PATHANAMTHITTA: Gopi (70), of Biju Bhavan in Omallur's Pallam, committed suicide the other day due to the distress of not being able to complete the construction of his house under the LIFE Project.

The charred body was found on the road near the house on Saturday morning. A can of kerosene, a match and a suicide note were found nearby. The police found a note that he had written on the back of the copy of the lottery result and kept it in an envelope saying that he could not finish his housework before Onam and that he had failed in life. His wife Leela, who is suffering from heart disease, was being treated in a private hospital. One of her legs was amputated due to diabetes. She has also lost her ability to speak and is bedridden. Gopi was disappointed that his wish to live with his wife in the new house was not fulfilled.

Unfinished 'LIFE' house

It has been almost a year since the construction of the house began. All that remains is the roof molding. The family received 2 lakhs out of Rs 4 lakh so far. He went to the panchayat office several times to get money for roof construction. The usual reply was that the funds are yet to be received. Last Onam, he had borrowed money from many people in the hope of completing the housework. The money was spent on his wife's treatment. Gopi, who is suffering from kidney disease, was also worried about lack of money for treatment. Gopi and Leela were under the care of their daughter, who lived in a rented house nearby, as the leaky makeshift shed was in a dilapidated condition. Gopi used to sleep in this shed at night. Gopi was doing lottery business at Punnalathpadi in Pathanamthitta - Thiruvalla road. His son Biju, a tapping worker, lives in Punalur.