Saroj Khaire

Approximately 40-years-old, she was malnourished, unable to walk or talk and was covered in bruises, suggesting that she had been beaten. She also seemed to be affected with a psychiatric disorder. The woman appeared oblivious to where she was and what she was doing, as though her mind and body were in an almost vegetative state.

 

After two days at the charity's shelter, it was as if the ice from a long hard winter had begun to thaw, and life started to return to this slight shadow of a human being.

 

But for many, the process of rehabilitation is long and hard and fraught with hurdles. In the case of this particular woman, she had an obsessive-compulsive disorder, causing her to spit profusely. Also as a consequence of malnutrition, intolerance to food resulted in severe diarrhoea. Such cases are challenging for the charity's nursing staff but with patience, miracles can and do happen.

 

On 4 November 2009, she eventually disclosed her name as Saroj Khaire and has since continued to make good progress. Saroj is now using the shelter's toilet and washing facilities, bathing herself every morning, as well as cleaning her own clothing.

 

She has also started to communicate, albeit very quietly and for limited periods. It has also been discovered that she has a reasonable level of education and can read and write competently, showing an interest whenever Leah and Usha request her to write something.

 

Neglected, sick and destitute women are a common sight on the streets of Nagpur. Sadly, hundreds are ignored and are instead allowed to exist in the most appalling circumstances. They are often victims of rape and other acts of violence, as well as suffering from multiple psychological and medical conditions.

 

Women In Need is able to detect such cases through the charity's field workers, who survey the city slums and hospital grounds, distributing leaflets, educating the general public and trying to locate women who are most in need.

 

Over the last 10 years, the charity has become well known in Nagpur and as a consequence, members of the general public and local police stations now report sightings, indicating that the public is gradually becoming more aware of those, who were otherwise ignored.

 

It is hoped that the mystery surrounding the awful condition in which Saroj Khaire was discovered, may eventually be solved. 

 

Questions still remain: Who beat her black and blue? Where is she from and who is her family? We hope to have these answers soon.