Gritty woman shows the way to take challenges head on
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 29 2023: In a show of grit and loyalty, a middle-aged woman from Thambalkhong keeps herself busy by planting seasonal crops at a field taken on rent to sustain life with her husband who had his right hand and left leg amputated in a painful tragedy.

Khumukcham ningol Somi (36) got married to Maisnam Ishworchandra (46) of Thambalkhong Kongba Laishram Leikai in March 2008.The couple now have two sons of 14 and 11 years.

Both their sons are enrolled at a Government school.

While the eldest son is in IX standard, his brother is in V .

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Maisnam ongbi Somi said that the limbs of her husband got amputated after coming in contact with a HT wire while trying to cut a tree branch during a social service camp of the locality on September 8, 2015 .

She said that her husband was admitted to different hospitals such as JNIMS, Raj Medicity and RIMS and was treated for some time before the extreme step was taken.

Gritty woman shows the way to take challenges head on

Breaking the news or report of the amputation to the her two young children was the hardest part, but she did it and added that it was the presence of her sons which gave her the courage to take life's challenges head on.

"Those were very difficult days as I had to attend to my husband at the hospital and feed my children at home and send them to schools," she recalled.

"I also went door to door like a mad woman to seek donors as my husband required lots of blood during his treatment," she said.

Continuing that they sold a piece of land to get the money for the treatment as the monetary assistance given by the relatives, local club and MLA wasn't enough, she maintained that they received Rs 50,000 from the Electricity Department after sharing their distress to Chief Minister N Biren Singh while another Rs 50,000 was taken as loan from Manipur State Cooperative Bank.

Somi went on to state that they receive Rs 1500 annually from the Social Welfare Department under a welfare scheme of the disabled.

Saying that she started planting seasonal crops and engaging in livestock farming at the unused farm of her neighbourhood in 2021 to provide for her family, she continued that she spent a large sum of money on her husband's treatment.

Further stating that she has shifted her plantation works at a rented farm at Bamon Kampu and Khuningthek Tangkham, Somi conveyed that she, however, have lost a batch of watermelons due to non availability of water while the majority of the red potatoes have also been spoiled.

Somi went on to state that she had no other option than to plant crops to look after her family.

Saying that her plantation has greatly been affected by the water crisis as she couldn't buy water anymore due to financial constraint, Somi continued that she is preparing to resume her plantation work in the monsoon season.

Despite his disability, Ishworchandra has also been lending help to his wife at least morally.

Somi maintained that her husband accompanied her most of the time to the field with walking stick to encourage her and stay at the plantation site from morning to late evening.

Saying that she got the motivation to work from the people 'who speak highly of us', Somi maintained that her two sons cook for themselves before going to school.

"We are able to work in the field due to the understanding of my children," she said proudly.

Maintaining that she harvested about 500 pieces of pumpkin by planting only 15 plants, Somi said that she is now preparing to harvest about 2000 pumpkins this season as the number of plants have increased to 200 .

She also said that she will plant 200 U-Morok plants apart amongst other seasonal crops.

Continuing that she hired people to help her in the agricultural work, Somi maintained she gives about Rs 500 to Rs 700 per head to the helpers.

Somi further stated that she is preparing to start a semi integrated farm with interested farmers and rear pigs, poultry and plant mushrooms too.

Somi went on to state that she will provide home delivery services of organic fruits and vegetables from June-July.