In a year, over 2,000 corpses in Mumbai unclaimed

You have seen them at railway stations, on busy roads and near bus stops. They either stare blankly ahead or indulge in strange antics while speaking incoherently to themselves. These are the 'homeless zombies' who nobody cares for. A recent RTI query revealed that, on an average, more than 2,000 such individuals die unknown in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai out of the total 95,000 deaths registered every year.

In America, the unidentified dead are often called John Doe or Jane Doe, depending on their gender.

"In our country those who die unknown are mostly the homeless with mental sickness such as schizophrenia, dementia or other problems. They keep wandering around like dazed zombies as there is no help forthcoming,'' said Anil Galgali, RTI activist and chairperson of the Mumbai based NGO Athak Seva Sangh.

Based on his recent RTI findings, Galgali said, "According to the latest National Crime Record data, Maharashtra recorded 5,906 unknown deaths in 2012. This figure includes 1,100 unclaimed bodies in Mumbai's government railway police (GRP) jurisdiction itself. Beyond the railway zone, every year, more than 800 unknown deaths are registered in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai,'' said Galgali.

Galgali had written to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to start a dedicated helpline and shelters for the homeless. Despite repeated attempts, Chavan could not be reached.

Pastor Biju Samuel of Panvel's SEAL (Social & Evangelical Association For Love) Ashram for the homeless, said, "It is mainly private NGOs which pick up the really bad homeless cases from the streets to treat them. Otherwise, they do die as John Does or Jane Does, and end up in municipal crematoriums. Why isn't the state government doing anything for these poor, helpless souls?''

Pastor Samuel added that even if conscientious citizens call up the police emergency number '100' to help a homeless person in distress, the aid comes rather late and reluctantly.

"The state government must certainly have a special helpline for mentally ill homeless persons, as they are completely clueless and not even able to beg to survive," said Brijesh Arya of Beghar Adhikar Abhyan. Arya added that on June 25 this year, two women hawkers died in the heavy rains at Mumbai's Girgaum Chowpatty beach as they could not find a proper shelter.

"If the normal homeless can also die due to lack of roof over their heads, imagine what the mentally ill face all alone in their warped frame of mind,'' said Arya.

In 2010, the Supreme Court had ordered night shelters in 62 major Indian cities. BMC also declared seven shelters in Mumbai. Arya, though, said that these shelters are already occupied by permanent residents such as street children. "Why can't the state reserve a few spaces only for the homeless?'' said Galgali.

Monday 19 August 2013

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