Compassionate Kozhikode, a globally recognised initiative of the district administration, is seeking the service of volunteers by narrating on its website the lives of people associated with the government-run health centre for the mentally challenged and the children’s home in the district.
kozhikode.in, is the account of 11-year-old Ramanujan (name changed), who was admitted to the Home for Mentally Challenged Children in the district in 2012.
Pitiable family
“His father, an amputee, suffers from diabetes and his mother remains ill most of the time. His brother is also mentally challenged.
“Under such abject conditions, it is impossible for his family to earn their bread and butter. Like Ramanujan, there are many others who have shocking stories to narrate.”
There are inspiring tales of volunteers too. Sunil, now a policeman, was first caught red-handed when he was in Class VIII. Instead of sketching the map of India, he was drawing a caricature of his teacher holding a globe. A sprint around the West Hill grounds took Sunil to the Police Training School, where even the thoughts of cartoon and caricature seemed far away. Ten years on, Sunil reached the Children’s Home as part of an investigation regarding a missing child. “That Friday was a new beginning in his life”. Back to wielding his brush, the policeman now volunteers to teach young boys at the home painting, sculpting and acting.
The account of Rosie Maám of ‘Mimosa’, a playschool at St. Vincent Colony in the district, is touching. Five years ago, Rosie, who had undergone years of treatment at the Government Mental Hospital, had no one to take her home. Now, for over 20 mentally challenged children, Rosie Maám is a lovely companion. An intervention by a compassionate psychologist brought back her smile. “If such is the change a psychologist can make in the life of Rosie, we are sure there are many more psychologists in the city who can do the same or much more than this,” states an entry on the website.
Now, the government mental health centre requires the service of a psychotherapist who can help the children get over their past with ease. Similarly, artists for the Children’s Home for Girls and psychologists at the Home for Mentally Challenged Children are also needed, officials say.
