By S Sundar

Copyright thehindu

Even as acting tough against criminals, the khaki-clad Madurai City Police have taken a noble task of rescuing destitute and sick persons left literally on streets.

In the last eight months, the City Police, through its innovative ‘Kaval Karangal’ programme, rescued 92 persons who are seen roaming around the roads and streets in a pathetic condition.

“Mostly, these people are either abandoned by family members or they have got separated from the families due to their mental illness and keep roaming here and there in an unhygienic look,” said Commissioner of Police J. Loganathan.

Though a lot of NGOs are running homes for specific people, like aged, sick and mentally-ill destitute, more often they hesitate to pick up people from roads as they might be questioned for dealing with strangers.

“The role of the City Police is only as a facilitator. On finding such destitute people, we alert the NGOs who come to rescue them. The police help them in the process and also issue medical memo so that they could be admitted in hospital or in homes without any legal hassle,” Mr. Loganathan said.

A team of police, led by Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, led by its Inspector of Police, Hemamala, has been coordinating with the NGOs, a private ambulance service, hospital and local police in rescuing and following them up.

The police also provide some goods like dresses and other things to first make the rescued persons look clean.

After being given an immediate medical attention, they are admitted to the homes.

The police also help to identify the families of the rescued persons and 36 such persons have been reunited with the families, ” the Commissioner said.

In some cases, the mentally-ill persons had gone missing from family. “On getting cured, the police have helped them trace the family members and help their reunion,” he said. In some cases, the rescued persons refuse to return to home as they get better life in the homes.

The Commissioner said that the socially-desirable exercise also helps the police in preventing hurt cases.

“In some cases, the mentally-ill persons are chased away by local people and in the process they get hurt. By rescuing women destitutes, we prevent them from being harassed by anti-social elements on the roads,” the Commissioner said.

Besides, these people were also vulnerable to road accidents while crossing the roads with caution. Deaths of such destitute on roads could also be avoided, he added.

The progress of the work of “Kaval Karangal” is reviewed periodically to fine-tuning its functioning.