Kozhikode: Tales of despair, as well as hope, can be heard every time a natural calamity strikes. One such real-life story which attracted the attention of the social media and evoked immediate response relates to a young girl named Manusha.
A student of Class 4, Manusha was living with her father Raju, a street circus artiste, and two brothers in a shack that was washed away in the floodwaters. Having lost their only roof, Manusha moved to a relief camp along with her father and brothers. However, tragedy struck the family again at the camp. Raju suffered high blood pressure and collapsed. He could not be revived and Manusha lost her father.
The camp at Manakkad UP School was later closed on Monday evening, but Manusha and her brothers had nowhere to go. The shack that Raju had built 22 years was no longer there. Making the situation worse, the children had no contact with their mother, who had abandoned them long ago. The only possession of the family was a cot resting on stones.
However, the representatives of Mavoor panchayat and the local people stepped in to offer relief to the kids. They decided to shelter Manusha and her siblings in the old age home at Kanniparambu on a temporary basis. Manusha’s plight was soon posted on social media and shared widely. Many people offered help and some among them also expressed their willingness to adopt Manusha, a student at Manakkad school.
Ratheesh, based in New Zealand, is one of those Good Samaritans, said Kozhikode District Collector S Sambasiva Rao. “Ratheesh has said that he would adopt Manusha. But we have to check the legal aspects. Moreover, the lives of Manusha’s two brothers also have to be made secure,” Rao told Manorama Online.
According to Muneerath C, president of Mavoor panchayat, the local body is extending all possible help to Manusha and her brothers. “Several people are contacting us regarding the adoption of the children. However, they should approach the Kozhikode District Collector for the purpose,” she added.
Among the numerous people ready to support Manusha is Jitheesh and his wife, who have been waiting in vain for a child over the last 11 years. On social media, Jitheesh has invited Manusha to live in his rented house. Noticing Jiteesh’s post, Jiju Jacob Munjeli has promised the kids an own house in Ernakulam.
For adopting a child, a person needs to have legally owned property. Jiju has said that he would build a small house for the children at Elankkunnappuzha in Ernakulam in case Jitheesh’s move does not yield results.
Another person who is willing to adopt Manusha is Mini Vivek, a resident of Pavizhapongu in Angamaly. Mini, who worked as a nurse in Israel for several years, wanted a girl child after two sons. She learnt about Manusha from a post by Jiju Jacob Munjeli. Mini told Manorama Online that she was not aware of the legal aspects but if the authorities were willing, she was ready to accept Manusha.
Among the celebrities who shared Manusha’s plight on social media is film director Sugeeth and music director Rahul Raj.
