Kerala - Kollam   

Ashraya comes to their rescue

Staff Reporter

GETS A NEW LEASE OF LIFE: Superintendent of Kottarakara Taluk Hospital N.N. Murali handing over two old men who had been living in the hospital verandah by taking alms to Ashraya secretary Kalayapuram Jose near Kollam on Monday.

KOLLAM: Two old men who were living with the generosity shown by patients and others coming to the Kottarakara Taluk Hospital have found shelter at the Kottarakara-based charitable institution, Ashraya.

The two men, Balakrishnan (74) and B. Surendran (73), who were abandoned by their relatives, had been living on the verandah of the taluk hospital since the past couple of months.

It was following a request from Superintendent of the Hospital N.N. Murali that Ashraya gave shelter to the two. The two men were formally entrusted to Ashraya secretary Kalayapuram Jose on Monday.

Mr. Jose said that Balakrishnan, a native of Kunnicode, had worked in the Army. But since he had lost all records, he was not entitled for pension. Some of his relatives deceived him of his small house and property and then threw him out. He then took shelter on the premises of the Kottarakara Maha Ganapathi Temple and made a living by begging.

One day, he suddenly felt that he was having visual impairment. With the help of the local people, he got admitted to the taluk hospital. Though he was discharged after a few days, Balakrishnan had nowhere to go and took shelter in the verandah of the hospital. He lived there taking alms from the hospital visitors.

Surendran, a native of Veliyam, too had a similar plight. After his wife's death, his children allegedly ignored him. A few months ago while bathing in a stream he slipped and fell. The fall had brought him to the taluk hospital where he underwent treatment. Since his children totally ignored him, he started living in the hospital verandah.

Mr. Jose said that when the hospital authorities informed him about the plight of the two old men, he was only too happy to give them shelter at Ashraya. On their part, Balakrishnan and Surendran got a fresh lease of life at Ashraya. Now they have friends to talk and good meals.

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