*15 March 2011* *Renuka Phadnis* *IN THEIR OWN WORLD:White Doves Home, behind the sub-jail, is run by Corrine Rasquinha (left).*
MANGALORE: As one enters the White Doves Home for the destitute near Jail Road in the city, enthusiastic and loud “Namastes” fill the room. While some people, who are mentally challenged, greet repeatedly, a few are silent, lost in thought. Others smile at visitors. It is difficult to imagine that the same people were lying on the streets of Mangalore till they were picked up, cleaned and helped by members of the White Doves, a non-governmental organisation working for the destitute. Corrine Rasquinha, founder of White Doves, whose members pick up the neglected people from the city's streets and gave them shelter, knows every individual. Annu was dumb and had one leg struck by polio. “He was given up for dead when we found him,” she said. Shankar could speak but he had never spoken a word till date. Sanjay, from Bihar, and Pinto were both challenged mentally. Sanjay had a mobile number tattooed on his arm. “Sanjay's family does not want him. We called up the number and his brother, a lorry driver, promised to come. He is yet to come,” she said. This is one of the two homes of the organisation. The home at Mannagudda has 43 people and the home near Jail Road has 46. The latest to have joined the home are four more men, and five women. Of the women, two are HIV positive. While some have been at the home from two to eight years, one person has been at the home for more than 10 years. For those unfamiliar with the inmates, it was difficult to know if they were happy or sad. ”They eat, sleep, pray. There is no fighting. They are all happy, contented," said Ms. Rasquinha. When I was young, I would run away from challenged people. Many people now ask me if I am not afraid. I trust in God and they look upon me as a mother. I will take care of them as long as I can," she said. One can argue that there are many such instances where individuals shelter the poor. However, what distinguishes this effort is that Ms. Rasquinha has herself battled cancer. At one time, last year, the situation was such that, she said, "Medical science had nothing to offer me...the doctors had given up hope, giving me only a couple of hours to live." Perhaps it is those experiences that drive her to serve the poorest of the poor. ** http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/15/stories/2011031555620200.htm -- 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
