Kalikkavu: With no roof over her head and no one to care for her, 65-year-old Chathy from Adivasi Nagar in Chokkad Chinkakkallu spends her nights along the paths of wild animals, living a life marked by hardship and vulnerability.

She now sleeps in an open space along the forest fringes, risking an attack by wild animals at any time. Chathy and her husband once lived in a house handed over by a voluntary organisation. After her husband died, the foundation of the house became unstable and dangerous cracks appeared in three places. She now sleeps outside, fearing that staying indoors may prove dangerous.

 Outside he house,  she sleeps inside a makeshift shed supported by four rods. She runs the risk of being attacked by wild animals at any time, as the shed is located right next to the forest. She lights a fire near the shed before going to sleep. Chathy makes a living by doing manual labour. Though she has a son and other relatives, nobody is willing to take care of her.

Her house stands precariously on a steep slope alongside the Chinkakkallu river and runs the risk of collapsing at any moment.