It was a different experience for 19-year-old mentally ill Reeba of West Bengal, for whom Valaikappu (bangle ceremony) was performed by Eera Nenjam Trust.
While the bangle ceremony is performed for pregnant women before they are taken to their mother’s place, Reeba was taken to RVM Hospital in Bengaluru – for mentally ill persons – for treatment.
The girl not in her senses was spotted by the city police at Kuniyamuthur on Palakkad Road in the late hours of March 13. The police took her to the corporation night shelter run by Eera Nenjam trust at R.S. Puram. “On taking her to the hospital, we came to know that she was pregnant for four months,” its Managing Trustee P. Mahendiran said.
A psychologist on examining said that she was not born mentally ill and that she could have lost her mental stability only recently. Meanwhile, a gynaecologist had also confirmed that there were no signs of illegitimacy behind the pregnancy, and the baby and mother were in sound health. There was difficulty in getting details from Reeba as she spoke in Bengali mixed with Hindi.
While interacting with a Bengali in Coimbatore, the teenager had reportedly claimed that she was from Chinsurah - Mogara in Chinsurah division in Hooghly district, West Bengal. She also said that her husband was Coramanda and mother was Nazima. “We informed the West Bengal police about the woman and have asked them to check her name and particulars against that of missing persons,” he said.
Meanwhile, the girl who knew she has a baby was playful and running around in the home in Coimbatore. Her innocence and smiling face won the affection of the other inmates, but it was high time she needed specialised care and attention – which was important for her and her baby.
Last Friday the trust organised the bangle ceremony at the shelter. Dressed in a new sari and wearing multi coloured bangles the girl was seen so excited. Rituals were performed by trust member Sundari Subramaniam. Elders in the home blessed her. Sweets were distributed to other inmates.
