Family of six, including pregnant woman, in a woodshed

CHANGARAMKULAM: The six-member Scheduled Caste family of Chandran from Udhinuparambu Changaramkulam is staying in a woodshed after the bank attached the property due to default in loan repayment.

In the seventh ward of Alamcode panchayat, Chandran, his wife Shailaja, their pregnant daughter, ten-year-old granddaughter, son and daughter-in-law are living amidst piles of goods and firewood.

In 2014, Chandran took a loan of three lakhs from a private bank in Changaramkulam. In 2017, the loan was renewed after paying interest. Due to the economic crisis and covid, the repayments were delayed. He tried to sell the house and pay off the debt, but it didn't work. As he was unable to pay the bank five and a half lakh rupees including the arrears, the bank went into attachment proceedings. Four days ago, officials arrived and evicted the family and locked and sealed the house. With that, this Scheduled Caste family had to move to an unsecured firewood shed.

Chandran has two daughters and a son. All three are married. A pregnant daughter and their child are with Chandran. His son and daughter-in-law are also with them. Son goes for welding and centering jobs. It has only been a week since he resumed work after taking treatment for an accident. Chandran is a manual labourer. Wife Shailaja goes for MGNREGA works.