Thiruvananthapuram: A retired government school teacher has donated 7 cents of land in Kazhakoottam to Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, to build a women’s livelihood skill enhancement centre. There is only one condition in the agreement that S. Leelamma signed on: that it should have a memorial for her late husband V. Sasidharan Nair. “He was a good Samaritan, and had always been interested in social work. Before becoming a government servant, he was actively involved in social work,” she said.
Sasidharan retired as a village officer from Kuttichal. According to his wife, he had earlier donated two three-cent-plots to two landless persons. His wife and son describe him as a person who was always ready to help.
Their plot is by the side of a pond called Naranathukulam at Devanagar. “We had at first wanted to build a library here. That would need a smaller plot. But when we heard about the Corporation’s plan, we wanted to give more. We just want our father’s name to be remembered always,” says Leelamma’s son Biju S. Nair. They approached the Corporation following the suggestion of a local CPM worker. Now the plot will have a library and Kazhakoottam ward centre, in addition to the skill enhancement centre. “The work is estimated to be Rs 96 lakhs. It has been awarded to Costford,” said an official.
Mayor V. K. Prasanth honoured Leelamma on Wednesday. On the same day, a foundation stone was laid in the plot. It was a day of many beginnings with the Devanagar road being inaugurated as well.
