DIBRUGARH, June 4 – It was an emotional and joyous moment for Anjali Das (35) to get united with her in-laws after a gap of two years. Anjali, wife of Arup Das of Bokel village under Lahoal PS, had lost her mental balance two years back and since then had gone missing. Although her husband now resides elsewhere with another woman, Anjali, now healed, was welcomed by her in-laws with joyful tears, thanks to the charitable act of the Howrah-based Interreligious Centre of Development (ICOD).
Villagers of Bokel flocked to the household as she was brought to her in-laws house after two years by a team of ICOD volunteers on Tuesday evening. Faces of people surrounding her radiated aura of joy and excitement. Sushil Das, father-in-law of the woman, said, “I do not know how to thank God for the wonder He has worked for us.” The family members welcomed her after signing a written statement of acceptance and handed over the same to the members of ICOD in front of the crowd. As learnt from the family members, Arup Das now lives with another wife in Tinsukia.
ICOD members located Anjali’s house through the Internet, Bro. Marcus Toppo, a social worker of ICOD, told this newspaper. Anjali reportedly gave her home address after she recovered from her mental problem. ICOD staff took nearly a month as the names Bokel and Thengal Gaon, she mentioned, did not appear in the Internet. Her home was tracked only when she mentioned about Don Bosco School when asked about nearby vital establishments like schools, colleges and industries. The ICOD staff after finding Don Bosco School in the Internet got in touch with the school authorities here and with their help found her house.
The woman who was mentally ill was found loitering in the streets of Kolkata in West Bengal by members of a local club. Vivekananda Smriti Sangha, who then handed her over to members of ICOD for psychiatric treatment. The handing over to the psychiatric centre of ICOD took place on November 3, 2009. ICOD is a voluntary organisation for destitutes and intereligious harmony. Anjali underwent medical treatment free of cost. ICOD incurred nearly Rs 5 lakh for the care and treatment of the Assamese woman, according to Kajal Maity, in charge of the psychiatric centre, ICOD. Kajal along with others brought Anjali to her house.
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