A 37-year-old man from Kerala is on an all-India cycle journey with a unique mission: to build India’s first housing enclave for persons with disabilities by collecting just one rupee from people he meets. Raneesh Thattaruparambil, a mobile shop owner, began his “Mission One Rupee” in January 2021 with a schoolteacher friend. After a six-month break in 2025 due to personal reasons, he resumed the journey on January 7, this time accompanied by his wife Rajini and their fourth-grade son, Rio. Kerala Transport Minister Ganesh Kumar flagged off the second phase at the Pathanamthitta bus stand.
Raneesh said the idea was born from a desire to “leave a mark on the world” by helping the most vulnerable. The project aims to build houses for five physically disabled families who have neither land nor homes. Funds collected during the first phase were used to purchase land and lay foundation stones for five houses at Ambalavayal in Wayanad.
The family travels in a custom-built cycle caravan, a compact mobile home equipped with basic amenities powered by solar energy. Along the way, they request just one rupee from individuals, though many choose to give more. Raneesh said the public response has been largely supportive, despite occasional hesitation due to concerns over charity misuse. Once completed, the project is expected to become India’s first residential colony dedicated to families with disabilities.
