Roopa Lal & Avinash Shahi
Port Blair, Apr 13: On Thursday evening a photograph of a Homeless man sleeping near a shop along with a few street dogs was uploaded in social media platform ‘Facebook’ by an alert citizen. The photo was uploaded by Mrs. Supriya Dutta, a Facebook user, who tagged Andaman Sheekha newspaper for help in this regard.
According to Mrs. Supriya Dutta, she saw the old man near vegetable market of Bhatu Basti and when she asked about his home and his children, he was crying profusely. When asked whether he would like to stay in some old age home, if arranged, he reportedly said yes. The old man told Mrs. Supriya Dutta that he roams around in day time and at evening hours anyone can find him near the market.
When the matter taken up with the Secretary of Social Welfare, Mrs. Neha Bansal at evening hours through WhatsApp message, the Secretary responded positively and showing tremendous amount of social responsibility, she sent staffs of social department in search of the old man at night.
Finally the old man was located within few hours and by late evening he was shifted to Old Age Home of Ferrargunj and given clean bed, cloths and food. The Director of Social Welfare Department, Mr. Shailendra Kumar, Mr. James, Mrs. Rita and Mr. Pradeep Kumar of social welfare department also walked extra miles to make sure that the old man gets a shelter as early as possible.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha Mrs. Neha Bansal, the Secretary of Social Welfare said that the old man is Mr. Khitish Das and has been shifted to Abbudyaya Home, Ferrargunj.
“He is now feeling well and comfortable. I feel terrible when I see older people or children abandoned and in distress. We are happy to be able to provide shelter to a needy person,” she added.
Andaman Sheekha team visited the old age home of Ferrargunj this morning to meet Mr. Khitish Das, who said he has been treated well in this new home. He said that he has a son and a brother, who live in Mainland India. According to him he used to live in Diglipur earlier and was working in a Construction company some years back. It is yet not known as why Mr. Khitish Das is homeless as it is very difficult to make him talk but the good thing is that Mr. Das is safe now and is being looked after well.
This is a great story where alert citizen, social media and dedicated government staffs worked together in a very responsible manner to bring positive change in society. Showing extra ordinary dedication towards society, earlier also the social welfare department under the leadership of Mrs. Neha Bansal, Secretary Social Welfare had provided shelter to a homeless man, Mr. K C Paul, after a news article was published by Andaman Sheekha.
Good work