Ayyappan finally finds shelter after years on the streets in Palakkad

Chittur: Ayyappan, the 62-year-old differently abled man from Vadakkathara who had spent years sleeping on the streets fearing reptiles, rain and darkness, has finally been moved to safety. The Social Justice Department stepped in on Thursday and shifted him to an old age home in Koduvayur, following a Malayala Manorama report that highlighted his plight.

Social Justice District Officer K G Ragapriya and Junior Superintendent Adarsh visited Ayyappan and collected his details. Though his right leg is incapacitated, Ayyappan told officials he could at least manage basic tasks if he had his eyesight. His vision has deteriorated to the point where he sees people only as shadows.

The Koduvayur facility, which is already overcrowded, is a temporary arrangement. "Efforts are underway to shift him to an old age home with better facilities, and necessary medical treatment, including for his eyesight, will be provided soon," the District Officer said.

Local social activists K Ratheesh, A Lakshmanan and Jagadeeshan, who have been assisting Ayyappan for years, said several individuals and hospitals have now come forward to help. Officials M Anjali and K Sivadas also visited him.

Pushed to the edge
Ayyappan has been a familiar presence on the streets of Chittur for nearly 25 years, often seen on his tricycle in front of Chitturkavu temple. A week ago, he shifted to a spot near the Naga Kavu behind the temple, sleeping on a piece of cloth under a tree.

His story is marked by personal tragedies: his wife passed away 27 years ago, his only son died a year later, and he was subsequently denied refuge at his ancestral home in Vadakkathara. Since then,  he has been forced to survive on the roadside.

The state government had recently included him in its extreme poverty eradication programme, identifying "lack of food" as the factor keeping him in that category. Officials later claimed that supplying food kits had "lifted" him from extreme poverty. But Ayyappan said the kits meant little, as he had no home or facilities to cook. "I received the last kit during Onam. After that, nothing. I survive because some kind-hearted people bring me food daily," he said.

Chittur-Thathamangalam municipal chairperson K L Kavitha said the municipality had been supplying him food regularly. "Since there were procedural hurdles in building a new house for him, we offered to arrange a rented house, but he refused," she said. She added that she had taken steps to ensure he received disability pension.

Despite these claims, Ayyappan continued to live on the streets until the latest intervention placed him in institutional care.