Udupi, Apr 22: Two physically weak women, who were living in isolation in Pithrody village of Udupi district, have been rescuced by a team of activists.
Addressing presspersons here, Vishu Shetty, a social worker, said that he had taken the 108 ambulance and got the help of the members of a nearby bhajan mandali and rescued Narsi (55) and her sister Muthu (57) from their dark house at around 10 p.m. on Monday.
He then got them admitted to the District Government Hospital the same night. When he reached their house in a Dalit Colony in the village on Monday, he found that it had no power. The house was in a bad condition and therewere piles of garbage inside.
According to the information given to him by neighbours, the women rarely came out of the house and had been living in isolation for nearly 10 years. They reportedly survived on whatever was given to them by their neighbours.
He had gone to the house with the ambulance after getting a call. While Narsi was married and allegedly deserted by her husband, Muthu had not married.
Both the women were receiving treatment at the hospital and it was not clear why they were leading an isolated life.
He had informed the Department of Women and Child Welfare and the State Women’s Commission after getting the two women admitted.
The authorities should encourage anganwadi workers and teachers to inform them if any person or persons were leading such isolated lives, Mr. Shetty said.
Gracy Gonsalves, Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare, told The Hindu that the women had taken food and had been put on medication.
“They appear to be depressed as they were staying alone. After they recover fully, we will enquire the reasons behind their isolated lives and how long they had been living like this. Presently what they are saying is not coherent,” she said.
The department would try to find out if the women had any relatives who could take care of them. If not, the department would rehabilitate them in the State Home or other government institution, she said.
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