I am happy with my children, says 83-year-old Mumbai woman evicted from house

Celine Sequeira

Celine Sequeira, 83, whose IC Colony home was in the middle of redevelopment-related litigation, and had been evicted by the BMC on Monday, will be looked after by her three children. After she was taken by her daughter to her house on Monday night, the MHB police contacted her other children and asked them all to look after her. mid-day had published a series of articles about Sequeira who stayed alone at Stone Castle building, without water and electricity connections. They were restored after mid-day reported her plight.

Her two daughters and son have decided to move her into a flat they plan to rent in IC Colony, and have promised to provide her medicines, vegetables, milk, etc.

‘Her kids' responsibility'

Speaking to mid-day, Senior Inspector Popat Yele of MHB police station said, "We read all the articles in mid-day and before eviction, we contacted her daughters, Violet who stays at Dahisar, and Irene who stays at Malad, and son Joe who stays at Vasai Road. On Monday we called Violet and asked her to take her mother home. We understand Sequeira's children's financial condition is weak, but we had the responsibility of informing her family. We wouldn't have left the senior citizen on the road after she was evicted. We handed over all her valuables to Sequeira. She is now her children's responsibility."

Violet said, "I stay in a one-room kitchen flat at Dahisar with my husband. We siblings have decided to take a flat on rent in IC Colony for our mother. We will contribute for the rent of the flat. Every month we will also give her food, groceries, milk and medicines, etc. We will take care of her and ensure that she does not face any problems. She is happy at my residence. I lost my job and all of us are facing financial crisis, but for our mother we will do everything."

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‘Church will also help'

Elsie Rodriguez who has been helping Sequeira, said, "We saw a one-room room kitchen flat for Sequeira in IC colony with her daughters and son on Tuesday. The rent is Rs 11,000 and the deposit is Rs 40,000. Her children have decided to rent a flat for her at IC colony as she will even get help from IC Church."

Speaking to mid-day, Sequeira said, "I am happy to meet my daughters and son together after years. They have decided to take care of me and they will provide me food. I am happy with them."

Issue with the bldg

Stone Castle society is around 40 years old and stuck in redevelopment-related litigation. It was declared a C1 category (dangerous structure needing demolition) building by the civic body, which asked residents to vacate the premises and ordered the structure to be pulled down. The society members got a private firm to audit the building. The auditor categorised the building as C-2B (needs immediate repairs).