Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)
Kasargod, Sep 7: A mentally ill woman and her aged mother, who faced several challenges in life, have finally got safe shelter at Snehalaya, Manjeshwar.
Parvati (78) and her 47-year-old-daughter Sunitha who suffers from mental illness, are residents of Lakshaveedu colony in Kasargod Madhoor gram panchayat’s Manippady.
Snehalaya founder Joseph Crasta, rehabilitated them both. The mother and daughter lived on food provided by neighbours. Though people were sympathetic towards them and helped them, there was no one to care for them.
Sunita was healthy till the age of 16, but later developed mental illness. She was treated in Mangaluru and Manipal hospitals. The family could not continue her treatment for long as they were poor. They sold their jewellery and borrowed loan for Sunitha’s treatment but she was not cured.
Parvati lost her husband ten years ago. Only the mother and daughter lived in the house. The other children of Parvati were married.
Therefore, there was nobody who could look after Sunita.
Though Parvati received a small amount of pension, it was not enough to take care of expenses. Hence, she used to work in nearby houses as a domestic help. She had to discontinue due to health issues and old age. She had explained her situation to several people.
Madhoor community health centre officer who realised the gravity of the situation contacted Joseph Crasta who immediately went to the house of Parvati. He was moved looking at the situation of Parvati and Sunita and decided to provide them shelter at Snehalaya.
Parvati and Sunita were taken to Snehalaya in the presence of Madhoor gram panchayat president Malati Suresh and health officer M Chandran.
Both of them were admitted to private hospital in Mangaluru for treatment. They will be handed over to relatives after they recover or accommodated in Snehayala, said Joseph Crasta.
Madhoor gram panchayat president Malati Suresh, vice president Diwaker Achary, health officer, inspector Chandran, K Radha, C Arun Kumar, K G Ambili and Asha workers were present.