How It Started
Sarva Prema Welfare Society was founded by Rev. Fr. Dr. Antonio Grugni on 24th December 2005. He was a catholic PIME missionary and a Cardiologist Doctor who came to Fatima Nagar in the district of Warangal, Telangana, India, in the year 2005 to join Rev. Fr. Augusto Colombo, PIME priest, and Rev. Sr. Lorenza Bietti, who were running a health program, Viswakaruna Dermatological Centre, to treat the leprosy patients and for the rehabilitation of patients suffering from leprosy, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. Fr. Antonio Grugni, with much interest, joined the program and served the patients. Fr. Antonio Grugni, born on 7th July 1941 in Legnano, Milan, Italy, first came to Mumbai, India in 1975 and served the leprosy patients of the Lok Seva Sangam of Rev. Fr. Carlo Torriani in Mumbai.
Rev. Fr. Antonio Grugni wanted to extend his services further to many poorer and deserving people. Hence, he established a new charitable society called “Sarva Prema Welfare Society". He registered it on 24th December 2005 with a Governing Body of service-oriented and dedicated individuals from Fatima Nagar, Warangal. His approach was of love and compassion. He said, “Love is free; it gives freely, with no ulterior motive or goal”. With this deep reflection, the name of the society was chosen as “SARVA PREMA” indicating love for all without any discrimination of colour, caste, creed, and religion. The word SARVA means ‘for all’ and PREMA means ‘love’ in vernacular Telugu 1 language. The main aim of the society at that time was to give hope to the community in Warangal, especially the Leprosy, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and all other dermatological patients to improve health, nutrition, housing, education, and livelihood.
In the words of Fr. Grugni, "When doctors at a government hospital diagnose TB cases, they give us a box with a pharmaceutical kit needed to treat the patient for six months. At that point, individual assistance is left to our responsibility. We go among the people. Every day we visit public health centres and the homes of the sick, making sure they take the drugs. We take care of the families. We give them some money to send their children to school, and a small pension for the elderly. We build houses, and we give food in the first few months of therapy to help them regain.”
He came here with a dream, a mission, and till his last breath, zealously engaged in the accomplishment of his dream of serving the community in Warangal, India. Fr. Antonio Grugni passed away on 18th November 2018 at the age of 77 due to stomach cancer and has been laid to rest in Warangal, India.
