Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (MS)
Puttur, Jun 25: The Education department of the state, which is mostly jeered by the public, has shown exemplary concern over a girl student, who was living in abject poverty and got a house built for her.
The story revolves around Dalit widow Sunanda and her two daughters who live at Pervathodi, which falls under the limits of Puttur town municipality. They used to live in a thatched house.
Zonal educational officer of Puttur Lokesh and teachers of Kombettu school led by Geethamani visited the house of Sunanda last year, when her second daughter Anita was about to write her SSLC examination. They were moved by the difficulties in which Sunanda and her daughters were living and decided to help them.
The newly-built house
Sunanda's old thatched house
Though the family lived in poverty, Sunanda gave stress on education of her daughters. She works as a daily wage labourer. Their thatched house has no electricity. Her elder daughter studied under kerosene lamp, completed her degree and BEd and works now as teacher in a private school at Bengaluru.
Younger daughter Anita has cleared the SSLC examination with distinction and is studying first PU at Kombettu PU College. Zonal educational officer Lokesh and teacher Geethamani got the rights deed to the family who were not having the same for their land. They are also getting the house constructed for the family with the help of local Rotary Club. The house will be ready for occupying next month.
Sunanda’s husband was an alcoholic and used to quarrel every day with wife and children. All responsibilities were shouldered by Sunanda. A year ago, her husband died of liver cirrhosis. Though many assured of help to Sunanda verbally, none did in reality. Luckily, kind hearted zonal educational officer Lokesh and teacher Geethamani came as angels for the family and responded to their hardship.
Locals have highly appreciated the help of the zonal educational officer, teacher and Rotary Club which has given a ray of hope to Sunanda and her daughters.