20 June,2021 12:00 PM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar Sharma
Vasant Dicholkar and his wife Vanita, both in their late 70s, at their home inside the forested stretch of Tulas village, in Vengurla taluka, Sindhudurg. Pics/Hanif Patel
Eknath Jankar, the teacher, who spotted the hut inside the forested stretch of Tulas village, in Vengurla taluka, had shared the plight of Vasant Dicholkar and his wife Vanita in a recent Facebook post, which has now helped generate support and funds worth Rs 9 lakh for the couple.
The Dicholkars walk 500 metres daily, to fetch water from a well in the area. The water, though, is highly-contaminated and unsafe for drinking
Jankar, who was accompanied by two anganwadi workers when he visited them on June 6, had attempted to knock on the door. "When we didn't get any response, we walked in. They had been sleeping, and were startled by our presence," Jankar told mid-day. On enquiring, he learnt about the couple's impairment. After jotting down the couple's body temperature and oxygen levels, he took leave, but not before acquiring the bank account details of the couple that he later shared in his post.
In Tulas, residents are aware of the condition of the couple, currently in their late 70s. During every election, local politicians arrange for a car to take the husband and wife to the voting booth with the promise that they will ensure they receive water and electricity. Years have gone by, and no support has come yet.
mid-day visited their hut last week, negotiating knee-deep water and the quagmire inside the forest. The home was dimly-lit with a kerosene lantern, and the couple was sharing their lunch with a cat, when this reporter met them.
Unable to understand sign language, the reporter sought the help of their relative, Atul Nirulkar, 38, Vanita's brother's grandson, who lives 10 km from their home, and often visits with dry ration, clothes or medicines when required.
Atul told mid-day that the couple has been impaired since birth. Vasant's mother Sitabai came to Tulas village, when he was still a child. Here, she moved to her brother's home.
"He spent his childhood in the same village and would do farming, until his mother Sitabai passed away in September 2013. After her death, he stopped farming as he was devastated," said Atul , who has a cashew business. Vasant's only brother lives in Goa. "But, he has never visited him," said Atul's father Suresh.
Vanita and Vasant got married when they were in their late 30s. Since they are childless, the extended family has been looking after them. "We keep asking them to move in with us, but they simply refuse. They are emotionally attached to this home," said Suresh.
According to Atul, there is no home within the radius of at least 2 km. Before the lockdown, Vanita would go to nearby homes and do household work, which would help bring in some money. But they've been homebound ever since the pandemic broke out. "In case of any emergency, she walks down to the neighbouring homes, requesting them to leave me a message," Atul said.
The elderly couple has to walk around 500 metres daily to reach the nearby well to source water for drinking and household purposes. There is neither a water connection inside their hut, nor a hand pump in the area.
When mid-day visited the well, the water seemed highly contaminated. Only recently, Atul got the old roof tiles replaced with tin roof fixed on iron pillars to prevent rain leakage. But the clay mud walls of the home still need repairs.
Atul Nirulkar and Suresh Nirulkar
After Jankar posted about the couple, several people came forward to help them. Interior designer Bhumika Tendulkar, 37, who had read about the couple, had even reached out to Prasad Sudhakar Gawde, a known face in Sindhudurg, who works in the eco-tourism sector, to visit the couple. "Many people contacted me to check the authenticity of the post. I then went to the elderly couple's home," said Gawde, appreciating the effort of the primary school teacher. Tendulkar added, "The teacher has done a great job, while discharging his official duty."
Jankar said that the deputy collector of Sindhudurg district Rohini Rajput has also taken cognisance of his post, and has written a letter to the tehsildar of Vengurla taluka to extend all possible help.
When mid-day visited the Dicholkars, officials from the gram panchayat had been conducting a survey of the area. A few electric poles were also being installed near the home.
When contacted, Shankar Ghare, sarpanch of Tulas village said that while the Facebook post had gone viral recently, he had approached the MSEDCL office in April, seeking an electricity connection for the couple. "But, the owners of the land, where the electric poles were to be erected, raised an objection and it got delayed. Recently, the deputy collector wrote to the tehsildar to look into the matter," he said.
Ghare said that the elderly couple will now be given Rs 1,200 per month under Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar pension scheme. "We are also planning to relocate the couple to a better place, somewhere along the road, so that their condition can be monitored. But, for that, they need to be ready to leave their hut."
