Left to their fate on the streets of Coimbatore, they are lucky if they run into P Mahendiran Palanisamy, who picks up mentally challenged destitutes and gives them a new lease of life.

The Good Samaritan has helped cure 300 mentally challenged people and reunited them with their families.

As he answered repeated distress calls, he spoke to Covai Post about a phone call from Nanjundapuram 10 years ago that marked the beginning of his selfless mission when he rescued a mentally challenged man from the clutches of an unsympathetic crowd and admitted him at Anbaalayam – a shelter for destitutes.

Then there was no looking back for Mahendiran who found Asokan in a horrendous mental and physical state. “I bathed him and had him treated for wounds and admitted him at a shelter.”

Asokan recovered gradually and even recalled his address. Mahendiran says his efforts came to fruition when he saw Asokan’s tearful reunion with his family.

The social worker now runs Eera Nenjam – a rehabilitation centre for destitutes in R S Puram and is supported by Malarum Vizhigal – a night shelter run by Gangadharan – both taken on a lease from the city’s corporation.

“The centres are presently confined to destitutes, and we have the mentally challenged treated in hospitals,” he said.

Social media has done its bit to shoulder Mahendiran’s responsibilities. Facebook posts helped trace the family of 25-year-old Saagar to Nepal. A rail accident victim, Saagar was mentally and physically affected before he was nursed back to health.

“This was a milestone in my mission,” says Mahendiran. “It was a big search and people from as far as Canada threw in their efforts.”

He is unfazed when asked if Good Samaritans are easy to find. “There were many who helped me in my journey towards restoring hope in the lives of these hapless people.”

He recalls with gratitude, Rajkumar, head of the NGO called Eeram, who supported his early initiatives and guided his mission.

Auditor Rajashekhar helped him to set up the Eera Nenjam trust in 2012 without taking a fee.

“I couldn’t have done all what I did without the help of likeminded people.”

For instance he says the National Orthopaedic Centre in Coimbatore that manufactures artificial legs for amputees provide their products at just the material cost, and we use it especially for children. Till now 150 amputees have benefited.

RBM Hospital in Bangalore has treated 40 mentally challenged leading to a full recovery. “The best reward for this work was when they were reunited with their families in such a fit state.”

Kovaispeed, an ambulance drivers team, lends services free to Mahendiran and his team of volunteers.

His social work runs on voluntary support from hospitals and organisations. “I have steered clear of fund hunts,” he says. “My volunteers including Suryakumar, and I receive help for the work we do.”

Having grown up with a mentally challenged sister, Mahendiran says he knows their state and society’s apathy towards them, and that’s what led him to open his arms wide to them.

“I sometimes find them in the most appalling conditions. Teased and assaulted by a group of people they are branded dangerous when they react to provocation. There is nothing worse than not knowing who you are,” Mahendiran muses.

“My future plans are to set up a centre on my own premises and provide shelter to the mentally challenged and destitutes,” says Mahendiran who runs a pumps spare parts factory.

Now does he have the time to have a bite at a pizza joint with his young daughter? He does. “Movies and eating out with family happens regularly. It’s easy to balance social work and family life,” he says with a smile, dropping an invitation for people to do their bit for society.