Walking through the corridors of the Destitutes’ Rehabilitation Centre in Jyothinagar, Mysore, one could see the overwhelming despair in the faces of the inmates, many of whom have been brought here without enquiry. They say they have families and wish to be released from the Centre, which has failed to be a home even to the homeless due to the impassivity of the officials concerned. The roofless rooms, windowless bathrooms, corridors overfilled with the “children of a lesser god” feature in this article.
Refuge or mere delusion?
Being a destitute in our country is a crime through the eyes of both the law and the people. They are shooed away by both the rich and the middle class, claiming that they are dirty, despicable and dispensable. The governments often make half - hearted attempts to rehabilitate the destitutes by “arresting” them and taking them to “homes”, which does not solve the problem of the destitutes. If the destitutes confront the vagaries of nature and human contempt on streets, they face a different kind of situation at a Destitute Rehabilitation Centre where they are obligatorily subjected to inhumane conditions such as bad food, cold and wet weather, physical and mental stress etc.
The hapless men and women with disabilities and skin infections, whom our correspondent found in the Destitute Rehabilitation Centre in Mysore, were not much different than those found in other such Centres across the State and the country.
However, are most of the inmates of the Centre just suffering from physical and mental inability to work or are they just lazy is the question that bothers anyone who visits the Centre. Most men and some of the women inmates are strong, fit and do not seem to be beggars or mentally ill. Then what are they doing at the rehab centre? Is it just that the officials and the Police thought it fit to arrest those who seemed like beggars and lock them up in rehab homes in a drive to make Mysore a beggar - free city as soon as possible?
The till - now obscure Destitute Rehabilitation Centre in Jyothinagar in Mysore, which suddenly sprang into limelight by the death of 28 inmates in the Bangalore Rehab Centre, is a mass of buildings, most in derelict condition with no roofs and windows. When our correspondent visited the Centre, all inmates were grouped into two separate buildings for men and women, each reeking of myriad smells. The inmates, even those who were physically ill, were sprawled on the cold floor with no protective clothing. It was appalling to find that even physically challenged persons were present at the Centre, who, in fact, should have been sheltered not at the Rehab Centre but at the special homes for the physically challenged where they will be able to get special medical treatment and skill development training to sustain a livelihood.
Most of the women inmates are old, infirm and do not understand where they are and what they are doing at the Rehab Centre. When our correspondent spoke to the women there, many were in an incomprehensible condition. They were not mentally clear enough to understand the questions and just stared at us.
The few women, who did understand, said they were not beggars or destitutes and had families and homes but were brought here against their wishes. Like an aged woman Nagamma, who says she is from Sunkadakatte village in Kushalnagar, Kodagu district. According to her, she was forcibly brought here when she was waiting for bus. She adds that she does not know if her children are searching for her and begs to be let out of the Centre so she can go back to her home. But the officials at the Centre give a different version as they say her children do not want her and they are ready to release her if her family applies for it. Or else, she cannot be let out on her own.
Many other old women share similar stories with our correspondent as they say they were just walking on the road, sitting or sleeping in bus stands when they were taken to the Centre on the pretext of dropping them home. When asked where they will go if they are released from the Centre, some say they will go back to their family but most women have no answer.
Asked about such allegations, the warder says they do not drag anybody to the Centre unless they get complaints from the public. The Police arrest such persons on charges of beggary or vagrancy etc. It is common that they exaggerate their situation so that they can be let out of the Centre, he adds with a smile.
At least the women are clean with close - cropped hair and freshly - washed sarees though sitting and sleeping on dusty floor. But the condition of men was worse. Among men, many were mentally ill, some were young and fit and most old men were sane. It was surprising that though the Centre is not allowed to keep boys younger than 18 years, as under - 18 boys should be sent to the Bala Mandira, the first boy our correspondent met said his age was 16. Faizal, a resident of Nazarbad in city, has a family. He spoke unintelligibly in Kannada through gaps of missing front teeth. When asked how being healthy and fit, he came to the Centre, he replied that he was brought here when he was drinking tea on a roadside canteen. His claim that he was innocent and was not a beggar was refuted by the officials who said both he and his family are addicted to some chemical they call as “solution”. When asked to name the “solution”, he happily said it's available for Rs. 20 and is called “Fevibond” and added it gave him a high. Faizal, however, hurriedly went on to maintain that he has stopped using the “solution”. With tears in his eyes, he begged us to take him out of there so that he can go back to his family, saying he is even ready to work in a hotel washing utensils if he were let out.
Another inmate who introduced himself as Mysore Subbanna said he was a vendor of sweets and confectioneries in City Court premises since 25 years. He accused the officials of bringing him to the Centre when he was sleeping on Bamboo Bazar roadside near his home, being tired of walking. He said he wanted to go home to his family but the officials were not allowing him to.
An inmate whisperingly said that if they elaborate on the problems they are facing at the Centre, they get whipped by the officials. When SOM pressed for details, the inmate fearfully looked around and said they are not supposed to say anything or else they will be punished.
It was puzzling to see mentally sound and educated persons like M. Ramaiah, who claims to be a retired First Grade Assistant at the University of Mysore, languishing in the Rehab Centre. He said that he had pleaded that he was mentally fit and wanted to be released but his efforts went in vain. One may wonder why would a person, who gets a handful of pension, be seen begging as assumed by the officials.
Of the inmates, there were two men — one visually and another physically handicapped. Why are they being kept here? According to the Karna-taka Prohibition of Beggary Act, physically handicapped persons, the able - bodied, diseased and infectiously affected should be accommodated separately and mentally deranged should be transferred to an asylum.
Though lacking in basic facilities, it is gratifying to see some inmates utilising their time productively by engaging themselves in mat weaving and growing vegetables. The floor mats woven by them are sold in bulk. The vegetables and bananas grown by the inmates are used for their own consumption. In case of excess need, tenders will be called by the Centre for purchasing vegetables from growers. The vegetable patches at the Centre are well maintained. Funds for the maintenance of the Centre are granted by the Central Government through Beggars' Cess.
The half - collapsed roof and windows without frames and panes which look like walls left incomplete in a hurry, form, appallingly, the bathrooms for the inmates, including women. When our correspondent asked how the inmates, especially women bathe in such a place open to public view, Shivakumar of the Centre faltered in replying. Then he hesitated and said the inmates are not visible from outside and security will take care of it. When pressed again, he said those who go for bath cover the window with cloth, which was improbable as there was no provision for hanging a cloth near the window.
Now, after all the hype, officials of Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) have at last decided to construct a new home for the inmates at a cost of Rs. 83. 55 lakh. MUDA has invited tenders for construction of the new Centre at Jyothinagar with a nine - month deadline to complete the project.
The new building, which will replace the old one will be L - shaped and will have two floors, with seven rooms each. The solar facility, which has already been installed, is not yet connected.
Whatever said and done, the Destitutes Rehab Centre being a government - run organisation, can at least become suitable for human occupation only through service - minded officials and public interest in the welfare of the homeless.
SB & MSA
Courtesy: Star of Mysore
