Selvi is a mother of 2 adolescent children. She lost her husband around 12 years back. Since then she works and takes care of her daughter and son. She is the leader of the Malligai Transformation Group. She and her other members are very active in their group and the groups related activities. She also regularly attends the leadership training organised by WISHALL. She was also trained in small business development a couple of years back. For many years she used to stitch the cement bags and earn her daily living. For the past few months she was not getting regular income from that work. So 2 months back she decided to purchase a push cart and sell vegetables and fruits in and around her community. She goes early in the morning to the wholesale market and buys the vegetables and fruits. On an average, she used to earn from 200-300 Rs. per day.
A new problem arose – COVID-19 and its resultant lockdown! She still continued to do her business. Once she achieves her target for the day, she also gives for credit to the needy families the vegetables and fruits and tells them that they can pay once the situation becomes normal. In the evening if she has some left over, she visits the very poor families and gives these products for free. “I find satisfaction in what I do” says Selvi. She spreads joy and confidence to the community in spite of the sufferings and challenges she goes through to bring up her children.
During this period of lockdown, we wanted to distribute nutrition powder to the children in the community. Selvi gladly volunteered to take the responsibility to buy the raw materials, prepare, and distribute the nutrition powder to the 24 needy children in her community.
