Moodbidri: Tragedy Saddles Malekudiya Family at Ontekaje
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore (RS/SB)
Moodbidri, Nov 27: The condition of Sanjeev Gowda and his family at Ontekaje near here has been precarious to say the least for past one year now. The tragedy struck the poor family after a lightning hit the house last rainy season leaving a portion of the house damaged.
Poverty-stricken family is now carrying on with life with a grim hope of getting government compensation under natural calamities find, which they have sought for. Panchayat members and officials have been informed in this regard but to no avail. Gowda has temporarily covered his dwelling, a hut rather with plastic sheets, on a few cents of land in a remote hilly area Umilkukku in Panapila village in Moodbidri- Naravi Road. His financial condition prevents him from undertaking permanent repairs.
Gowda’s family comprises three members with his wife and a 17-year-old physically and mentally challenged son. His wife cannot take up any other work to supplement the family income for she has to look after the son. Few arecanut trees and Rampatre (mystrica malabarica) trees with medicinal value are the only source of income for the family.
His house has no electricity though power connection has reached near his house in the form of a street light, which is although defunct. The local panchayat officials who visited his residence about three years ago had assured electricity supply after taking an advance of Rs 1,000, which is not fulfilled yet mirroring the gross apathy of government and political machineries.
Ray of Hope
His problem was first traced by Panchamukhi Yuvashakti, a social service organization of Panapila, who in turn contacted newspaper publications, Jayakirana seeking help for the family.
The representatives of publications group, who visited the spot arranged for providing rice supply to the family for five years. Prakash Pandeshwar, who owns the publications, said that as part of its social service initiative the family was provided help. We further plan to provide medical aid to Gowda’s son so that the family too can make a respectable living, he added.
Meanwhile Sudhakar D Poojary, president of Panchamukhi Yuvashakti and its members Praveen Kumar, Girish Kumar, Sukumar Jain, Prashanth, Praveen, Suresh S Poojary, Nagesh Acharya, Santhosh D and Praveen assured the family that the fight would go on to provide government facilities it is entitled to as it belongs to Malekudiya community.
About a year ago members from Sri Kshetra Dharmastala Rural Development Project had visited the family and assured help.