopic-of-uma-preman-to-be-directed-by-vigneswaran-vijayan/articleshow/79553760.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-07-11 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Davis Chiramel]]
* [[Kochouseph Chittilappilly]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Preman, Uma}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Coimbatore]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women]]
[[Category:Indian humanitarians]]
[[Category:Indian social workers]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]

Uma Preman - Revision history

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