Elders rescued from stations on the rise

He was brought to Little Drops, a home for destitute old, by social workers in association with the Railway Police Force, but the senior citizen, is yet to come to terms with the new place. However, he is not alone, according to social workers and the RPF, as close to 8-10 such people are rescued from city railway stations every month, apart from those with mental illness.

S M Venkatesh, founder chairman, Agal Foundation, who rescued the man, says, “A large percentage of them are the elderly, apart from those with mental illness. There are a number of them from neighbouring states. They are in a state of shock, unable to express or even move. Since dementia is common among the elderly, they are looked at like a burden.” 

According to N Azhagarsamy, Inspector, Railway Police Force, people are found mostly at the major stations like Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore and some at the suburban stations.  “We alert social workers, who send the rescued people to NGOs, while efforts are made to reunite them with their family. We don’t know if they are abandoned or just lost, but in many cases it is the former.” 

However, out of 200 people rescued, just one is able to get back to the family because the families don’t want them, says Venkatesh. E J Paul, founder trustee of Little Drops, says that most of the rescued inmates at the centre are from lower income families. “It is basically due to lack of love, coupled with financial issues,” he says, adding that the person rescued is given time to settle and feel secure to talk about their whereabouts.