Volunteers of two organisations provide a lifetime of dignity to beggars of Cuttack

Express News Service

CUTTACK: Very evening, Surendra Kumar Behera and his group of six volunteers scan the slim lanes of Cuttack to seek out homeless beggars sleeping on pavements or the verandahs of closed outlets.  They provide them a packet of meals and water and urge them to shift to a shelter residence.

“Some agree, many don’t because they have become used to alms,” mentioned Surendra. But the volunteers don’t cease their drive. Like Surendra and his group, Manisha Behera and her six volunteers look out for beggars roaming on the streets and sitting close to temples within the mornings.

The rescued beggars are rehabilitated in two Anandalayas – shelter properties for beggars, arrange by Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) and division of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) at Kajipatna in Ward 56 and Bentakar in 42 Mouza.

Both Surendra and Manisha aren’t solely managing the Anandalayas but additionally counselling the beggars to shift to the amenities for a greater life. While Surendra and his staff belong to a social outfit Vikash, Manisha is a member of Patita Udhar Samiti. They have been serving to the civic physique in its drive to rehabilitate the beggars within the metropolis and supply them a lifetime of dignity.

The drive began on April 15. So far, 78 beggars have been rescued and stored within the two Anandalayas. The amenities have the capability to accommodate 100 beggars every.

While Vikash has been entrusted with the operation and administration of Anandalaya at Kajipatna the place 33 aged beggars have been rehabilitated, Patiata Udhar Samiti Pati is accountable for the power at Bentakar the place 45 differently-abled beggars have been housed.

While the inmates are supplied meals 4 instances a day, the amenities are geared up with secure consuming water, TV and cots, amongst different issues. “We also conduct several activities for them at the centre like yoga and kitchen gardening,” mentioned Manisha. 

She added that though it is vitally troublesome to persuade the beggars and convey them to the shelters, they just like the life right here after getting used to it. “The morning prayers and yoga are having a great impact on the inmates,” she added. 

The SSEPD division spends Rs 3,403 on every inmate each month and individuals are allowed to make donations to run the Anandalayas. Several aged inmates in each the amenities mentioned they’re completely happy to be getting good high quality meals day-after-day.

“We do not have to sleep empty stomach now. At least, the last phase of our lives will be comfortable,” mentioned 62-year-old differently-abled Manasi Barik who used to beg in entrance of a temple. She has been rehabilitated at Bentakar’s Anandalaya. 

CMC Slum Improvement Officer Swetapadma Satpathy mentioned there are plans to open one other Anandalaya within the metropolis quickly. “We are also planning to impart skill training to some of the beggars taking into consideration their health condition and willingness to learn and work,” she mentioned.