Maya Tirupude

MAYA Tirupude was discovered wandering on a deserted highway, a significant distance from the city of Nagpur.

It was May, when mid-day temperatures reach a scorching 48 degrees Celsius. Such heat kills. Alone and without water, Maya was dangerously exposed. 

Leah and Usha stopped the car a small distance away from the figure and cautiously approached. Quite often, destitute women are subjected to abduction and rape and are therefore terrified at the sight of an approaching vehicle. However, on this occasion, perhaps due to dehydration and exhaustion, the woman in question was subdued and agreed to get in the car.

In a state of neglect and menstruating, her clothing was blood stained and covered in flies. She had the familiar smell of human disrepair and abandonment that Usha and Leah have become accustomed to.

Water was given cautiously and questions asked. There was a hint that the woman was willing to talk but as she tried to vocalise the words, there was no sound to be heard. She was clearly traumatised. 

Considering the location in which she was discovered, an empty highway used predominantly by lorry drivers, it's reasonable to assume the woman had been dumped on the roadside by someone, perhaps a group of men, who most probably raped her.

At Women In Need's drop-in centre, a routine check up by the charity's physician was accompanied by blood tests to rule out Hepatitis B, HIV and other complications, such as anemia. She was then bathed and fed and appeared to be feeling more relaxed. Although she couldn't vocalise her feelings, the woman was willing to respond to questions and so with a piece of paper and pen in hand, wrote her name - Maya.

A psychiatric assessment the next day confirmed that Maya was indeed traumatised but that within time would be able to talk again. However, her blood test sadly revealed that she was HIV positive.

There is always a sense of enthusiasm amongst WIN's staff when a new case arrives at the charity's drop-in centre. They busy into action, playing an active role in coaxing tangible information that may lead to the discovery of family or quite often a crime, usually an act of violence or sexual harassment.

Two months after her discovery, Maya was talking and making significant progress. She provided details of her family: a husband and two children from Nagpur. She also revealed that she had suffered from mental illness following the delivery of her second child.

Maya expressed herself with a remarkable depth of understanding and acceptance of the misfortunes she had experienced in her life and the schizophrenia she was suffering from. She also wanted to meet her children, but a visit to her home by Leah and Usha, revealed that her family wasn't willing to accept her back.

Our experience is that mental illness is quite often misunderstood or that family members simply don't want the responsibility - the burden of caring for a sufferer.  With inadequate government support, many such individuals are forced onto the streets and remain there until disease, accident or even murder leads to their demise.

Unknown, unwanted, unseen. Thousands of destitute sufferers of mental illnesses exist in the most appalling conditions. In relation to women, they are prey to constant rape and abuse. 

Maya eventually met her 18-year-old daughter. The only memory the young woman had of her mother, was that of someone affected by mental illness. 

Today mother and daughter are trying to re-build their broken relationship. However, Maya's husband refuses to acknowledge her existence, as does her eldest son.

Our hope for Maya is that she will eventually be able to learn new skills, which may help in her journey towards an independent and productive life. Many such destitute women have to relearn the basics, from toileting to adhering to a constructive daily routine.

Maya has come a long way and until she reaches her goals we will continue to offer support and encouragement.