*Sherry M Jacob-Phillips* * * *Bangalore, November 15, 2010* An engineer equipped with an excellent command over English and cushioned by a well-paying job. Sounds perfect? Not really. This is the story of Doreswamy, a victim of manic depression, who took to begging after his family abandoned him. With nowhere to go, the 55-year-old knocked on Lizzie Gregory's door. All he wanted was shelter and time to nurse his wounded foot.
"He was outside my house for hours but didn't even ask me for food or water. He wanted to rest his foot and resume begging the next day. He lost his job and needed help. I knew this was my calling," says Lizzie Gregory, who later started a home for the destitute, schizophrenics and mentally ill, called Navachetana. "I took him to a hospital and doctors said his foot needed to be operated. I approached his family for medical expenses but they shooed me away. That was when I decided to use my savings for his surgery. I am glad I supported him because three years later, when he became better, he became my support," she says. A woman of determination, Lizzie came to Bangalore 20 years ago, and as she describes it, to live for a cause. With a plum government job in hand, she was still looking for something more satisfying. Doreswamy's case triggered her desire to make a difference. And Navachetana was born 19 years ago. Today, Navachetana houses 12 inmates, whose families either support their stay in this home or are abandoned. They are given occupational therapies, trained to manage stress and develop willpower to fight illness. "My brother had to drop out of school when he showed signs of mental illness. Doctors gave him electric shocks, but to no avail," says Ajay Sachdev, vice-chairman, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. "Look at my sibling now! Navachetana gave him the security and love he needed. Even pastors come and pray for these inmates. It helps," added Sachdev, who meets his brother every week. What makes Lizzie's case stand out among the rest? The inmates are taken care of under her expense. "I sacrificed everything I had. We conduct sweetmeat or greeting card-making workshops here. There are days we survived just on the money we got from selling these products," says Lizzie, who did her BSW from Andhra Pradesh. Despite advice to continue with her well-paying job, this `nightingale' followed her instincts and continued to serve the destitute. Just one fear grinds them all: will they be asked to vacate their home once again? Apart from administration issues, the inmates faced many a loathsome landlord, forcing them to shift house at least five times. "Many people call to appreciate my work. It's encouraging but it doesn't fill many stomachs. We couldn't maintain our rehab centre, hence we stopped it. Our problems will be solved if we have a permanent place to live in," she says, adding that a monthly house rent of Rs 14,000 is taking its toll now. Ask one of the oldest women in Navachetana what she likes to do, and pat comes the reply, "Cooking chicken!" Gracy Lobo (52) exclaims, "I'm perfectly alright. I came to this home without proper clothes and no hope. Today, I can cook for my friends here." >From taking her inmates to the hospital on a Luna moped to cooking and cleaning them up, Lizzie has done it all. While the 'abandoned' inmates engross themselves with sewing, gardening and household chores, they are relieved: they've found their home. Navachetana F-3 Villa, Ranka Colony, Bilekahalli, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore-76 Mobile: 9448162661 www.navachetanablr.org http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6926383.cms -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
