Thamarassery, Kerala: The red tape that drove aided school teacher Valavananickal Aleena Benny from Kattippara to despair—and ultimately to suicide—has finally been removed. The long-awaited government approval for her appointment came only after she had lost all hope and ended her life. By the time the official recognition arrived, Aleena had already been laid to rest for 24 days in the special cemetery block of the Holy Family Church at Kattippara, her grave marked as number seven.

For nearly five years, Aleena Benny (30) worked at an aided school without receiving a salary or official recognition. Her tragic passing deepened the sorrow of her community. Notably, her appointment was approved less than a month after her death.

On March 15, the Thamarassery sub-district education office sanctioned her appointment as a Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) at St Joseph LP School, Kodanchery. However, since the formalities related to disability reservation criteria were incomplete, she was granted only a daily wage position, earning Rs 955 per day. The appointment order was published on the Samunnathi website after final approval from the Assistant Educational Officer (AEO) of Thamarassery. It was then handed over to the management under the Thamarassery Diocese Corporate Educational Agency. As a result, Aleena’s family will receive only the salary and associated benefits for the period from June 5, 2024, to February 19, 2025, the day she passed away.

Her previous service at Nazrath LP School—from June 17, 2019, to December 31, 2019, on a temporary basis, and from July 22, 2021, as a probationary LP assistant teacher after obtaining the K-TET qualification—has not been recognised.

This means her family will receive benefits for just nine months of service at St Joseph LP School, Kodanchery.

On February 19, Aleena Benny was found hanging in her bedroom at her home in Kattippara. According to her father, Benny, years of working without pay or job security left her in deep distress, ultimately leading her to take her own life.