She was randomly hobbling on the street a bit ahead of Hub mall and just before Mrinaltai Gore flyover at Goregaon east. I was heading home from work at 6.30pm when I saw her limping using her stick -- she was top naked.
I did a double take.
She sat down below the flyover on the footpath and began pulling leaves and wiping her private area. She was clearly mentally unstable. And muttering to herself. I began dialling 103 and 100 and after a couple of tries I got through 103 and explained what was happening and someone needed to come and help.
Meanwhile one of the watchmen or a labourer came and offered her a workers shirt to cover herself up. She refused it. But still they were able to drape it around her shoulders. Such a humbling moment that was... To watch those who barely have a piece of material to cover themselves... Daily male labourers offering her clothing and concerned she was exposing herself. Educated people for the hour long drama were walking past, left, right, in front of her, over her... In their happy place. No complaints. I told one of the workers who said why was I doing this and why wasn't any other educated person helping... I told him to not worry about others... Just do the best you can. I hope he understood what I was getting at.
Then they tried to button it up which she started getting angry about and then they left her alone after I intervened saying don't force her. They got her water and some food but she thew the food at me and poured the water on herself. I put out a tweet, I think then. And also kept dialling 100 and 103. 20 mins had passed. These helplines take forever. There seems to be no platform which has any list of help for anyone with mental issues.
Gave up searching on Google. She then began to cross the street and so I followed her till she reached across the road and made sure she was safely sitting down.
I tweeted again asking for help but I don't think anyone in Mumbai has anything. A female constable finally arrived at about 7.20 followed by some other policemen.
The struggle was not to get her in the van... Of which two three construction workers of the metro helped as the policemen didn't seem inclined. Once in, she laid down on the floor of the van and tried to sleep. They threw her stick away because they were scared she would hit someone. The challenge was they didn't know what to do with her. There is no system in place which assists people or children who are mentally ill. None of the few NGOs I called could I get through. The cops were grumbling about the process and the paperwork and how the female constable may have to do a longer shift. It was really sad and I didn't say anything because it wasn't my place. I think they need sensitivity training first and foremost because they didn't know how to talk to her, even when they were talking to me they were coming across as very insensitive and I don't blame them because this is not their area of expertise. But I guess the learning comes from having someone in your family who has similar woes and the way you care for them is the only way you'll understand why I did what I did last evening.
I went with them in the van and we went to the Goregaon police station. This was my first time in a police can. Yes, I was a little nervous. During the bumpy ride, while the van took a sharp turn, I fell on her and she screamed and scratched me... I wasn't frightened for myself but more for her and what all she must have gone through in life for her to scream that petrified scream.
When we reached the police station, they motioned to her to come out. She struggled without her stick. And sat quietly outside the entrance of the station, lost in her own world. I went in and stood twiddling my thumbs while everyone was speaking in rapid fire Marathi.
They finally acknowledged me and took down my information and how did I spot her and what circumstances led me to help her.i detailed all of that. Then the night inspector in charge got his staff to start calling the list of helplines to find anyone who would take her in. After about 15 mins I asked them what is going on and will she be taken someplace safe because it wasn't safe for her on the street. This cop says - don't you have bharosa on the police. I said no, truthfully. He asked me the same question 3 times and all the time I said no and then he says... Then you take her to your home.
The inspector figured that a fight would ensue cuz we were arguing in raised voices so I clarified that they didn't have a system in place which made me question if I could depend on them to do the right thing and get her to a shelter home.
At 8.40 the inspector told me to go home and that he would take responsibility for her and that a complaint was lodged.
Called the inspector today. They took her to a chembur home but they said they accept women of a younger age. So she came back with them and stayed the day at the police station where they did medical tests on her and tomorrow they will be taking her to a home in Byculla.
Something had to be done. Something still has to be done... That's all I'm gonna say.
I did a double take.
She sat down below the flyover on the footpath and began pulling leaves and wiping her private area. She was clearly mentally unstable. And muttering to herself. I began dialling 103 and 100 and after a couple of tries I got through 103 and explained what was happening and someone needed to come and help.
Meanwhile one of the watchmen or a labourer came and offered her a workers shirt to cover herself up. She refused it. But still they were able to drape it around her shoulders. Such a humbling moment that was... To watch those who barely have a piece of material to cover themselves... Daily male labourers offering her clothing and concerned she was exposing herself. Educated people for the hour long drama were walking past, left, right, in front of her, over her... In their happy place. No complaints. I told one of the workers who said why was I doing this and why wasn't any other educated person helping... I told him to not worry about others... Just do the best you can. I hope he understood what I was getting at.
Then they tried to button it up which she started getting angry about and then they left her alone after I intervened saying don't force her. They got her water and some food but she thew the food at me and poured the water on herself. I put out a tweet, I think then. And also kept dialling 100 and 103. 20 mins had passed. These helplines take forever. There seems to be no platform which has any list of help for anyone with mental issues.
Gave up searching on Google. She then began to cross the street and so I followed her till she reached across the road and made sure she was safely sitting down.
I tweeted again asking for help but I don't think anyone in Mumbai has anything. A female constable finally arrived at about 7.20 followed by some other policemen.
The struggle was not to get her in the van... Of which two three construction workers of the metro helped as the policemen didn't seem inclined. Once in, she laid down on the floor of the van and tried to sleep. They threw her stick away because they were scared she would hit someone. The challenge was they didn't know what to do with her. There is no system in place which assists people or children who are mentally ill. None of the few NGOs I called could I get through. The cops were grumbling about the process and the paperwork and how the female constable may have to do a longer shift. It was really sad and I didn't say anything because it wasn't my place. I think they need sensitivity training first and foremost because they didn't know how to talk to her, even when they were talking to me they were coming across as very insensitive and I don't blame them because this is not their area of expertise. But I guess the learning comes from having someone in your family who has similar woes and the way you care for them is the only way you'll understand why I did what I did last evening.
I went with them in the van and we went to the Goregaon police station. This was my first time in a police can. Yes, I was a little nervous. During the bumpy ride, while the van took a sharp turn, I fell on her and she screamed and scratched me... I wasn't frightened for myself but more for her and what all she must have gone through in life for her to scream that petrified scream.
When we reached the police station, they motioned to her to come out. She struggled without her stick. And sat quietly outside the entrance of the station, lost in her own world. I went in and stood twiddling my thumbs while everyone was speaking in rapid fire Marathi.
They finally acknowledged me and took down my information and how did I spot her and what circumstances led me to help her.i detailed all of that. Then the night inspector in charge got his staff to start calling the list of helplines to find anyone who would take her in. After about 15 mins I asked them what is going on and will she be taken someplace safe because it wasn't safe for her on the street. This cop says - don't you have bharosa on the police. I said no, truthfully. He asked me the same question 3 times and all the time I said no and then he says... Then you take her to your home.
The inspector figured that a fight would ensue cuz we were arguing in raised voices so I clarified that they didn't have a system in place which made me question if I could depend on them to do the right thing and get her to a shelter home.
At 8.40 the inspector told me to go home and that he would take responsibility for her and that a complaint was lodged.
Called the inspector today. They took her to a chembur home but they said they accept women of a younger age. So she came back with them and stayed the day at the police station where they did medical tests on her and tomorrow they will be taking her to a home in Byculla.
Something had to be done. Something still has to be done... That's all I'm gonna say.
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