Shunned by family, man finds home and work

KOCHI: When a haggard figure with overgrown hair, dressed in reeking rags and mumbling indecipherable words first reached the  Bethlehem Abhaya Bhavan in Perumbavoor, the best anyone could expect out of him was a vegetable existence. But nine months later, Rappai, is a changed man. Not only is he the master of his needs but is now in-charge of the masonry work at the home.“He started showing interest in masonry while he was on his recovery. Recently, he rebuilt an entire side-room. This sort of an improvement is very encouraging and it means that he is recalling his lost memories. Now, he also takes care of himself,” said Mary Estahppan, director, Bethlehem Abhaya Bhavan.Rappai, who is around 50-year-old, was brought to the rehabilitation home by the Kalamassery police. Rappai was found wandering in the streets of Tripunithura. When the police failed to find his relatives or friends, he was taken to the rehabilitation home. Even after all these months no one has come to him. “Due to the social stigma, most relatives are reluctant to take back their mentally ill family members. Even when such patients are capable of taking care of themselves, relatives are often seen to be reluctant to take care of them. Of the 236 inmates at the rehabilitation home, only around 15 are supported by the family,” said Mary Estahppan.Also, Rappai’s transformation is not rare as with the required medical help, many patients have managed to take up and fulfil tasks like coir making, nursing the bedridden at the home, cooking, stitching etc.Also, the government provides periodical medical checkup to the inmates. In addition, an inmate is provided with a sum of `200 a month for their maintenance. However, the staff here say that the funds are hardly enough to pay for the medicines of the inmates.