Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 2: Social workers Nityananda Olakadu and Taranath Mesta rescued a lady from Delhi who was found to be facing a crisis in the city on January 31 and had provided her temporary shelter. Olakadu and Taranath Mesta along with well-known social worker, Vishu Shetty, have succeeded in providing safe haven to the lady in Sri Sai Sevashram in Manjeshwar, duly complying with legal formalities associated thereto.

The lady, aged around 35, who could converse only in Hindi, had reached Pejawar Math here on January 31. She narrated her tale of woes to the inhabitants of the Math. The Math staff conveyed this information to social worker, Nityananda Olakadu. Olakadu went there along with friend, Taranath Mesta, and contacted the lady at the Math.

During their discussions, the woman told them that she badly wanted a roof over her head and that she has chosen the path of devotion. "I was leading a life of spirituality in an Ashram at Delhi. There I came in contact with a person named Rajesh Kamath from this region. We also got married. Thereafter he went away. I do not know his address and other details. I came here looking for him," she stated. The social workers found that she was not very clear in providing details and her thought process was not very cohesive.

On the face of it, the lady appears to have undergone exploitation and mental shock. She speaks about devotional path and has several pictures of religious and spiritual personalities and saints apart from religious books and clothes. She claims herself to be an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. Sometime she claims that she had come here to go round the world to achieve welfare of the people at the instructions of her Guru.

As the lady is good looking with attractive features, there was the possibility of anti social elements misusing her helpless situation. If the lone woman had roamed around streets seeking help, she would have been preyed on by lechers.

Initially the lady was provided shelter in Karunya Ashram at Korangrapady. After she said that she happens to be a Brahmin who can consume only vegetarian food sans onions and garlic, with a peaceful place to meditate on the Lord, the social activists had to find some alternative place for her. Because, non-vegetarian food is served at Karunya Ashram. The trio, after careful discussions, considered the aspect and identified Sri Sai Sevashram in Daiguli, Manjeshwar to be the ideal spot for the lady as the Ashram has well-equipped accommodations for the lady.They contacted convener of the Ashram, Dr Uday Kumar, and told him about the woman's plight. The convener promised to provide shelter. The three then completed legal processes and admitted the lady to the said Ashram onFebruary 1. Vishu Shetty arranged for the vehicle to Manjeshwar free of cost.

Station house officer of women's police station here, Mukta Bai, subjected the lady to questioning. She collected details from her and she has since been trying to find out about the family of the lady and her actual place of residence. She also said words of encouragement to the woman and lent services of women police personnel when sending the lady to Manjeshwar.

Dr Uday Kumar said that the woman would be counselled and her health would be checked. He added that facilities as per the requirement of the woman would be provided at his Ashram. He exuded confidence that in a phased manner, they would be able to find out about her family and residence.

When the three social workers met Paryaya Sri Vidyadheehateertha Swamiji and explained about the helpless condition of the woman, the Swamiji provided eight gunny bags full of high quality Sona Masuri rice, which was handed over to the Ashram convener.

The general public have been lavishly praising Nityananda Olakadu, Vishu Shetty and Taranath Mesta for their noble deed. Palimar Math, Karunya Ashram, Sri Sai Sevashram and staff of women's police station have also been congratulated for their ready response to the situation.

The woman gave her name as Rinku Sharma, daughter of Sureet Singh and Lalmati Devi, running a beauty parlour at New Delhi. A release by the social workers have sought details abuot the lady from people knowing anything about her, which can be dispatched to her parents if known. Alternatively they can contact women's police station in the city, they said.