The evening of July 3 was a tense one for Mekala Vaseekaran, a resident of 9th Cross Street, Indira Nagar, as she frantically tried to find help for a homeless male who was stuck at her doorstep. He was finally rescued by the Thaagam NGO providing relief to her.
Adyar Times narrates the story as told by Mekala…
On July 3 afternoon, I saw a lean man sitting outside my house. I saw him asking for food from a banana vendor and a Swiggy delivery man. Pitying him, I prepared a plate for him, but as I stepped out, I saw the Swiggy guy return and give him a packet. Thinking it was food, I retracted. When I saw him not eating, I asked if he wanted food and he affirmed with a loud “Yes, Yes, give me food.” I gave him the plate along with a water bottle. It was then that I realised that the Swiggy guy had got him some chips and biscuits.
As night came over, the man had not budged. I tried to get some information from him, but all he told me was he wasn’t drunk or doped and repeatedly asked me about me. I understood that he had some psychiatric issues apart from some issues with his leg, which rendered him immobile. He could only drag himself. Mosquitoes were swarming on him. I thus reached out to an activist Mr.Namachivayam of Venkatrathnam Nagar to enquire about a shelter for him. He immediately gave me a whole list of shelter homes from GCC’s website and I started reaching out to them.
Meanwhile, other residents around also noticed the man and called the police. I was apprehensive about it as I was unsure how the police would be able to help. Within 10 minutes, the police came but said that they were helpless. They moved the man from the street to outside my doorstep and left.
I called each listed shelter home, but either they didn’t answer, or they said that they only took in women, or said that it was too late for rescue. My hopes to find shelter for him for the night were crashing. Somehow through connections, I called one Mr. William from Myrtle Social Welfare Network, a shelter home for women, who informed the GCC Coordinator Mr. Merlin who connected me with the NGO – Thagam Foundation. It was 10 pm by the time I contacted them. Mr. Raja Monsingh who heads the Thagam Foundation, assured that his team would come first thing in the morning. With no other choice, we let the man be on our doorstep. He was restless the whole night and moved around on his knees.
At around 5 am, volunteers from Thaagam came. They had a nearly 20-minute conversation with the man and finally picked him up. The conversation was to make him comfortable and prepare him for the shelter. It was a big relief to know that he would be safely taken care of now.
Adyar Times appreciates the initiative taken by Mekala and hopes the story to be a guide to others in the neighbourhood for such rescues. Do share such stories from the neighbourhood by emailing [email protected].
Update on the man as of July 5: He was admitted to the Thaagam Foundation Men’s Shelter, Tharamani. He is currently bedridden and diagnosed with psychiatric issues. He is to be moved to the hospital for further treatment. If you have any information about the ma, contact Mr.Prakash at the shelter at 78239 32063.
