CHENNAI: Greater Chennai City police officers rescued 2,541 abandoned or homeless people from the streets in the previous year as part of the Kaaval Karangal programme, which began in April of last year.

Of the 2,541 people rescued, 1,499 were placed in care facilities maintained by non-governmental organisations, and 161 had their families traced. They were reunited with them at the Institute of Mental Health, where they were also provided psychiatric care. With the help of volunteers, 722 unclaimed bodies were burned.

The city police, with the cooperation of personnel from the Greater Chennai Corporation, the Social Welfare Department, and non-governmental organisations, launched the Kaaval Karangal programme to rescue abandoned/homeless people using helplines on April 21, last year.

Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi and City Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal awarded mementos to the volunteers who are part of the initiative and also flagged a meal delivery van during the first anniversary function in Rajarathinam stadium.

"This initiative has been done for a noble cause for the benefit of the public in collaboration with other departments and NGOs," Mr. Jiwal stated. More than 40 different non-governmental organisations and organisations have joined the effort to help. In just one year, more than 2,000 abandoned/homeless people have been saved."  "The city has 55 homeless shelters with a total capacity of 2,000 people. Mr. Bedi stated, "At a cost of Rs. 28 crore, another 28 shelters would be built, providing refuge to an extra 1,200 individuals."

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