Dignity and new hope for Sothinathan
Life for Sothinathan was full of challenges. Afflicted by polio from childhood, he grew up depending on others to take care of him.
“I grew up with my grandmother since I was three years old and then some of my relatives took me in. But I knew they didn’t want to keep me for a long time. They passed me from one house to another. I was a burden to them.”
Although he felt rejected, Sothinathan found a home for his heart in Thevida. From the first time he saw her at their kovil festival, she gave him hope and he wanted to do everything possible to take care of her.
“I tried many ways to earn a living,” he says, “I plucked coconuts and got paid around Rs 80 (70 cents US) for five coconuts trees I climbed, but my legs soon hurt. I did manual labour work whenever I could find the opportunity and even cut grass in the fields.”
After their baby was born, Sothinathan knew he had to do much more to provide for his little family. But there was no one willing to employ him.
“The only thing left to do was go to the town and beg. I knew people may give me money out of sympathy. I didn’t want to be a beggar, but that was the best option I had,” he says.
He hitched a ride by tractor and travelled 30 km from his home to the Batticaloa town to beg. Some days he collected around Rs 1,000 (USD 9) and bought food for his wife and milk for his baby, sufficient for two days. Quite often, though, his collection was not enough to support their day-to-day needs.
Begging was the best and the only thing that could do to support his family; or so he thought. His relatives and neighbours did not see anything wrong with it and the people he met on the road, those who put coins in his hands, didn’t question or doubt him.
While his life settled down to the rhythm of his new living, he came to see a change in his neighbourhood. Many families began to grow gardens at home. This interested Sothinathan. He learnt about the Permaculture project that had commenced in his village for farmer communities, by World Vision Paddipalai Area Development Programme and wanted to be a part of the project. His enthusiasm was enough.
“World Vision staff were very positive towards me and encouraged me,” says Sothinathan. “The farmers in my neighbourhood all came to help me build the fence and till and prepare the ground. I was overjoyed by the support I received. World Vision provided the basic awareness, technical knowledge and the necessary equipment and material to start my home-garden. They also built a well for me so that I would have easy access to water for my garden.”
Sothinathan’s garden which started with just two vegetables but he now has ten varieties of fruit and vegetables growing in it.
“It definitely is more challenging and takes more effort than begging,” smiles the new farmer. “But the feeling of satisfaction that you have worked hard to provide for your family and that you can provide for their meals from what you yourself have grown, cannot be described.”
“My garden was completely washed away during the last floods. I was very discouraged and wanted to quit and go back to begging, but World Vision stood by me and helped me to restart. The vegetables get sold in the village very quickly and I am confident that I can take care of my family.”
“If I go to the town again, it will not be to beg, but to sell the excess produce from my garden,” smiles Sothinathan. “And it gives me a relief to know that my little son would never be called a beggar’s son. That is the most important thing for me.”
The Permaculture Project which derives its name from ‘Permanent Agriculture’ focuses on creating sustainable human habitats by following nature’s patterns. The project focuses on developing and establishing eco-friendly sustainable agricultural practices, using local resources and appropriate technology and improving the quality of life of the communities.