The delay in framing a suitable rehabilitation package for the wanderers’ community (nomads), including the mentally challenged, has raised concern.
‘Ente Koodu’ (My Nest), a pioneering initiative conceptualised by the Kerala Social Security Mission, and a medical care programme under the district panchayat’s Snehasparsham project aimed at caring for the destitute are yet to get into the implementation mode. The coordinators too have no clue on when they would complete the projects.
Official census figures of the government state there are over 600 wandering persons, both men and women, on the streets of Kozhikode who find shelter in public places such as railway station and bus stands. Many of them suffer from chronic diseases and do not take any medication in the absence of regular care from any external bodies.
“The issue is very sensitive as women are the victims in the majority of instances of strange behaviour on the part of the wandering population. Since they are labelled wanderers, the police too show no concern,” says P. Viji, leader of the city-based Penkoottu — an association for the welfare of working women. “Either they have to be rehabilitated in a suitable spot or properly controlled by the police,” she demands.
Ms. Viji also recalls a recent incident in which they caught a nomad photographing a woman on the railway station premises. “We were shocked to know that he took the photo on the directions of another stranger who was not part of the nomadic community.” .
A trader from the Palayam market points out that the Palayam bus stand premises has been converted into a sanctuary of wanderers — especially those addicted to drug and suffering from various mental illnesses. “Travellers normally ignore them and proceed as most of them have been seeing it for long years,” he remarks.