Disabled man re-united with kin in Cuddalore

      In an emotional meeting, a 35-year-old mentally challenged man from Kashmir who was found wandering in Cuddalore two years ago was reunited with his family, thanks to the efforts of collector Rajendra Ratnoo and Oasis, a non-governmental organisation..

      Farooq Ahamed, dressed in a full-sleeved blue shirt and grey trousers, could not control his tears when he met his elder brother Nazar Ahamed Shah and uncle Mushtaq at the collectorate who had come from Kashmir on Thursday to take him back home. Mr Ratnoo said that Farooq was found wandering on the streets of Cuddalore two years ago. Officials of the social welfare department soon contacted Oasis, an NGO working in the field of rehabilitation of mentally ill persons, and brought him to the Centre for psychiatric treatment where after a slow recovery he revealed his identity and address to counsellors.

Farooq only knew Kashmiri and Urdu and with the help of interlocutors he was administered medicines.

      He was soon able to recall his address which enabled Oasis to get in touch with his family. His elder brother who had almost lost hope of finding his brother came to Cuddalore along with documents including Electors Photo Identity Card and house address. A visibly moved Mr Nazar Ahamed Shah thanked Oasis for having rehabilitated his brother. Mr Ratnoo said the district administration had put in place a mental health programme that identifies mentally ill patients and rehabilitates them to enable them regain their mental health. 

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2,000 extra EB staff to reach to the cyclone-hit areas in Cuddalore on Monday

CUDDALORE: 

 

         To speed up restoration of power supply to the cyclone-hit areas in the agriculture sector, extra 2,000 workers and 75 assistant engineers of Electricity Board (EB) would be coming here from other parts of the State on Monday.

            Responding to repeated demands seeking government’s help in clearing uprooted trees in Cuddalore, the district administration had decided to provide power saws to cashew farmers through Agricultural Engineering Department. On an experimental basis, seven power saws had been brought in and would be distributed to every panchayat union. Cyclone relief special officer Gagandeep Singh Bedi and district collector Rajendra Ratnoo visited cashew fields at Kadampuliyur and Vadakuthu to inspect the machines and to obtain opinions from farmers.

 

Later Bedi told Express, 

 

          “If experimentation is successful, 500 power saws would be brought in to Cuddalore district by Agricultural Engineering Department to distribute among farmers.We are planning to engage workers under NREGA scheme for clearing the fallen trees. The State is keen on assisting the cashew farmers in every possible aspect.” To repair damaged school buildings, `2.53 crore had been allocated by the State government as totally 316 school buildings in rural areas were affected by the cyclone. Bedi and Ratnoo also inspected repairing works at government girls higher secondary school in Cuddalore Old Town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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