Monday February 13, 2012

Life’s hard for widow with seven children

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Her husband died in a hit-and-run accident last December and since then, life has been one painful day after another for Satiavani Munian.

She has seven young daughters to care for.

And the housewife has had to pick herself up to feed them. The 38-year old from Permatang Tinggi, Bukit Mertajam, has started selling nasi lemak and curry puffs at the Permatang Tinggi market since last week, earning about RM15 a day.

However, it is still not enough and sometimes the girls, aged between four and 13, and their mother have to make do with bread, biscuits and coffee for their meals.

Her late husband, Kaliappan Samyvel, 40, died after the bicycle he was riding was knocked down along Jalan Gajah Mati, Bukit Teh here on Dec 16 last year.

A mum’s plea: (From left to right) Satiavani showing the BR1M rejection letter with her daughters Sasmitha, Jisitra, eight, Vinoshini, nine, K.Ormila, 11, and Kesavarthini at their house in Permatang Tinggi, Bukit Mertajam, yesterday.

Kaliappan, a deaf-mute, was in the midst of doing a part-time job, distributing flyers after completing his day job as a factory worker when the accident occurred.

“I just do not know how I am going to raise these girls on my own,” said Satiavani after a visit by Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng to her house yesterday.

She said her husband’s colleagues had raised RM12,000 for the family and pledged to give them RM500 every month, beginning January.

Satiavani said she had to pay RM200 in house rental and RM60 in utilities bill every month.

“I also have to pay RM40 for the schoolbus fare for my eldest daughter Kesavarthini, who is in Form One at SMK Taman Perwira nearby.”

Three other daughters study at SJK (T) Permatang Tinggi.

Satiavani said she had to temporarily “give away” two of her daughters – Priyadarshini, six, and Nunishadevi, five, – to her mother in Sitiawan, Perak.

Her youngest daughter, Sasmitha, four, stays with her.

Chong Eng, who is also Women’s Rights Awareness Association (WRAA) president, said the organisation would give Satiavani RM300 every month until her eldest daughter completed her education.

Those keen on helping Satiavani, can contact WRAA vice-president Kathy Chong at 012-476 7729.

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