|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 10 April 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
A home for the unwanted by Indira P. Dahanayake Chamila lost her mother when she was just nine years - another victim of cancer. Her death made a lasting impression in little Chamila, who transformed her loss into compassion for the elders.
She filled the void of a mother's love by caring for the old and the destitute she met on the road. Often she kept away from school to care for them. "I had many complaints from the school authorities, as they wanted to know her whereabouts," says brother K. T. Ranjith who using his sister's compassion as a springboard set up a private home for the old and needy, which now has thirteen inmates. The home named 'Orero' provides the amenities of life-shelter, food and love, for these people, with Chamila, providing most of the care. Ranjith (who is the managing director of the home) and Chamila set up 'Orero' in the salubrious village of Kalegedihena, in Thihariya, with the help of a Japanese philanthropist named 'Orero'. The building was gifted to a Buddhist monk, to be used as shelter for the destitute. The monk who was known to Ranjith offered the buildings as a temporary abode for the destitute until a permanent place could be found. Ranjith, a businessman by profession spends his private income and time to care for the inmates, many who have been ill-treated and kicked out by their families. The inmates repay his love and concern with their blessings and love. Sister Chamila devotes all her time cooking, washing clothes, cleaning and bathing the inmates, with the help of two females. "We do not charge any money from the inmates", says Ranjith, but adds, "I do not like it to be sanctioned as a charitable organisation because then I will be able to have a say in the selection of inmates". Ranjith says preference is given to the destitutes who have been discarded by their families. Pointing at a short middle-aged woman who had only a few teeth in her mouth, he says "When I found her in Tewatta, Ragama, she was chained to a wooden cabin used as a kennel". When Ranjith brought her to Orero home she looked fearful with elongated canines in her upper jaws. The woman had been treated like a dog by her half sisters and brothers. She had been fed on left overs and scraps often thrown at her from a distance. "When she came here, she was infested with ticks," explains Ranjith adding that when his sister took her for her bath she had noticed wounds in delicate places of her body where the ticks had eaten through her body. "I bathed her in infusions of herbal water in which Margosa, Nidikumba, Pavatta, leaves had been added", says Ranjith adding that the woman had taken awhile to respond to the love and care. Her speech which had no resemblance to human language had also gradually became audible. "She makes an effort to make herself understood by others", he says. Recalling the initial period Ranjith says, "When I took her by bus for a tooth extraction, the other commuters got up and sat far away from her, through fear. It was very disheartening to watch her being ill-treated like that". "Now she is very protective towards me", he claims explaining that whenever he climbs a ladder or carries any weight she is there to help him, often holding on to the ladder. "She even speaks a few words to me, he says, proudly adding "I have taught her to be courteous to my visitors here". The woman demonstrated this by greeting the writer in traditional fashion, keeping her palms together. At another corner of the room is a very dainty and talkative old woman who prefers to lay down on a setee rather than sit up. She has to be moved about in a wheelchair. This unmarried female had been discarded by her well to do family after acquiring all her wealth. An Octogenarian, the woman keeps grumbling, complaining and could be even cruel at times. "She slapped my sister recently when she tried to give her bath. My sister had a slight eye injury, and had to be rushed to hospital. Most of the inmates have hot arguments, but are too weak to be violent." says Ranjith. At the far end is another inmate much younger than the others. She too is disabled, and has to be moved about in a wheelchair. "The woman was beaten up till her legs were fractured beyond repair", says Ranjith, explaining that she can never be cured as all the nerves in the legs are dead, and therefore she has to be on a wheelchair for life. Ranjith found her in the street dragging herself on her damaged foot begging for survival. The inmates start their day by offering a Buddha puja and afterwards take part in breakfast. The noon meal consists of rice, vegetables and fish. No meat is served as a principle. After lunch they are served dessert and fruit. Tea if provided by a donor,is served with cakes, biscuits and sweets. A male inmate who solemnly sits in a corner relates yet another pathetic tale. A retired research officer at the Agrarian Research Institute, he is a non-smoker and a teetotaller who had been chased away from home by his wife and children because of his sober habits. "I am very comfortable here, I have no worries and I am quite content," he says. Orero home, with its neatly laid beds, with clean linen and mattresses complete with mosquito nets offers a place of love and care for those who have been discarded by family. But much more could be done to make this place truly comfortable for these people hungry for a loving word, a tender touch, and a place to rest their weary bodies. The home lacks many facilities such as fans, and a colour Television set. The present T.V. set is black and white and is small in size and is not suitable for viewing for inmates with weak eye sights, who find it a strain to their eyes.
|
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
