Family finds it difficult to bail out tribal man jailed for possessing tortoises

Thrissur: A family belonging to the Malavedar tribal community is living in utter poverty in Kodungallur in Thrissur. The family members are staying under a dilapidated tarpaulin structure erected on wooden sticks in the bushes close to the Poklai market.

At present, there are four members in the shanty house This includes three children, they are of the ages 14, 5, and 3 respectively. Their mother Roja earns a living out of selling lottery tickets. 

Things weren’t that bad for the family until July 13. Suresh, Roja's husband had been a coconut tree climber. However, he was arrested by the Vellikulangara police, and sent to Irinjalakuda jail. 

The forest department had registered a case against Suresh a couple of years ago for carrying two live tortoises in his bag. He had spent so many days in jail back then. He was released from jail later on but was asked to report at Vellikulangara police station once every month for signing the register. However, Suresh failed to report in the month of June, which led to his arrest. Sadly there is no one to bail him out. The homeless family is desperately in need of help.

The elder son of the couple was forced to give up his studies. Their elder daughter is staying with another family due to the ongoing crisis. Roja is selling lotteries in the surroundings of Kodungallur temple.