KOLLAM: The government makes umpteen promises to rehabilitate the homeless, but their plight continues due to the official apathy, like the fate suffered by Jisha’s family of Perumbavur. In Kollam district, a woman Sheeja and her daughter Prajisha, 13, who have been living inside the forest near Madathara, were assured of a secure dwelling place by chief minister Oommen Chandy himself. But they are still waiting for the aid to come.
They live in a small thatched hut, that has only tin and plastic sheets for the walls, in the Sasthamnada forest which is notorious for wild animal attacks. The hut was destroyed several times in elephant attacks and were repaired. They used to run away from their house during such attacks, be it night or daytime.
Their lone companion, a pet dog, was eaten by a leopard a year back. Prajisha has to walk several km through the forest to reach her school at Madathara.
Sheeja had met the chief minister at least twice seeking the government’s intervention to provide them a safer place to live in.
Complaints were also forwarded through ‘Sutharya Keralam’ and the CM’s mass contact programme apart from applications given to various governmental organisations concerned. However, no action has allegedly been taken to rehabilitate them.
