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| M.S.Sunil, Department of Zoology, Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta |
Being assigned the duty of programme officer of NSS at Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta was the turning point in the life of M.S.Sunil, a teacher of Zoology there. Her first effort, with the support of student volunteers, was to construct a house for Asha, a student, who was residing in a shanty.
When the construction was over, the total cost came to
1,17,000 while they could collect only
97,000 by way of contribution. Sunil contributed the
balance and the project became a reality.
Sunil, with the cooperation of volunteers has been able to construct and gift 21 such houses. She is now into the construction of the 22nd one.
How does she find the resource for these constructions? Purity of intention and a desire to help are sufficient; everything else will come on its own, she says.
In addition to constructing houses, she has been able to organize 18 libraries including the ones at Sub Jail, Pathanamthitta and Balasadanam, Konni.
She has been active in improving the living condition of adivasis also. After winning their trust and teaching them about personal hygiene, Sunil and her students have been visiting their hamlets in the forest twice a month with foodgrains.
Recognition of her voluntary and leadership effort has come as awards like best NSS Programme Officer, Vanitha Sevak Samaj Puraskar etc.
She has the support of her husband Thomas, a businessman and her son Prince.
The shade giving trees one encounters along the ring road of Pathanamthitta owe their existence to the effort of Sunil and her students.
What was the most gratifying moment of her life? Susheela, an engineering graduate was living literally under an umbrella in her own plot of land. Intense solitude had played havoc with the serenity of her mind. She was living alone, with a few dogs as companions. Holding Susheela’s hand and leading her to the house constructed for her was the most satisfying moment of her life, says Sunil.
Courtesy:
N.Susmitha, K.Madhu, P.Sanitha, Beeba Bobben, P.Prajith (text), Sajan V
Nambiar (photo), Mathrubhumi, April 24, 2012.
Contributed by: Administrator
