What our work
The Emergency Response Unit (ERU) implemented by HIVE India provide rescue, rehabilitation and restoration services, alongwith other humanitarian supports, to the people in crisis situations across Kolkata and neighboring areas.
The project aims to respond and rescue unattended, abandoned and vulnerable men, women and children, accident victims as well as Person with psychosocial Disabilities. Medical and psychological support is provided to people when required in addition to hospitalization and treatment for homeless persons.
The Response and Rescue Team is equipped with ambulances to respond to any emergency call at the earliest. They are trained to handle emergency situations, immediate first-aid, primary care, emotional and psychological support is provided, to stabilise them. Necessary legal support and formalities are done in collaboration with the Police as per the requirement of each case.
Arrangements are made for any further medical treatment (medical tests, hospitalisation, psychiatric or any other treatment, if the rescued is not hospitalized, he or she is provided with a suitable shelter, food and care). The ERU helps to rehabilitate rescued victims, assist in their restoration, re-unification and re-integration with families as per need.
Thus, ERU is an endeavour to provide an immediate response and support to Any Person at Risk on the Streets (APAROS) of Kolkata, specially homeless or alike situations. The ERU implements its services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a particular focus on elderly, women and children in need of care and protection.
The main target groups are:
- People living on the streets.
- Children in Need of Care and Support, Victims of child trafficking and child labour
- Missing and run away children and adults
- Children affected by conflict and disaster
- People involved in accidents who do not have any support
- Homeless, abused and harassed women
- Homeless person with Psycho-social disability
- Victim of Alcohol and drug abuse
The ERU also assists in rescue work in the event of accidents or disasters in Kolkata in collaboration with the Kolkata Police, Fire Department, Civil Defence and Disaster Management Group(DMG) of the state. The Emergency Response Unit aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for people at all ages.
The mission started with the very thought that “No one should be allowed to die on the streets of Kolkata”. Whatever best way possible, the person should be attended to, he / she deserves the basic medical care and social support as an humanitarian action. Hence the journey covers “APAROS” -“Any Person At Risk On Street” - abandoned, homeless, unknown, accident victim, domestic violence victim, mentally challenged, missing person and the list continues.
At HIVE India we respond to calls for any person in need of care and attention on streets of Kolkata from Kolkata Police or any other stakeholders. Once the team responds to the rescue site in most of the responses there is need to provide medical assistance to the victim. Some regular medical checkups are also part of the protocols we follow as best practices and guidelines issued by authorities.
Depending on certain factors such as the gender, age, nature of ailment and other factors we figure out the appropriate institution to approach for medical care or shelter.
In some scenarios, when we rescue patients, after reunification also we stay in touch with the family and support some medical requirements such as a follow-up to hospitals, dialysis support etc. These are the basic protocols that we follow and maintain in general, but some of the decisions are based on what the situation demands in the best interest of the person rescued.
a. Who would be eligible for medical assistance/ in-patient care in hospitals?
-Homeless people, any other person missing or abandoned on streets and some extremely vulnerable people living in an informal settlement but with no resources or no one to look after them are generally the ones who are rescued and are eligible for medical assistance and care in hospitals. 99% cases people are found in such vulnerable and miserable condition due to lack of medical attention & support.Hospital admission and further treatment processes are finalised only once the person is rescued, basic primary care & support given, and situation is assessed.
b. Hospitals that have saved the patients–
- ● Government hospitals cannot be empanelled, but through effective working relationship over the years, where the patients received treatment and recovered:- M R Bangur Hospital, SSKM Hospital, S N Pandit Hospital, N R S Hospital, R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital, Baghajatin State General Hospital, Calcutta Medical College & Hospital, Vidyasagar Hospital to name some of them.
- Amrapali Geriatric and Psychiatric Medical Centre
- Hope Kolkata Foundation Hospital
- Different ‘Homes’ of the ‘Missionaries of Charity’ [Free of cost]
