A humanitarian gesture of students of the Department of Social Work at Don Bosco Arts and Science College at Angadikkadavu here has resulted in the construction of a house for a homeless family of a farmhand.
Chacko Naduviledath, a native of nearby Vaniyappara, is a farm hand struggling to earn a living to support his family.
The landless family living in a rented house started dreaming of a house of their own when local parish of Angadikkadavu gave it 7.5 cents land for house construction.
Rs. 4 lakh collected
The students of the college put in their efforts to collect Rs. 4 lakh and volunteer their time to join the workers to construct the house. The initiative of the students supported by Department head Fr. Joby Maniyanikkal and student co-ordinator Jimmi Joseph took three months to reach its fruition.
The key of the newly built house was handed over to the family on August 17 which happened to be the first day of Malayalam month Chingam.
“The initiative was promoted to cultivate among students a sense of social responsibility,” said Fr. Maniyanikkal.
Built in 101 days
The house was constructed in 101 days with students themselves joining the workers, he said. While the students pooled in total Rs. 1,20,000, the rest was collected as donation from others, he added.
The construction of the house was a great relief for Mr. Naduviledath.
“It is not possible for me to save money from my meagre income to construct a house,” he said adding that the students of the college turned his dream into a reality. His family comprises his wife, two children and his mother.
The key was handed over to Mr. Naduviledath’s mother Elikutty by college Principal Fr. Francis Karakkat.
College Manager Fr. K.O. Thomas and parish vicar Fr. Thomas Mundamattathil were among those present.
‘The initiative was aimed at cultivating among students a sense of social responsibility’
