Alappuzha: Kerala police assist social worker to aid the homeless during lockdown

Even as nation battles vel Coronavirus pandemic, police and socially conscious people are coming toger to help those in need. One such social worker is S Murukan, who has been helping homeless and destitute in Kerala for years. He has w started to help people living on  streets of Alappuzha with hardly anyone to look after m during coronavirus lockdown.

Although this time, Kerala Police has come to provide a helping hand to Murukan, which too has been playing its part in rehabilitating destitute and people with mental illness. Those who are found living on ros, in shabby conditions, are taken to a police station, given a haircut and a bath before being sent to designated rehabilitation centres.

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720 people rescued

In coordination with S Murukan-founded ruvoram NGO, police have rescued 720 people from across Kerala since countrywide lockdown came into effect late March. Murukan said that he is getting little help when it comes to financial assistance and is finding it difficult to run rehabilitation centre amidst restrictions put in place to check spre of coronavirus.

"Since imposition of countrywide lockdown, our team has rescued 720 people from across state. Police help us to identify se people, but I am also facing financial issues in carrying forward work," Murukan said. "I have spent a considerable part of my life on streets. I was in an orphan for 10 years and w I run this NGO," he ded.

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Cop lauds initiative

Circle Inspector of Mararikulam, Midhun, said that Murukan's rehabilitation efforts is a great initiative which is why cops are helping him. "We come across many such people during our patrol. y are given food, clean clos to wear and n y are sent to rehabilitation centres run by ruvoram," Midhu said.

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Coronavirus outbreak

Kerala has been successful in containing COVID-19 outbreak and flattening infection curve, although it was first state to report a case in India. It currently has only 37 active cases of infection, including three reported on Tuesday, as against 462 patients who have recovered and three deaths.  nationwide lockdown which was initially imposed for a period of 21-day has been furr extended till May 17.

(With ANI inputs)

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