Angamaly: She does not have an own house or land. She also has two sons to care for. But Gracy Dominic of Thuravoor Friends Colony near Angamaly in Kerala's Ernakulam district refused to take a house that was offered to her by an expats' outfit. She instead sought it to be given to another family, which was in a more dire strait.
"We would be eternally grateful to PAAN Bahrain for giving a home to us as we do not have a house or land of our own. However, we have a request to make - Please give the house to another family, who is in a more dire state. To the family of Sariga, comprising her two daughters, and father-in-law. Sariga's husband died due to cancer. They are going through really hard times. They used to live near to our home but they were forced to vacate as they were not able to pay the rent. I have two sons. I can go anywhere with them. But that's not her situation. I request you to give the house to them..."
This is the WhatsApp voice message sent by Gracy to one of the office-bearers of the Pravasi Association Of Angamaly & Nedumbassery (PAAN Bahrain). More than the dream of having a home for oneself, she chose to extend a helping hand to a fellow woman battling hardships.
PAAN Bahrain – the socio-cultural outfit of Malayali expats in Bahrain -decided to help Gracy and her family after its members came across a video that said she did not have money to fund her son Nirmal's surgery following an accident.
Now, as per Gracy's request, the outfit would give the house to Thuravoor native Sariga and her family.
Gracy is yet to meet Sariga in person. Sariga used to live in the neighbourhood of Gracy, who came to know about her plight through others.
Gracy works at a driving school at Ashokapuram in Aluva. She earlier resided at the Elizabeth Park in Aluva. As she found the living conditions unsuitable, Gracy shifted to the friend's colony.
Not just Sariga, Gracy is also trying to help another widow she had met at the driving school. Lissie George had joined the school to learn autorickshaw driving after her husband's sudden demise. Crestfallen after coming to know of Gracy's hardships, Gracy has decided to help find her an accommodation at the Elizabeth Park in Aluva.
PAAN Bahrain along with the cooperation of the Nazareth Charitable Trust at Angamaly had built the house at the Nazareth Charity Villa project in Thuravoor panchayat. Angamaly MLA Roji M John would hand over the keys during a function at 4.30pm on September 7. The land needed for building the house was donated by trust managing trustee Francis.
The first house in this project was constructed and handover to the beneficiary last year. Members of the PAAN Bahrain and well-wishers contributed the money needed for constructing the house.
