his age, and he was also asked to beg and give the money he collected, to Dharamaraj. Velmurukan did not know what to do and wandered here and there, in search of his uncle, and he did not get any money. At night, Dharmaraj came fully drunk, and knowing that he had no money, dragged Velmurukan to the railway track, some distance away. He beat the boy and when the boy cried aloud, Dharmaraj forcefully closed his mouth and threatened to kill him, if he dared to speak. Then he took a bottle poured the liquid on the boy’s body, dragged him to the open cabin of a goods train and set fire on him. He remembers nothing after that, When he regained consciousness, he was in the hospital bed. Mr. Jose Maveli, took up the responsibility to treat him and later took him to Janaseva Sisubhavan.

It is really difficult to believe that Manjumatha, who is joyfully singing and dancing with other toddlers in Sisubhavan is a girl who has suffered torture and brutality of the beggar Mafia. Beyond the sparkles of hope in the eyes of this little girl, who is outstanding both in her studies and extra curricular activities, there is a very sad story, which nobody wants to hear.
The Head load workers in Angamaly town noticed the cute little girl lying on the roadside on a rag, with bleeding and open wounds, when it became really difficult for them to pass- by, ignoring her. The horrifying story unfolded, when they questioned the man who was collecting the money thrown on the rag. His name was Perumal. He had starved the girl, poured acid on her legs, and used her as a tool to beg. He was the Don of cruelty and selfishness. When questioned, he tried to escape saying the child fell in the oven, hot water fell on her legs etc, but when the workers tightened their hold and grilled him, he said the truth. They informed Janaseva Sisubhavan. Mr. Jose Maveli, President of Janaseva Sisubhavan and other staff came and took the child into custody. She was admitted in Anwar Memorial Hospital, Aluva, for treatment. Dr. C.M. Hyderali, the child specialist who gives free treatment to all the children at Janaseva Sisubhavan , treated the girl and in a month, she recovered fully. She is good in studies, cultural activities and sports. Now she is a 1st standard student in the Janaseva Sisubhavan English Medium School.

“WHO KILLED MY SISTER?”
“WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU MY DEAR GIRL? WHO ABUSED YOU?”

Faced with these questions Radha remained silent initially. Then she started narrating her ordeal.
“The men used to come at night in a car; they give liquors to my parents and forced them to drink till they pass out. Then they take me to the bushes covering my mouth to avoid cries and 2-3 men physically abuse me, my sister was also abused like this and she was killed by them.
Mother told me the story of my sister Lakshmi. My father drove my mother and sister out of the house. Now his second wife Rani is with him. She is a cruel lady. She tortures me all the time.” Radha remembers she has two siblings’ brother Manikandan and sister Sangeetha. Manikandan is in Tamil nadu. Sangeetha is in Thrissur. Don’t know where the younger sister is? My father has 3 children Venkitesh, Devu and Ponnarash in my step mother Rani. They took us to Kerala years back. “In the morning we will be sent out of the house scantily clad for begging. If we don’t bring enough money they will torture us. Father and step- mother will take all the money to buy food and liquor. When they are asleep, the men come to sexually abuse me. “She was really scared even to narrate this story.

They will cover my mouth and take me to the bushes to satisfy their sexual urge. Though I didn’t like this and wanted to say no, I was too weak and scared to say ‘no’ though she was really angry”. When the locals found us begging near the Thevara Church, they informed Sisubhavan. Jose Maveli and others came and I told them the whole story. They rescued us and complained to the police. Since Sisubhavan has no permission to shelter grown - up girls, Jose uncle sent me to “Abhaya” run by Sugatha kumari teacher.”

Her gratitude towards the saviors of herself and her siblings was clearly visible in her bright eyes.

“CHINNASWAMI -
THE CHIEF OF BEGGAR MAFIA-DESERVES TO BE HANGED”
Raja rescued from the beggar Mafia, complains to Sri.Anilkumar. DIG of Police, Thrissur.

Raja was born in a way-side shed in Selam in Tamilnadu. He knows that his mother is dead. From his very early days onwards, he was staying with his sick father. The father was too sick to do any work. Fed up with their miseries, they came to Kerala, to find a living by rag-picking. They reached Thrissur. The condition of Raja’s father deteriorated and so he was forced to beg, to earn money to feed himself and the ailing father. One day, while he was begging in the streets, a boy came to him and offered him a job. He took Raja to a place where he found many other boys. In the evening Raja wanted to go back to his father, but others asked him to stay back, and leave the place only after meeting Chinnaswami, their master. After some time Chinna swami came in a car, asked Raja his whereabouts and ordered that from next day onwards he also should beg and at 6 O’clock in the evening he should come to a place behind City Centre in Thrissur Town and hand over the money to Chinnaswami.

When he refused to do so, Chinnaswami threatened to kill Raja and his father and burnt him with the cigarette. Too scared to object, Raja started to go with other children and beg. In the evening he used to give Rs. 100/- to Chinnaswami. One day, Raja went in search of his father, so he could collect only Rs. 50/-Enraged by this, Chinnaswami took Raja to an unknown place and burnt his legs with a hot iron rod. Next morning Raja sneaked out of the place took a bus and reached Vadakkancheri. He was very tired, so he slept in the veranda of a shop-room. One uncle Tenny came, finding that Raja is tired and hungry gave him food and asked him what happened. Raja told him the entire story. Hearing the sad plight of the boy, Tenny took him to Janaseva Sisubhavan.

Raja got a warm reception at Sisubhavan. Finding the love and care given to the inmates by the uncles, aunts and fellow children, Raja thought of saving the other children also, who are forced to beg by the cruel man Chinnaswami, the Mafia don. He shared his idea with Jose Maveli, who took him to Sri. Anilkumar, DIG of Police, Thrissur. The Police raided the hideouts of Chinnaswami. They rescued 11 children, but could not arrest Chinnaswami. Now Raja is staying in Janaseva Boys Home, and studies in the 6th standard. He says he wants to do social work, to save people from the anti-social elements like Chinnaswami, when he grows up.