Balussery: Sometimes, a small step taken in the course of everyday life can reshape an entire world for an individual. For 36-year-old Jithin, that step was his visit to the polling booth during the last local body elections, which helped rebuild his lost connection with the society.

Jithin, son of Ravi and Balamani of Kaihottu Vayilil, Vaoli Bazar, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy while he was preparing for his SSLC examinations. The disease worsened by the time he reached Plus Two, and though treatment continued, Jithin had to confine himself to his home.

It was during the last local body elections, when he arrived to vote with support, that his old schoolmates and friends realised the extent of his condition. Moved by his situation, his friends came together and set up a small shop for him near his house. His parents, brother Ashwin, and local residents also extended wholehearted support to the initiative.

The shop gave Jithin a reason to step out daily in his wheelchair, slowly rebuilding his social interactions. Over time, it helped him break free from the isolation that had defined his life for years. Jithin says his relationships with local residents and the routine of running the shop are what keep him going, a form of treatment in themselves.

His shop sells a range of items, including various indigenous products. Two years ago, the shop was broken into and damaged by miscreants. On hearing about the incident, the management of Badusha Hypermarket gifted him a new shop at the same location, which has helped him continue his journey with renewed hope.