The next time you are at the Coimbatore Junction, spare some time to stop, stand and stare at the graffiti on the walls. They come with a social awareness message from Aram Foundation Charitable Trust. The Trust has taken up the initiative of painting walls in public places in the city with a message.

“The aim is to sensitize people about a social issue. The message painted depends on the location,” S. Latha, Founder of Aram Foundation, says.

Similarly, this Foundation has gathered a set of volunteers, raised funds from sources and started this initiative. The graffiti comes with a social message and a helpline number. The Foundation has had walls on Avinashi Road, Good Shed Road, Road to Ukkadam and also in the Orthopaedic Ward of the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and in the Electricity Board sub-station, painted by a group of volunteers.

The walls of the Coimbatore North railway station and the Coimbatore Junction are painted with messages asking the public to use water sparingly while travelling by trains. There is also a message on the wall asking the public not to litter the platform and common areas of the stations. Along with the paintings there is the help line number that the public can reach out to just in case there is a need.

On Avinashi Road, Good Shed Road, and Ukkadam, the Foundation has painted the walls with messages on child abuse. There is also a pictorial representation asking public not to harass women. The contact number of children’s help line and women’s help line are also painted.

One of the Foundation’s graffiti that deserves a mention is their on-going initiative to paint the walls of the three-storey Orthopaedic building of the CMCH. Work is in progress and a few of the walls are painted in bright hues. This is to keep the patients motivated and this peps them up as well. There are symbols of hearts, single flowers, bouquets and images of happy people on the walls.