Police reunite 141 homeless with families under ‘Kaaval Karangal’

Madurai: The Madurai city police's humane outreach initiative Kaaval Karangal has rescued and rehabilitated 141 abandoned and mentally ill homeless people, reuniting many of them with their families across Tamil Nadu.Inspired by a similar programme of the Greater Chennai Police, the initiative was launched in Madurai by city police commissioner J Loganathan after a successful pilot run and was formally rolled out on March 26, 2025. Speaking to TOI, Loganathan said the programme focuses on rescue with dignity. "Mentally ill or seriously unwell persons are shifted to hospitals or shelter homes for treatment and rehabilitation. After recovery, we help reunite them with their families if they are willing," he said. Police said homeless people living on roadsides are highly vulnerable to accidents and assaults, and identification is often difficult as many go missing for years and become unrecognisable. "Despite these challenges, our teams have successfully traced families through sustained efforts and coordination with NGOs," the commissioner said. A dedicated mobile number has been set up to receive alerts from the public. After rescue, the individuals are cleaned and groomed with due respect to their privacy, following which their photographs are shared on social media to help families identify them. The initiative has also expanded beyond the city, with police coordinating with neighbouring districts following similar alerts. During rescue operations, the police are supported extensively by NGOs, with Chellamuthu Trust playing a major role on the ground alongside the department. At present, an ambulance facility is being provided on a temporary basis by Nethaji Medical Trust. Meanwhile, an ambulance sponsored by SBI under its CSR initiative—handed over on Jan 3—has been sent to Coimbatore for modification and is expected to be pressed into service soon. Police noted that while some rescued persons prefer to remain in care homes, many homeless individuals are not food-insecure, as they receive regular meals from members of the public. The initiative is handled by a special team led by anti-human trafficking unit inspector Hema Mala N, assisted by two sub-inspectors and support staff, under the supervision of the commissioner. Hema Mala said rescues can be particularly challenging in cases involving mental illness. She cited the case of Gopal V, 66, who had been living near the LIC building at Sellur. After being rescued and shifted to an old-age home, he later expressed a wish to reunite with his family in Sattur, Virudhunagar district. The police traced his relatives and reunited him with them after nearly 20 years. Gopal's brother-in-law, Sundarajan K, said the family had searched for him for years but never approached the police. "We are extremely grateful to the police department for finding him and bringing him back home," he said. In another case, a 50-year-old mentally ill man from TNHB Colony in Villapuram was reunited with his family after two decades, underlining the growing impact of Kaaval Karangal in restoring lost lives and relationships. MSID:: 127158397 413 |