For ?em, it?s home away from home

DESPITE HAVING their own homes, many are living in the destitute home, Snehalaya, in the city. They include mentally and visually challenged, deaf and dumb. Many of them are suffering from diseases like cancer and tuberculosis. When they writhe in pain, their near and dear ones are not around them. But, for them, Mother Teresa?s Snehalaya has turned into a home away home. Mukesh Khanna (15) left Nepal when he was seven in search of his mother who was allegedly murdered by his father.

DESPITE HAVING their own homes, many are living in the destitute home, Snehalaya, in the city. They include mentally and visually challenged, deaf and dumb. Many of them are suffering from diseases like cancer and tuberculosis.

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When they writhe in pain, their near and dear ones are not around them. But, for them, Mother Teresa’s Snehalaya has turned into a home away home.

Mukesh Khanna (15) left Nepal when he was seven in search of his mother who was allegedly murdered by his father. So he landed here. Now, studying in class II, he is suffering from epilepsy. His story is replete with pangs of hunger and trauma. As this boy could not communicate properly because of the mental trauma he suffered from, in his tender age, he had to seek the help of another person.

Similarly, mentally challenged Amit Jaiswal (17) is absorbed in his own world. He loves to play carom at night as it gives him some relief.

Tinku, a deaf and dumb boy from Kolkata, listlessly sits in the corridor and makes some gestures. Perhaps, he tries to say something.

There are many others, who, being discarded by their family members, have preferred the destitute home to family.

One such person is Vipin Khanna. He said he came to this place by choice as he was left with no option. A postgraduate, he was a bank employee at Pratapgarh.
Deprived of home by his brother and sister- in- law as he had developed some problem in the feet, Vipin shared his most poignant experience saying, “Once my sister came to feed the destitute here. When she saw me, she was shocked and cried out: ‘Vipin Bhaiya, how come you are here’?”

Prakash Awasthi (62) had a similar tale to tell. Prakash said he had been living in this destitute home for the last eight years. “I was shattered when my business failed. My family brought me here. But I will remain here, come what may,” he said.

The story of Vineeta is no different. She said she had two sons and a daughter. She remembers their names properly. “My home is in Calcutta. My relatives brought me here because of my sore feet,” she added with an oblique smile on her sad face.

Rajkumar, resident of Lal Bangla, who came as a lonely person, said he had met with an accident and was brought here. Now Rajkumar works here as an attendant. “When I lost my parents, I had no place to go. So I remained here,” he said. Now, he looks after the sick and the needy with a missionary zeal.

Sister Lucy said Snehalaya was known to every rickshaw puller in the city. They bring the needy ones here.