" The Tiruvannamalai ashram offered free food three times a day on all 365 days. On girivalam days, the kitchen used to function round the clock. According to locals, as many as 600 people, mostly the poor from the neighbouring villages — peasants, sadhus and even school students — used to partake of the free meals.“With the ashram closed, I am now running from pillar to post for food everyday,” lamented Gunasekaran, an elderly man from Iyyamapalayam village in the vicinity.
Among the other activities of the ashram was free medical services.“Is it possible for the same mediapersons to render free services of ashram, which brought highly qualified doctors from Chennai to treat us without charging any penny?” Durairaj, another local wondered aloud."

- Account of local people as reported in several news media.