Plight of a mentally ill homeless

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?

Friends kindly suggest.

Gift for not obeying

At times an illustration brings back unforgettable childhood memories. Few days back posting of a half pedal cycling photo by one of my friend in face book took me back of my experience of learning cycle. After my 5th standard scholarship exam, I was fascinated to learn cycle by seeing some guys in our colony learning the same. I thought of learning cycle without telling my MOM and Bapa (father) with an anticipation of disapproval. My mom was busy with her research work and almost every day out for more than 10 hours to pursue her PhD. There was a strict instruction for me not to go out and sleep in the afternoon as I used to be alone at home. Me consistently not following her instruction on the boring afternoon siesta. We had a “Ralley cycle”, at home and the broad open ground near our VSS Nagar GL house at Bhubaneswar tempted me at all time to go out for learning cycle. I learnt it by my own as usual most of us learn by “half pedal”. I used to be at home clean, fresh, sparkling and contended before my Mom’s usual time to reach home for refreshment. One day I was caught by my Mom while riding the cycle as that day she came back quite early. I was horrified of my guilt of disobeying but got a reverse response from Mom quite unanticipated. Next study session I got a BSA SLR cycle as a gift. That might be the Best Gift for me - a girl who always wanted to fly than ride J Love if Swayam (my son) gives me identical surprises when he grows up. I will follow the same legacy of gifting for not obeying me for a good cause. Trust God will take care of him.