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Story and photos by Veena Lydia, World Vision India
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Gopal (boy in blue shirt) and his family are currently living in their neighbour’s house. Their own house had been washed away by the flood. |
At the time when little Gopal was looking forward to celebrate the annual festival of lights, Diwali, all things went wrong. His house crumbled in the floods and there was little his family could salvage.
The need for shelter is urgent for this family as well as others in the neighbourhood. Many villagers in Bijapur district, Karnataka, worked hard to save money and some even borrowed money with huge interest to build their homes. Sadly, the waters washed everything away.
World Vision sponsored child, eight-year-old Gopal, narrated his story with tears in his eyes. “I lost my school bag, slippers and bedspread. All the things that we had are gone.”
Gopal doesn’t speak like other boys his age. His hard life has prepared him to face challenges like an adult and hence, he speaks like one too.
On that fateful day, Gopal’s mother Lalitha went with her children to a religious gathering somewhere else in the village. It rained heavily and the family had no idea that their house would be swept away. They were shocked upon their return to discover that their house was gone.
“My whole body shivered. Then, tears came out and my children started crying as we returned to an empty ground. Our house had been washed away by the floods,” recalls Lalitha.
Lalitha, a widow, told World Vision, “My younger children started to cry as they were hungry. I looked around, there were only stones and sand. Currently, the neighbours are providing us food,” says Lalitha in desperation. Because the family had lost their home, their neighbours have welcomed them into theirs – but for how long?
Lalitha is the sole provider for her four children, ten-year-old Shilpa, six-year-old Seema, four-year-old Rohit, and Gopal. Her meagre daily wage of 80 rupees (approximately S$2.40) could barely meet her children’s needs. On top of that, Lalitha has to support her grandparents who live with her.
The option left for this family is borrowing the money they need to erect a make-shift home. When they decide to go for a loan, repaying the money at high rates of interest will be tough.
World Vision plans to provide shelter assistance for families like Gopal’s in this village. To find out how World Vision is helping those affected by the flood, click here
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I WISH TO HELP!
World Vision India is raising funds to support emergency relief and rehabilitation work for those who have been affected by the South India floods.
To help, please click here and indicate that your contribution is for the India Relief Fund. For online contributions, please click here. |
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