KOCHI: A small gate opens into a thick patch of greenery. The huge shady trees, planted all over the place offer a coolness that’s refreshing. On stepping inside the Palluruthy Relief Settlement at Veli one can see the inmates going about their work. The Settlement offers a roof for the destitute and homeless.
Around 200 inmates live like a joint family at the place. Most of them are mentally or physically challenged. They are attended by caring staff who offer all support. The medical assistance is provided by two doctors, two nurses, a caretaker and a psychiatrist. The home strives to change the concept of ‘dis’abled to ‘differently’ abled by making them self-sufficient and teaching them vocational courses in weaving, mat making,making notebooks, bags, envelopes, kitchen towels, rosaries, candles, etc. They also make many useful articles from waste materials.
“During my leisure time, I always think of creative ways of utilising waste,” says Agnes, their teacher who has been working with them for about 10 years. Many are adept at craft and enjoy creating new things, she said. The Palluruthy Relief Settlement was set up by the Maharaja of Kochi in 1941 for the rehabilitation of vagrants. It was then taken up by the Kochi Corporation and it functions in collaboration with the People’s Council for Social Justice (PCSJ).
The management committee is run by the PCSJ and the attender, ambulance, food, lodging and medicines are funded by the Corporation.
The inmates are usually brought to the home by the police and some of them are recommended by the Corporation Council. “The Sai group visits the inmates regularly and offer services. They do all the manual work, bathe them and help them with many other things. They are very sincere in everything they do,” says Dr Rangamani, a retired doctor, who has been serving them for long.
Festivals including Onam, Vishu and Christmas are celebrated and new clothes are gifted to them on these occasions.