*21 Aug 2011* * * *A Selvaraj* *CHENNAI*: The mentally challenged woman rescued by the members of an NGO at Velappan Chavadi near Tiruverkadu on Thursday last was handed over to her family members on Saturday. S Vidyakar, founder-secretary of the NGO, Udhavum Karangal, first noticed Sophia (name changed) inside a dilapidated building near Velappanchavadi.
After gathering information about Sophia's personal information, a volunteer informed her sister who lives in Mylapore. "Initially, the family members refused to accept her but after repeated requests by the volunteers, they agreed to take her home," a volunteer said. Sources said Sophia had been mentally challenged from childhood and didn't go to school. Her parents married her off to a priest in 2006 but she didn't live with him. Over the past four years, sources said, her illness aggravated and she suddenly disappeared from her house in Kumbakonam a year ago. Finally, she was rescued by volunteers of Udhavum Karangal at Velappan Chavadi. As the NGO didn't lodge a complaint, the police didn't step in. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-21/chennai/29911307_1_mentally-ill-woman-sophia-udhavum-karangal Follow up to http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-19/chennai/29904497_1_disabled-man-mentally-ill-woman-volunteers -- 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
