'Rs 100 each to both children every day after work'; Gloom descends in Panmana over Venu's tragic death

KOLLAM: The purring of the auto would be heard late into the night every day at the house. He would step out and hand over Rs 100 each to his two daughters, Vidya and Varsha. The girls used to hoard the money and spent it wisely, understanding how hard their father worked to run the family. Relatives at ‘Pooja Bhavan’ in Chavara Panmana are grief-stricken knowing that Venu would not return to the house anymore.

Last day, Venu, a heart patient, died after alleging medical negligence from Thiruvananthapuram MCH.

Vidya and Varsha are presently inconsolable and were seen leaning towards their mother Sindhu’s shoulder, crying their hearts out. No matter how little he earned, Venu wanted to ensure the highest level of education for his children. Venu made it a habit not to spend hard-earned money cheaply. Venu’s wife, Sindhu, a private school teacher, earns a salary of eleven thousand rupees.

Both children passed their 10th and 12th classes with an A-plus grade. Vidya's dream is to become an IAS officer, while Varsha aims to study medicine. Vidya, who has passed her B.Sc., wanted to train for civil service, but the dire financial straits forced her to take PSC coaching. The autorickshaw loan would be paid off within a year. Vidya aims to save up money and join a civil service coaching.

Varsha, who secured a decent rank in the NEET exam, could have been admitted to BDS, but she was adamant about pursuing MBBS. Sindhu doesn’t know how she would financially assist their children to continue their studies with a meagre salary, which is barely sufficient to meet the household expenses.

Venu's house, which has only two rooms and a kitchen, was built 16 years ago with one lakh rupees received from the panchayat. The asbestos sheet roof has cracked, so it leaks even in the slightest of rain. The children remembered with pain how Venu used to keep away the books when it rained.