Homeless girl gets a home

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, August 28: A homeless girl of 18 years was found today crying outside Assam State Museum in the Ambari area in Guwahati. Reportedly, the mentally ill girl came by a rickshaw to the area. The rickshaw puller said he had found the girl helpless at Ujanbazaar. She was then confronted by a lady, Mi Das, who was selling food items.

“She was brought by a rickshaw puller here. She didn’t want to leave the rickshaw as she was in a state of shock. I made her sit beside me and gave her something to eat. But she refused to tell her me and whereabouts,” Mi Das said.

This reporter happened to pass by the area, and his attention was drawn to the girl. Upon asking about the girl Mi Das told him about the situation. Accordingly Child Line was called upon to take necessary steps. The arrival of Child Line workers bore no fruits as they expressed their reluctance to take the girl who, according to them, seemed to be over 18 years of age. They said that upon the age verification of the girl by the police, Child Line can take necessary steps if she is below 18 years of age.

After a long while with the intervention of Assam State Legal Services Authority Member secretary Mridul Saikia and sub-inspector of Latasil Police Station Diganta Bora, the girl who was indentified later as Mousumi, was admitted to Ashadeep, a home for homeless and mentally ill women located at Serabbhatti in the city.