On Monday around 3 p.m., Ambur All Women Police station sub-inspector A. Valarmathi had an unexpected visitor — a seven-year-old girl who wanted to lodge a complaint against her father who had “cheated” her by not keeping his promise to build a toilet in the house. “I had just finished my lunch, when the charming girl, Hannifa Zara, walked in with a smile. She was wearing her uniform and carrying a bag, full of medals and certificates. She addressed me as aunty and said her father had cheated her by not building a toilet in the house,” says Ms. Valarmathi. Hannifa Zara is the eldest daughter of Ehsanullah, 30, and Mehareen, 25. The couple have another daugher who is one-and-a-half years old. “She has been a topper in school. She has been asking me to build a toilet in the house since she was in LKG. I promised to construct one if she comes first in class and she did so. From then on, she has been scoring good marks,” he says.
Financial difficulties
He was unable to build a toilet as he was unemployed. “I was working in a canteen in Rameswaram, but I lost my job.” If I had money I would have constructed a toilet for her. We don’t even have proper power supply in the house. Angered over this, she stopped speaking to me recently,” he says.Haniffa, who studies in second standard in a neighbourhood school, told Ms. Valarmathi that her teachers had educated her on the importance of having a toilet at home. “I was really moved and called her father. He was in tears and said he was not in a position to build the toilet,” says Ms. Valarmathi.
The police on their part called the Ambur Muncipality officials and informed them about the issue. The officials agreed to build a toilet for the family at the earliest. “She was happy upon hearing this and we made her shake hands with her father,” says the sub-inspector.
The girl walked away from the station thanking the police officer profusely. “I cannot forget the sight,” says Ms. Valarmathi.
