Cyclone Ochki: Elderly woman skips Christmas fete, to donate Rs 50,000

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sheela Antony, 87, of Kollam who owns a farmhouse has decided to donate Rs 50, 000 which her children had gifted her for Christmas to Chief Minister's Ockhi Relief Fund. This octogenarian who resides alone at Mangad will be handing over the cheque to K. K. Shylaja, social justice minister, here on Wednesday. Since the cyclone away fishers from Kerala coasts, she was disturbed. She got in touch with Shahida Kamal, her neighbour and member of Kerala Women’s Commission seeking her help to do something for the wailing families she had seen on TV.

Her daughter, Dony Jose, who lives in South Africa, had sent her money. “The news disturbed me. When I spoke to Shahida Kamal, she immediately said about CM’s relief fund. Hence I decided to skip the celebrations and donate the money kept for the celebrations”, she said. Her husband, O. Antony, died 17 years back. She has a son, Roy Antony, who is a leading cashew businessman. Ms Kamal hopes more people will follow her steps and help those grieving families.