Friday July 3, 2009

A small shed is their home

Story and photos by STUART MICHAEL

FOR Vally Ratnasamy, 46, and her son, Ramesh Sugumaran, 12, home for the past six month is a pathetic 2m by 3m former tool shed on a daisy farm in Taman Velox, Rawang.

The duo are surviving on Vally’s meagre earnings of RM200 a month as a farmhand.

Daisy farm owner Rajan Muru-gesu said Vally had turned up at the farm three months ago looking for work.

Little house on daisy farm: Dhana Raja and Madhu outside the 2m x 3m former tool shed where Vally and Ramesh have been living in for the last three months.

On learning that she had no place to live, Rajan took pity on her and the boy. “I cleared the pesticides, grass-cutting machines and other tools from the shed and told her that she could stay there. She sleeps on a plank one metre off the ground while her son sleeps on the ground, which gets wet whenever it rains.

“I have also given her some kitchen utensils and an oil drum to store water. But I still feel that people should not live like this,’’ Rajan said.

That’s not the end of the duo’s problems.

Vally said she went to apply for Ramesh’s identity card when he turned 12 three months ago but the application was rejected even though her husband is a Malaysian.

“I am worried for my son’s future. I want him to get a good education,” she said.

Ramesh is a pupil of SK Taman Desa 1 in Bandar Country Homes, Rawang.

Vally said her husband had gone senile while her 21-year-old son left her three years ago.

Pusat Bandar Country Homes MIC chairman Madhu Marimuthu and Pusat Bandar Country Homes MIC committee member Dhana Raja heard about Vally’s situation and decided to help her.

“After hearing of Vally’s situation, we have given her six- months’ supply of provisions like milk, sugar, rice, Milo, mee hoon and salt. We will contact the Welfare Department to get her a monthly allowance.

“We are working with the Social Entrepreneurs Network to get funds to build a brick house for her if the daisy farm owner approves of it.

“As for Ramesh, we are looking to sponsor his education and will try to enrol him in an industrial training course if he does not pass his upcoming UPSR exmaination.

“This is because Ramesh is the only one who can now support his mother after he completes his education,’’ said Madhu.

To help Vally and her son, call Madhu at 019-318 9232.