"We need a house, Chief Minister": Six-year-old Rivani’s video plea wins assurance from VD Satheesan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A Class I student's poignant video plea for a safe home has caught the attention of Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, who has promised to resolve the family's plight.

Six-year-old Rivani, a student at Mulloor Government K.V.L.P.S., recently captured hearts across social media after a video of her asking the Chief Minister for a leak-free home surfaced. In the clip, the young girl promised to repay the government for the construction costs once she grew up and secured a job.

Responding swiftly to the viral video, Chief Minister Satheesan personally contacted Rivani’s mother, Priyanka, to assess the family's living conditions and assured her that a permanent housing solution would be provided. Kovalam MLA M. Vincent also followed up with the family to extend support.

Rivani lives with her mother, her brother Ivan, and her father, Rigil, who works as an auto-rickshaw driver. The family of four currently resides in a dilapidated, makeshift structure built on just two and a half cents of land in Mukkuvankuzhi, near Vizhinjam. According to the family, the fragile house is on the verge of collapse and floods completely during heavy downpours, forcing them to stay awake all night using domestic utensils to catch rainwater leaking through the roof.

The video was recorded by Rivani's older brother, Ivan, a Class VI student, using their mother’s mobile phone. It was initially sent to Rivani’s class teacher, Rini, who then shared it with local media outlets to draw public attention to the family's struggle.

Speaking about her daughter's innocent appeal, Priyanka noted that Rivani was deeply distressed by their living conditions and genuinely intended to clear the financial debt of a new house as soon as she completed her education and began earning. Following the official assurances, the family expressed hope that they would soon have a safe roof over their heads.