Changing lives-2

I would like to introduce you to Patchyammal. I met her first about 6 years ago, living in a very desperate situation, on the edge of starvation and although only 3 year's old, working at breaking rock with her slave parents. The family didn't earn enough money to buy food and had to resort to trying to trap rats to eat! When we returned to England, we managed, with the help of Sadeh Lok, to free all of the 14 family groups by paying off their debts. Most of the families chose to leave the area, but some remained. Regrettably, Patchyammal's parents split up but Sagar, her father, later remarried and now looks after Patchyammal, her sister Magaisse and her younger step siblings. Their income has improved considerably and the family have now returned to Mettupalayam, living with the other former debt slaves and working on the farm. Patchyammal is now coming to school each day, working hard and learning. Her health has improved although she will always suffer from those first 3 years of malnutrition. Hopefully, she will go on to secondary school- probably the first person in her family to achieve this. All this has been achieved with Venkat and Gomathi's dedication and commitment and the support of Friends in the UK. We are really making a difference to the lives and futures for these people.

Crakehall School update

Venkat has today had a meeting with the assistant engineer and agreed a timetable for the completion of our new Crakehall School building. With the Government School Building inspector due any day, it is important that we have the work completed speedily. We still hope and expect to be starting the new school year on the 1st June in the new school.

It will be a red letter day when we can finally say that the school is open for business!

Sakthi- a special story

Sakthi is a former IRDT worker who wanted to be a police lady. She studied hard and Venkat saved all her salary for 2 years until she had passed her police entrance exam and physical test. She has now been a police lady for about 2 years and is a true role model. She refuses to take any bribes and is very honest. This week she has been guarding prisoners between jail and court and she noticed that one of the women prisoners had a small baby which was both under-nourished and showing mosquito bites. Sakthi returned to the jail with a mosquito net, some food and biscuits and also gave the woman 400 rupees (about £6). The warder at the jail was so moved that he wrote a letter of commendation to the Police Superintendant and this has now been printed with Sakthi's picture in the local papers. We are very proud of our daughter and very special friend Sakthi.

Meena returns for leprosy treatment

I am delighted to confirm that Meena has now been found and has returned to Mettupalayam. She has been to the clinic who have confirmed early stages of leprosy and prescribed 1 months treatment with antibiotics. She will then return for a second examination to determine whether further treatment is necessary. Normally 6 months of antibiotics will halt the spread of the disease.

Meena is to stay at Mettupalayam with her relations and attend Mettupalayam School.

Thank you Venkat, Gopal and Patchyamman for taking such efforts to help this young girl.