Way back in 1989 my
mother got posted in Kendrapara a small town in Odisha, India. She continued to
be there perhaps till 1994. During her five years stays in Kendrapara, I was
associated with the town and a frequent visitor. I remember a young mentally
ill lady roaming here and there in kedrapara. Many a times, she visited near our
house at Madhavpur asking for food. As mentally ill and unwanted by her family
she was a homeless. Now I can only faintly recall her face but do remember, as an
adolescent girl the mental stress that I was getting by seeing her carrying a
baby inside her several times in those years.
What a plight!
Since those times whenever
I see a mentally sick person roaming around the city, I remember her and fell apologetic
of being a helpless citizen not having the courage to do something for such a needy.
I always salute her or any other girl who possesses the courage to face this
merciless society without any blanket of protection in life. For them their fight
for life practically includes fighting life with the alcoholics, criminals,
anti social elements and many a times even sexually harassed, behind the screen
by so called gentleman of this society.
Mental illness disrupts
people’s ability to carry out self care the most essential aspects of daily
life, how they bear such other risks of life? Their courage, fortitude, guts to
survive on the street is commendable. Being a homeless, over and above being a mentally
ill homeless is worst thing that can happen to anyone in life.
Can a psychiatric hospitalization be able to help them?
Does a homeless shelter
can effectively protects and cares for those needy?
What can we (Government,
Civil Society, Citizens) collectively do something for a mentally ill sans
companion, guardian, protector and basic minimum shelter?
