After power, elderly Sindhudurg couple now get water supply

The water tank installed outside the Dicholkars’ hut

After nearly 60 years, the elderly couple from Sindhudurg with hearing and speech impairment, finally gets water connection in their hut at Tulas village. On June 20, mid-day had reported about the deplorable living conditions of Vanita and Vasant Dicholkar, who lacked basic necessities. The very next day, they got power supply and about two months later, they have running water as well.

For years, the Dicholkars, both of whom are in their late 70s, walked through the jungle to fetch drinking water from a well. "Before the story was published, the couple travelled nearly 500 metre and carried tumblers on their heads. With the help of the donations they received, we finally installed one large water tank and connected a motor to the well. Now, their hut has running water," said Santosh Ghare, the sarpanch of Tulas village in Vengurla taluka.

Vasant Dicholkar fetches water from a well

The couple also has a pedestal fan and cooking gas. One of their neighbours told mid-day that the couple is elated to have the fan, as "they don't have to use a hand fan on hot days anymore." A local resident was recently seen carrying an LPG cylinder to their home.

Also read: Mid-day Impact: Hearing, speech-impaired Sindhudurg couple gets electricity in their hut

Next, they'll get a house

Now, the villagers plan to build them a pucca house. "We have planned to build one good house for them, as the hut they have been living in is not theirs legally. It belongs to Vasant's maternal uncle," Ghare said. "The couple does not want to move away to another location, as they are emotionally attached to this place. So, we have planned to build a house next to the hut after the monsoon," he added.

Vanita Dicholkar fills up a bucket from a tap in her hut on Monday. Pics/Hanif Patel

The couple has received the electricity connection, but can't afford the monthly bill as they have no source of income, Ghare said, adding that the "couple is availing the facility of the pension scheme for the elderly to run their house."

Since their plight was first highlighted by primary school teacher Eknath Jankar, who met them during his Covid-19 duty, the couple received a donation of about Rs 12 lakh. Jankar had first shared Vasant's bank account details along with a Facebook post about them, but later suspended the contribution, as a sufficient amount of funds was collected. However, after mid-day published their story, more financial help started pouring in.

Atul Nirulkar, the grandson of Vanita's brother, told mid-day that he "had been taking care of the couple and handling their bank accounts. But after their story was published in mid-day, Vasant's brother Krishna, who would hardly visit them before, came all the way from Goa to help them."

The happy couple gets cooking gas connection and a pedestal fan

"Krishna met with the villagers, and at a meeting, it was decided that all the important documents and bank passbook will be handed over to him. And I did just that," Nirulkar said.

When asked if Krishna can withdraw money from Vasant's account, Ghare said, "No one can withdraw money from Vasant's account without the presence of the couple's four neighbours."

Krishna, Vasant's younger brother, told mid-day, "I had been taking care of my brother and his wife, but couldn't during the lockdown. It is not that I had abandoned them. I even got their eye operations done, as they had blurry vision."

"I have kept all their vital documents with me so that no one can misuse it. I am planning to get one TV set for them on Ganesh Chaturthi," he said, confirming that Vasant's bank account has Rs 12 lakh.

Mumbaikar gifts solar lamp

One of mid-day's readers, Ajay Nadkarni, a finance executive in Mumbai, has gifted a solar lamp to the couple.

Avinash Kuse, the president of Vasai-based Samadhan Foundation, visited the couple recently. "We have to ensure that the money donated to the couple is not misused. All the funds must be used for providing benefits to the couple," he told mid-day.

Rs 12 lakh
Amount of donation to Vasant's bank account