Septuagenarian grandma lives for her parent-less siblings
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 07 2014:
'After the death of both parents due to AIDS, four children including two with HIV infection have been looked after by their 73 year old grandmother' .
In an exclusive interview with this Daily, septuagenarian Ibemhal (not real name) disclosed that her son and daughter in law had died of AIDS leaving behind four siblings, one of whom is a girl.
The woman recalled that her son began to indulge in drugs in the company of drivers who were working for her husband.
She said her husband was a teak businessman, who owned vehicles and had even a saw mill in Assam.
A sentimental grandmother, Ibemhal told this Daily that all properties belonging to her family have now dwindled because of her son who died immaturely due to drug addiction and AIDS.
Subsequently, her daughter in law followed the husband a year later, she narrated.
The lone girl child who has been living with HIV said that her father died in 1997 and mother the next year.
By that time she was only 2 years of age, added Echan (name changed) .
Out of the four children, the eldest and the next one have remained free of HIV infection, while the other two are living with the virus.
The girl revealed that her grandmother had been running a hotel, but she could not continue due to old age.
'My elder brother (27) is staying with the uncle, while the next brother is working in a cloth shop at Khwairamband Bazar', said Echan, while adding that the other brother has fallen to drugs out of desperation, and he is now in the rehab centre for treatment.
Informing that she is at present serving at the Care and Support centre at new Chekon, Echan divulged that the family expenditure is being managed with earnings by her and the second brother.
Stating that she started taking ART drugs in 2004 and her brother from 2008, the HIV positive girl regretted that her father's indulgence in drugs was responsible for the condition they are bearing with now.