This is Kerala; God’s own country. But some are more equal than the others. “How does poverty affect life? This question led this correspondent to meet a 35-year-old woman Latha, who abandoned her two children Reji Raj, 4, and Swetha 3, last week.
Latha, a labourer, is a resident of ward number 1 of Mannanchery panchayat, here. She has four children including a girl child Liona, 9, studying in std III, from her marriage in 2002 to a construction worker Shaji.
“What should I do if I am not able to look after these children?” This was her first response on reason for abandoning her children. “I have no husband or relatives to help me. I work hard to feed the children by doing any job available but I failed.”
Latha got married second time to another man Raji in 2005 who had wife and three children. Following this, she gave birth to three children including two boys and a girl named Swetha.
Reji, who is also construction worker, left Latha after the birth of the last child. “He is living in another home with his first wife.
I requested to him for living together with these three children as I got pregnant with latest child. Accepting my request, he stayed home for a month. Soon after the birth of Sankaran, he began to skip home.
When I questioned his frequent absence from home, he mentally and physically harassed me and eventually left me. My parents Chellappan and Vilasini, both farm workers, are disinterested in accommodating us,” she wept.
“This was the main reason to abandon the children. Once, Reji came and took my son Raji Raj to his home, I took that child back from him just after a day, as I knew from somebody that Reji was going to sell my son.
Actually, I was giving the children to Child welfare Committee to protect them. I am very concerned about my children’s plight," she said.