KOCHI: The number of people living on streets during the pandemic has seen a rise, according to district social justice department and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
According to NGOs, as several good Samaritans and organizations are providing free food packets to street dwellers, they are found staying in various corners of the city like Thoppumpady Junction, Palluruthy, Ernakulam Town and South railway station premises, Kadavanthra, KSRTC bus stand and Kaloor stand premises, Palarivattom, Edappally, Jos Junction, etc.
Most orphanages and shelter homes have closed their doors to these people due to fear of infecting other inmates.
“There has been an increase in number of street dwellers. Some are gypsies. Also, there are many from other states too. During the Covid lockdown, many have come and ended up in different places,” said district social justice officer K K Subair.
“We have rescued around 1,700 people during this Covid period. Of this, around 1,300 people were in Ernakulam. Most of them are from other states like Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, Delhi, Bihar and Jharkhand. Currently, 36 inmates in our ‘Theruvuvellicham’ are mostly from these states,” said Murugan, secretary of NGO ‘Theruvoram’, which rescues people from streets.
He said that during the lockdown days, they had attended to calls from other districts like Kollam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Alappuzha.
Officials said that one of the biggest challenges they face was shortage of NGOs engaged in rescuing street dwellers. “Most NGOs are reluctant to come and attend to ill people. We hope that once the social volunteers’ policy becomes final, we will be able to get more agencies,” said an official.
“One of the most important needs of the hour is having palliative care centres for street dwellers. A good number of people that we could rescue had to be hospitalized. We have taken many to Kottayam and Alappuzha medical college for treatment,” said Murugan.
He said that they have had to cut down on going out because one of the two ambulances they had has a breakdown.
“We now operate with just one and are not able to reach everywhere on time. There is no shortage of people who need helpsaid Murugan.
