Mangalore : Waging a Lone Battle to Overcome Harsh Realities of life...
Pics: Ibrahim Baddor
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS/SP)
Mangalore, May 16: The futility, lacunae and improper implementation of various programmes undertaken by successive governments for the benefit of the less fortunate, are often reflected in the trials and tribulations the people are compelled to undergo to meet their needs and take care of their family members and loved ones, even after over six decades since the country got independence. The real life story of 65 year-old woman with meager income, who is saddled with the responsibility of having to look after three mentally challenged family members, is really heart rending one. As the government departments which are expected to come to the rescue of the people in distress have failed to do anything to mitigate her sufferings, she looks up to the help and support from kind hearted donors in her struggle to carry out her responsibilities.
The house of Lalitha Naik, the woman in question, is located at Jayanagar in Jalligudde, which comes under Bajal ward of the local City Corporation. Odds are pitted heavily against Lalitha, who has been wilting under the heavy burden of responsibility of taking care of three members of her family. Lalitha Naik is aged about 65 and takes care of three mentally challenged family members. They are, her younger sister, Yashoda (55), younger brother, Parameshwara (60), and his wife, Bhavani (50). The old age pension, which is very meager by all means, and a small amount she earns through beedi rolling, is the only incomes on which Lalitha depends on to pull on lives of all the three people she takes care of. As all the three mentally challenged dependents needs her constant attention she cannot go out to work on a regular basis. Moreover with age related diseases such as failing eye sight, joint pains etc., catching up with her she is unable to work even as a housemaid. But all these problems have not diminished her indomitable courage and she goes on about her responsibilities without loosing hopes.
Lalitha Naik had no children and after the death of her husband Babu Naik the family began to live in Jalligudde. Her brother and sister are mentally challenged by birth. She says that her brother’s condition was manageable during his childhood days and worsened with the passage of time, where as sister’s condition remained the same from birth.
The family of four is dependent on the rice it gets through the ration card. At present, the family is able to buy 12 kgs of rice per month through the fair price shop from the income of Lalitha. She used to roll beedis in the past, but now she can not do that as effortlessly as she used also because of her failing eyesight. But life has to go on and since Lalitha cannot venture out of the home the only course left to her is to continue to roll beedies. Apart from taking care of her siblings that includes cooking, cleaning and washing and rolling beedies whenever she gets some free time forms the main itinerary of her daily life.
The house they live in has only two rooms. It has no bathroom or toilet facilities. A portion behind the house, covered with coconut fronds, is being used for bathing. As Lalitha Naik’s parents were very poor, they could not provide medical treatment to their mentally challenged children. Parameshwara was quite silent since his childhood, despite his illness. Hoping that he would be able to stand on his own legs, the family arranged his marriage with Bhavani, a deaf and dumb girl. Bhavani of course, helps Lalitha in the household chores including cooking and washing.
To add to their woes of sufferings, to the utter dismay of Lalitha Naik’s family, Mescom, disconnected power supply to their home all of a sudden. Lalitha was provided power connection through ‘Bhagyajyothi’, an ambitious scheme of the government aimed at providing free power to poor families. This scheme was later modified and a nominal charge was levied on the power consumers under the scheme.
Lalitha Naik claims that she had paid the bill amount to MESCOM promptly. But on one fine day when she want not at home a MESCOM ar, when she was not at home MESCOM official took away the fuse. She adds that she did not know what to do to set right this problem and hence, started using kerosene lamp for lighting.
Her family is badly in need a doze of generous help from kind-hearted donors. The family needs money to enable Lalitha Nayak to get herself treated, and also to provide medical treatment for her three dependents. She needs to regain her health to look after the other three family members, who are entirely dependent on her. Her income is too meager even to get a proper meal a day for herself and her dependents.
For those who wish to help her family the details are as follows:
Address: Lalitha Naik
2-90, Jayanagara, Jalligudde
Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada District
Karnataka State.
Canara Bank, Jeppu, Morgan’s Gate Branch, Mangalore -
Account Number -1553101007176
in the name of Lalitha Naik.
IFS Code CNRB0001553