MLAs ignore 60-yr-old at jail

Thiruvananthapuram: An Assembly committee that visited Central Jail at Poojapura recently has come under attack for being “callous” to an old, handicapped woman, who was there to see her husband, Abdul Rahiman, serving a short sentence.

The committee, led by AICC secretary V D Satheesan, was on an inspection of the jail security when Azoora Beevi, 60, with her lame right leg, dragged herself before them. She said something and even tried to reach Satheesan’s hand but the MLAs avoided her, leaving police officials to take her away.

Satheesan was obviously irritated, asking officials, “how come that she is here”. Another member wanted to know whether she was a Tamil. According to jail welfare officer Joy, Azoora Beevi is a regular visitor. Usually she waits near the road when she will be picked up by vehicles, returning to the jail. Because of her physical condition, she meets Abdul Rahiman outside the interview room.

But, sources said, the encounter with MLAs was for a different purpose. Although her monthly income is '100, she holds an APL card. Unable to fend for herself and husband in jail, she wanted to meet the CM and get the APL status changed to BPL.

She thought the MLAs would take her case to the CM. But the MLAs had more important business to transact and preferred to listen to the officials than hear the woman’s complaint. They did not realize that she had wanted to speak to them directly.