‘I’ll pay you back when I grow up’: Six-year-old’s touching appeal to Kerala CM Satheesan fetches her a home

Thiruvananthapuram: Six-year-old Rivani’s heartfelt appeal to Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan for a permanent home, with the assurance that “When I grow up, I will give you the money back”, has brought hope to her family, with a business group coming forward to build a new house for the Class I student.

The Chief Minister’s Office said that the group’s Chairman had informed Chief Minister Satheesan that the group would construct a house for Rivani, after the child’s appeal came to public attention.

Rivani, a student of Government KV LPS, Vizhinjam Mullur, had recently shared her distress over her family’s living conditions in a video that went viral.

“When it rains at night, we cannot sleep… Dear Chief Minister uncle, can you build us a new house? We can sleep peacefully there. When I grow up, I will give you money,” she said in her emotional appeal.

Moved by the child’s words, Chief Minister Satheesan had contacted Rivani’s mother, Priyanka and assured her that the family would be provided with a home.

The private group has now stepped in to fulfil that assurance by taking up the construction of the house.

The group has also joined hands with actor Mammootty’s Care and Share International Foundation in providing educational support to Rivani under the Vidyamritham project.

Rivani and her elder brother Ivan, a Class VI student, currently live in a makeshift shelter covered with plastic sheets and cloth on their 2.5-cent plot.

Their father Rigil works as an autorickshaw driver.

The family had applied several times under the Life Mission housing scheme but had not received assistance.

Their difficult circumstances came to light after Rivani’s heartfelt appeal highlighted the challenges faced by the family.

The initiative has turned a child’s simple request into a new beginning, with Rivani set to receive a secure home and continued educational support.

IANS