After finishing my early morning walk recently, I drove towards Venkatesa Agraharam Road and noticed a man with much soiled clothes, sitting in the rain at the corner of South Mada Street and R K Mutt Road.
I called out to him to move to the platform. He didn’t listen.
I saw him in the same spot the next day.
Days later, he was there again, now in the sun.
He had a walking stick and I was not sure whether he could get up and stand or walk. I asked him whether he is willing to go to a Home. He shouted back refusing.
I decided to call social activist Khaalid Ahmed who runs Uravugal Trust (burying unclaimed bodies with the help of city police) who is experienced in rescuing abandoned people. He asked for a photo of the person and location. I did that.
After looking at the photo Khaalid said that this was the man whom he tried to rescue him in some other area. In the evening he came to Mylapore and visited the spot. The man hurled expletives and refused to move out.
Khaalid said that this man is aggressive and it is dangerous to rescue him. I thanked him for his efforts. Khaalid also informed that he is addicted to alcohol.
Earlier, I had called ‘Danger’ Arul Raj who is also involved in operations to rescue a sick or abandoned person, like some who are seen squatting outside Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore.
He was not available.
I had called the City Police Homeless Helpline 9444717100. They had forwarded it to Mylapore Police Station. The police also visited the spot and tried to convince the man to move out. But they were not successful – the man stuck to his place.
Then, I turned to K Viswanathan of Mylapore Residents Welfare Association who messaged GCC Health and Sanitation Department staff who in turn informed a NGO – Hope Vision New Life.
Udavi, Myrtle and Regina co-ordinated the action and managed to the transport the person to Institute of Mental Health Kilpauk after informing the police.
Venkatesh is the man’s name and he is aged 45 years. He will be treated for his illness and hopefully get back to mainstream life.
Here are the contacts of person who help rescue homeless / ill and lonely, etc.
8056205080 /Khaalid Ahmed
+919841776685 / Danger Arul Raj
- By C R Balaji
