Covid-19 scare: Puducherry woman, son remain at home for six months without venturing out

PUDUCHERRY: A 40-year-old woman and her 12-year-old son, who had not ventured out of their house for the past six months fearing Covid-19 infection, were rescued by officials of the revenue and social welfare departments and child welfare committee in Puducherry town on Thursday.

The officials also rescued seven dogs, a pigeon and a few hens from her house, a rented portion on the second floor of an independent house in Rainbow Nagar.

This was not the first time that the woman, who was separated from her husband, withdrew from social contact, and confined her son at home without allowing him to attend school. Almost a year ago she went into isolation and confined her son at home for six months.

The child welfare committee rescued her after her father, a cab driver who stays on the floor of the same house, sought its help. The committee then sent her to Jipmer for medical attention after handing over the boy to her elder sister who stays with her father.

The woman was discharged after treatment. She settled at the same rented portion with her son but soon slipped to her previous lifestyle avoiding social contact and confining her son at home. Again, her father alerted the child welfare committee and a team which reached the house took more than six hours to convince her to come with her son out of the house, which she locked from inside. The committee admitted her to a private hospital for medical attention and handed over the boy to her elder sister.

“She and her son are rarely seen out. She collects food and water from delivery boys from the staircase and never permits anyone to come near her portion. She raised seven dogs, a pigeon, and a few hens. The house was unkept and she used to make continuous noise by banging the floor. Whenever neighbours questioned her, she will threaten to die by suicide and leaving a note that they are responsible for her death,” said a teacher at a private school resident at the first floor of the house.

The neighbours said she used to bite her father whenever he attempted to force her to come out of the house leaving him with no option than to seek the help of the committee or officials of revenue and social welfare departments.


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