Karakkal: A 28-year-old sick and disabled woman here in Pathanamthitta district stands to benefit from a path being built to her house as part of the National Rural Employment Generation Scheme (NREGS). A 75-meter-long mud path is being built to her house situated in a low-lying area in the midst of paddy fields.
The beneficiary of the scheme is Soumya Sadanandan of Thundiyil House at Idikkathara. For the past 26 years, Soumya’s parents had to carry her all the way from their home till the nearest motorable road, which reaches till Thamarachal Colony in Peringara Panchayath, whenever she was taken to hospital. Once the road is ready, an autorickshaw can easily reach until her plot.
Soumya’s health was affected from the age of two years, when she suddenly developed severe headache. Soon, her head developed abnormally and lost sight. She cannot walk and faints frequently.
A team of 53 labourers in three groups is now engaged in building a mud road by filling up the low-lying land. They are bringing loads of earth for filling up the low-lying path. Its borders are being strengthened by raising bamboo poles.
According to Block Panchayath president Satheesh Chathankari and secretary Eappen Kurien, the panchayath is expecting to create 220 days of employment through this work at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.37 lakh.
Soumya’s home was flooded during last year's floods, with water rising up to 5 feet within their home. The family kept Soumya dry by placing her cot on top of the table. The family lives in an old house built on 10 cents of land.
NREGS is popularly known as 'thozhilurappu padhathi' in Malayalam.
