Kathreena chedathi is amost 90, but brims with energy as she boards the early morning bus from Thrissur to Vadakkancherry where she works as a labourer at a construction site. By 40s many fret about career burnouts and stares at the proverbial midlife crisis. This Thrissur native has seen more than twice as many seasons a 40-something eager for retirement has seen. Kathreena chedathi is almost 90, but brims with energy as she boards the early morning bus from Thrissur to Vadakkancherry where she works as a labourer at a construction site.
Seeing her vigour, it would be really hard for one to imagine that Kathreena would be ringing in her 90th birthday in just two months. When asked about her age, Kathreena, a native of Poonkunnam in Thrissur, says with a smile, “I am still very healthy and glamorous.” This octogenarian would carry and spread the concrete mixture at work sited with much ease, and her energy levels won’t drop a bit even if she works for an entire day under the blazing sun.
Kathreena became a labourer at the construction site at the age of 30 to financially support her family. Having learnt the tricks of the trade, this woman of steel didn’t hesitate to take up contract works on her own, earning a reputation as an enterprising contractor. Kathreena has built many buildings and bridges around Palakkad, Thrissur, Malappuram and Ernakulam.
She wouldn’t mind helping out other contractors at their sites if she doesn’t have her own contract works. As a daily wage labourer she earns Rs 950 a day, which is amazing for a person of her age. KJ Chacko, the owner of Pookadu Marian Developers, says that he hasn’t seen anybody else who does the cement works as perfectly as her. He adds that it is Kathreena who does the cement works of the building that he is currently building at Pookkadu, and that whenever Kathreena is working it would be a restless day for other workers as well. They have to work really hard to keep up with her incredible energy which doesn't flag even as the day progresses.
Kathreena discloses that a healthy diet is the secret of her impeccable health and energy. She owes her health and longevity to the local food items such as rice porridge, tapioca, yam and taro (chembu). Good amount of physical activity too helps her stay fit and healthy. Her husband died 20 years ago. Two of her own four children and two grand kids too have taken up cement jobs at construction sites following the veteran.
To those who laments that they have grown old even before turning 60, Kathreena says, “Our body will get rusted if it stays inactive. Keep on working hard till your health permits. It is the mind which makes us old men and women. Don’t allow that.”
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