Severely affected by ragging, Savithri who lost her eye dies aged 45

KASARGODE: Savithri (45) of Cheruvathur, Vengad was severely ragged in college at the age of 16. Following this incident, she went mentally unstable which eventually resulted in her losing an eye. She died yesterday morning while undergoing treatment at the Kanhangad District Hospital.

Savithri, a 1995-96 batch SSLC student, passed in first class with 377 marks, which was a great achievement at that time. She joined Nehru College, Kanhangad for a pre-degree. There she was subjected to severe ragging on the third day. Due to mental stress, she did not leave the house later. Although the college authorities took action on behalf of a few students, the case ended without any significant legal action. Savithri, who stopped her studies, used a compass to pierce her right eye. With this, her life became dark.

Although she sought treatment in hospitals in Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, it didn't help. Since she did not have a secure house, she was living in the 'Snehalayam' in Manjeswaram. Her classmates in the SSLC batch expressed their willingness to build a house for her, but this did not happen as she did not have her own land for this. All her family had was a small piece of land with a hut. She contracted many diseases. As her illness worsened, she was shifted to Yenepoya Medical College in Mangaluru. She was shifted to Kanhangad District Hospital a week ago after suffering from pneumonia.

The body was brought to her residence in Vengad and cremated. Her mother is Vattichi. Sukumari, Shantha and Thankam are siblings.

"Savithri's family has been allotted a house under the Life Housing Scheme. The old house has been demolished and a floor has been laid there to build a house. The locals have always been there for treatment and help."
- Mahesh, Vengad Cheruvathur Grama Panchayat Member