Surat: Had it not been for Udhna police, a 17-year-old HIV positive girl would have had to brave more than the chill alone in the streets at around 2.30 am in the wee hours sans food, shelter or even a blanket that Monday night. However, cops responded to her SOS on time and reached out to take her under their care after their efforts to reason with the mother, fell on deaf ears.
Mayuri (name changed) had always a rough run with her mother Sunita (name changed) and the situation only worsened after her father, a textile businessman who too was HIV +ve, passed away four months ago. Trouble actually started to escalate soon after the father, who took good care of his daughter, died and the girl first reached out to the cops, a month ago.
Mayuri called up the police control room to get help after her mother stopped giving her food.
Police constable Hardevsinh Gohil went to her home and also tried to counsel Sunita then. Gohil also shared his number with the teen for future reference, which she dialled on Monday again, seeking help in desperation.
“I went there and tried to convince her mother but she refused to take care of her,” said Gohil. Later police sub inspector M K Parmar too reached the spot and started searching for other family members who could take her under their shelter.
“We found the an uncle (father’s brother) of the girl, but he too was not ready to keep her with his family. Left with no option, the police then decided to get the girl admitted in a care home for HIV positive children,” said Parmar.
With support of coordinator of Friends for Women and Children, Piyush Shah, and secretary of GSNP+, Daksha Patel, police are getting Mayuri admitted in a care home for HIV positive girls at Amboli. “Our team visited the girl’s home and as she has a wound on her body, it is imperative that we shift the girl immediately. We have shifted her to a volunteer’s home on Thursday and she will be taken to the care home on Friday,” said Patel.
“Police are trying in all possible ways to help senior citizens and children in need and we will ensure that the girl gets all required support,” city police commissioner Ajay Tomar told TOI.
According to the police, Sunita too is keeping poor health and Mayuri has already lost two siblings to the dreaded disease along with her father.