This is the story of Ms. Karuppi Veran a homemaker from Karamkodu Tribal colony of Wayanad District, Mananthawady Block, Edavaka Panchayath.

She is a widow, living with her son, who is a daily wager, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.She is dependent on her son, who is a daily wage labourer.

The floods completely cut off homes from the rest of the world in her hamlet. For five days the entire hamlet was isolated, and no one had reached them. The devastating effects of the floods on cultivations and agricultural lands left hordes of daily wage workers out of work.

Her son being the only earning member of her family and out of work ever since July left them with absolute no hope to recover from the shocks of the flood. In those five days of isolation food grains were scare, but Karuppicould share whatever little she had with her neighbours because she knew they needed it as much as she did. But they soon ran out of food supplies, and with no steady income they had no hope for survival.

Caritas India was the first to reach Karamkodu Tribal Colony. Even after losing everything from her home, she was lively and energetic on the day of distribution. “We thought we would not make it through the flood, and even if we did I don’t know how we would have survived. I’m glad there was someone who heard our voice,” she said with the brightest smile on her face. Caritas India has supported families in the colony with hygiene kits containing a bucket with a lid, plastic mug, bathing soap, detergent bar, liquid antiseptic, toothpaste, toothbrushes, ORS, and halogen tablets for domestic water purification and with Non-Food Items such as blankets, bedsheets, saris, lungis and mosquito nets. These kits have been curated based on international standards and cultural appropriateness of the flood affected communities in Wayanad district.

As on date Caritas India has reached 10,818 flood affected families in Wayanad district alone, supporting them with hygiene kits, food kits and Non Food Items.