Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru Oct 6: White doves reunited 42-year-old Manjunath with his family after an year, on Tuesday, October 6.
Manjunath, a resident of Haveri district was missing since one year and two months. During the monsoon of 2019 Corrine Rasquinha received a call from Central Market in Mangaluru regarding a man lying on the road for the past three days. He had a foot injury and was unable to walk or stand.
Realising his plight the White Doves team wasted no time to reach the spot. The staff carried Manjunath and brought him to White Doves shelter. It was found that the wound was infested with maggots. Manjunath was then cleant, given a bath, some food and then shifted to a ward. Within two months he fully recovered and was able to provide his home telephone number. On contacting his mother she expressed her reservation on taking him back, given that Manjunath was an alcoholic. The manager Jerald Fernandes contacted the family several times, however, they tried to dodge the matter of taking him back claiming to financially weak or requesting for some more time.
White Doves then contacted the SP of Haveri and the concerned police station insisted the family to take Manjunath back, stating that he has been sober for over 14 months.
Infact after the morning prayers on Tuesday, Manjunath requested the manager to phone his mother so that he could ask for forgiveness. His prayer was answered as his father and older brother arrived to take him back to Haveri. Manjunath is a divorcee and has two children who are studying in high school. Eager to start a new leaf, Manjunath promised White Doves that he will abstain from drinking, respect his parents and work to take care of his children.
This is the 391st reunion at White Doves. We feel happy that our mission has been fulfilled which involves rehabilitating destitute and giving them an opportunity to start life afresh.
About White Doves
White Doves the premier NGO that Mangaluru is proud to have, has contributed alot to the society and the city as a whole. Taking care of the destitute who have been found on the streets and bus shelters of Mangaluru. Their service during the lockdown and the pandemic was well appreciated by even Karnataka chief minister Yediyurappa through a personal letter and also by the district administration. They fed over 70,000 meals and distributed over 5,000 food kits to the homeless, destitute and migrants.
White Doves runs a 200-bed one of a kind facility in Mangaluru. They have been selflessly taking care of the destitute brought in from the streets who are in terrible conditions. They have rehabilitated over 610 destitute and have reunited over 390 with their families all over India and Nepal.
There are 140 destitute presently being taken care by the White Doves in their psychiatric nursing destitute home at Maroli.
White Doves also runs a home for children and takes care of their all round development and education. White Doves has been feeding the hungry on the streets for the last 25 years on a daily basis.