In the torrential monsoon of 2018, Manjadikkari colony in Kumarakom, Kerala, faced devastating losses. The hamlet that is home to 39 Below-poverty-line households is removed from the rest of the district and is only accessible by an old ferry. Surrounded by water, the village did not receive relief materials even after the flood albeit the presence of various institutions supporting the neighbouring villages. CBM India, with the support of Bharati Cement, extended relief and rehabilitation to Manjadikkari.
Rajappan lost his sole livelihood during the floods in Kerala. A person with locomotor disability, Rajappan, lives with his siblings in a small house located on the shores of Vembanadu lake. He relied on rag-picking to make his living. Since childhood, Rajappan only had limited mobility in both his legs. But his determination to earn his livelihood without depending on his family motivated him to pick plastic water bottles that littered the lake. He rows his boat in the lake, collecting bottles to sell it in the market. The unexpected floods, however, took with it over one lakh bottles which Rajappan had managed to gather.
When CBM India’s team met Rajappan after the destructive floods, he was grieving his losses. CBM supported him by providing him with a new boat since the boat he relied on was rented. Having his own boat has helped him save on rent; on days that he isn’t rag-picking, he rents out his boat, bringing him additional income. He was also given a wheelchair to help with better mobility. Rajappan, with the help of CBM, was able to revive his livelihood, despite the circumstances.
