Albin opens branch in state capital

The Punnapra-based Shanti Bhavan, the brainchild of Mathew Albin, notorious criminal-turned 'good samaritan', has just opened a branch in the Kerala capital with view to extending its compassionate service for the destitute.

The charitable institution was set up in 1997 after Albin, who was involved in five murder cases and other 105 criminal cases, came out of the jail completing a 11-year term. The institution now houses 250 people picked up from the streets after families and society discarded them. Many have been treated and rehabilitated.

The branch opened at Neduveli here the other day already has about 40 male and female mental patients saved from the city streets. It is estimated that about 1,000 mental patients are roaming the city.

Albin is assisted by 26 selfless volunteers at the branch housed in a building rented out for Rs2,500 a month. The inmates' food alone costs Rs1,500 a day. Albin said the institution needed vehicles to carry the patients and other works.

The idea was to gather all the wandering mental patients in the city under one roof and ensure them treatment and proper rehabilitation. He said he was looking forward to help from people of goodwill.