Thiruvananthapuram: The cultivation of spinach and okra in the six-cent plot made Devika hold the state award. But her face was gloomy because of the threat of seizing the same plot by bankers. While receiving the award, little Devika secretly shared her sorrow with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and gave a letter stating the same.

K P Devika, a fourth-grade student of Little Kings Anglo Indian School, Malaparamba, Kozhikode, has also come to receive the Paristhithi Mithram Special Jury Award, instituted by the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change.

Little Devika was selected for the award after closely evaluating her terrace garden, garden in limited space, and waste management practices. While receiving the award from the Chief Minister of Kerala, she shared a little secret with the CM. "My home is on the verge of being seized by the bank as we were not able to repay the loan amount. Please do something." She also handed over a letter stating all these issues. The CM has promised to keenly look into the issue.

Devika's father, K P Deepak, a tailor, her mother Cincy, and little brother Nilan were among the audience. The Rs 6.50 lakh taken as loan from the Cooperative Bank and SBI to renovate their house and buy products for the tailoring shop has led to the verge of seizing their property.

The tailoring shop was closed due to COVID, which made Deepak unemployed. Meanwhile, Devika fell ill and was admitted to Kozhikode Medical College. Deepak even met with a car accident, which ended up costing all their sources of income.

The loan amount has soared too high to their dismay. Officials from the bank are constantly visiting their house at Malaparamba, to warn about further proceedings, which include the seizure of their property. Her letter pleads with the Chief Minister to look into the matter and grant more time to repay the loan.