Sreekrishnapuram: Kerala has achieved the incredible milestone of becoming the first state in India to be free from extreme poverty. However, Thankamani Varasyar and Leela Varasyar of Punchapadam Mambally in ward ten of Sreekrishnapuram panchayat knows nothing about it; nor does their neighbour, Palakkathodi Veshu Ammal. The three women who are in their seventies do not have a sturdy roof over their heads and suffer from severe health problems.

Thankamani and Leela Varasyar live in a small house that was built under the Rajeev Gandhi Housing Scheme in 2001 – 02. However, the house is now in a dilapidated state and could collapse any moment. One of the sisters who was a kazhakam employee in the nearby temple gets welfare pension and the other one receives a meagre pension from Devaswom Board. Meanwhile, Veshu Ammal’s house is already partially collapsed. It is difficult even to enter the premises that are covered in thickets and weeds.

She too relies on a meagre pension for her livelihood. The three women wish to have a house where they can sleep peacefully. Although they had requested the Sreekrishnapuram Panchayat multiple times to provide them aid for renovating their houses, nothing happened. The septuagenarians are now worried whether they will lose the benefits of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana as the state has been declared extreme-poverty-free. Meanwhile, Congress mandalam president Bhaskaran Chinganezhi alleged that the miserable lives of the three women prove the desperate attempt of the government to save its face by making false promises.

Ward member refutes accusations

Member of ward 10 C Jayasree claimed that the panchayat has offered maximum support and aid for the residents of this ward. She said that Veshu Ammal’s house got collapsed as no one resides there permanently. The ward member added that funds for house renovation is limited and that the benefits were given to the family that is in a much worse condition. She also stated that the sisters have been given aid under the Asraya project and that Veshu Ammal cannot be included in this project as she doesn’t own land.