Man living in grass littered shed yearns for assistance
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 19 2018: He wakes up early every morning.

With only a shabby jacket and pants on in this cold winter, he rushes towards Singjamei market and earn daily bread by carrying heavy goods of the women vendors and washing dishes at hotels.

He returns home late at night with a few rupees he earned and sleeps like a log in his small shabby and falling house, which many would say is an abandoned shed made of bamboos.

Heikham Thoiba (Naba) is 64 years old and lives alone in Heirangoithong, Naoriya Pakhanglakpa Leikai, Imphal West.

His neighbours call him 'Maamma' (uncle) and help him whenever they can.

Silent and shy, he speaks little.

"Maamma has been living like this since we were kids.

Elders said that Maamma's wife left him and he has two daughters," said Thoiba's neighbour, Potshangbam Bobby.

His youngest daughter used to visit and look after Maamma years ago, Bobby said.

Members of the community and neighbours would help Thoiba time to time.

But everyone has their own jobs and things to attend to and could not dedicate their whole time caring for him, Bobby said.

Neighbours would clean the house, help renovate the house from time to time.

Vines and tall grasses have invaded the house from all directions.

Many would call it a shed but Thoiba would say "home".

Nonetheless, this 'home' could have serious toll on his health, if authorities concerned and the Government sit silent.

When asked if he is getting all the basic amenities, all below poverty line families are entitled to, he simply nodded his head sideways and said, "My name is not in the voters list".

His name was striked off last year, he claimed.

Bobby asked if he has the Aadhaar card which his daughter helped him get, he simply said "I don't know".

According to Bobby and his other neighbours, the local club, Young Men Development Organisation and others have repeatedly appealed the authorities concerned to register him in the voters list but without any result.

He has been denied all the benefits of various schemes as his name is not in the voters list, Bobby said and wished authorities concerned hear the news and give 'Maamma' all the helps he deserves and needs to lead a decent life.

Even though, he speaks and ask little, he needs assistance he knows and is waiting for all the helps he could get.

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