Shrine Vailankanni

Karunai Illam - true to its name - is a place where compassion is shown to and shared among children who are physically challenged. It consists of a Home for the Children and two Special Schools:

1. Christ the King Higher Secondary School for Severely Orthopaedically Handicapped.
2. Christ the King Special High School for the Hearing Impaired.

The Home was the first to be started in 1997, by Very Rev Fr G Arul Irudhayam, the then Rector of Shrine Basilica, Vailankanni. Staying at the Home, the children, at that time, were attending other schools meant for the normal children. In the year 1998, the two special schools were started.

Karunai Illam is located on a sprawling 5 acre area, to the west of Vailankanni Railway station. Very Rev Fr A Michael, Rector of Shrine Basilica, is the Correspondent, while the Sisters of Jesus Convent administer the Home and the Schools.

Headmistress: Rev Sr Nirmala
No of Teachers: 14
No of Students: 85

Headmistress: Rev Sr Masila
No of Teachers: 12
No of Students: 110

Karunail Illam is a residential education centre. Barring a few locals, all the students of the two schools are inmates of Karunai Illam. Though there is help from the government side by way of subsidy and ration, the major portion of the Home's expenses are met by a generous grant from the Shrine. Apart from the academics, the inmates are given enough opportunities to developed their sports and cultural skills and exhibit them. It is worth noting here that in a recently held State-level Dance Competition for the Differently Abled, the students of Karunail Illam won the First Prize.

If you want to make a donation to Karunai Illam, please contact: Rev Fr A Michael, Rector, Shrine Basilica, Vailankanni - 611 111, Nagappattinam, Tamil Nadu.