Mom seeks government job to help special child

Chennai: T Abiramasundari, single parent to a mentally retarded 14-year-old daughter, Ramya, from Thirupurakundram, Madurai, gave a petition to the Chief Minister’s cell, seeking a government job to be able to support her family of three.

She has two children and has to take Ramya along with her wherever she goes as a daily wage worker on construction sites.

She frequently lost her job at such places as she had her daughter accompanying her which emloyers resented while house owners would not rent her a place to stay due to Ramya’s disability. Abiramasundari lost her husband 12 years ago after he committed suicide due to unmanageable debts.

Abiramasundari was seeking the state government’s help for a job as she found that the security of her daughter was at stake. She further added that she might resort to mercy killing Ramya if she was denied a job.

Special officer F. Innocent Divya, IAS, suggested that Abiramasundari admit Ramya in a government home that would take care of her. “We encounter many such cases and special children are taken care of in government homes if the parents cannot support them,” she said.