Students of SSM Group of Institutions, Komarapalayam, undertook a second intervention in a month to identify and rehabilitate alms-seekers in bus stand and railway station.
Eleven alms-seekers, including four women, were admitted by the student group led by Naveen Kumar, Founder-President of Atchayam Trust, to the St. Joseph’s Karunai Illam in Dindigul district.
The students were supported in their initiative by the District Social Welfare Officer Devikumari and the Sub-Inspector of Anti-Human Trafficking Squad Kavitha.
Drug addiction
A month back, students detected alcoholism and drug-addiction among alms-seekers, most of whom had been turned away by their children.
On Friday, too, the case was the same. Most of the alms-seekers were old and weak and incapable of earning their livelihood. Hence, they had to be admitted to the Home.
But, a disturbing fact remains that once they experience the ease of earning money through begging, they turn lazy. On an average, alms-seekers at the bus stand were found to earn Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 each per day, Mr. Navin Kumar said.
They lose the sense of dignity. The students are, however, confident that they could be counselled thoroughly to lead respectable lives.
The district administration has assured the students that those willing to work would be provided employment.
