Eight years ago, tragedy struck the family of V. Mallika of Kozhapadi, near Cheyyar, as she lost her husband in a freak accident in their agriculture field.
Despite her circumstances, Mallika — popularly known as ‘valaiyalkaramma’ as she sells glass bangles in nearby hamlets at weekly and annual sandhais (markets) — was able to get her son Satish admitted in an engineering college.
By maintaining a healthy mark sheet, he ensured the continuance of the education loan sanctioned by the State Bank of India, Korkkai branch.
Likewise, S. Lakshmi of Vandavasi, a homemaker and family pensioner, decided to wisely utilise the money received in 2010 after the sudden demise of her husband, Sugumar, a bus driver attached to State Transport Corporation (Villupuram). She ensured that her elder daughter, Kanimozhi, completed a professional course as Lakshmi believed that it was important to provide an education to girls.
Satish and Kanimozhi are students at Adhiparasakthi Engineering College, Melmaruvathur.
Inspired by the commitment of nine such mothers, widows who survived with the little amount they earned as daily wagers and battled the odds to provide an education for their children, the college has decided to honour them on International Women’s Day, said V. Ramaswamy, the principal.
