Troubles apart, Shashikala remains grateful

SONKHAS (Yavatmal): Amidst all the clamour over Kalavati, the story of second woman Rahul Gandhi met is almost forgotten. While Kalavati Bandurkar of Jalka village complained of broken promises at a press conference in New Delhi, Shashikala Renge of Sonkhas village, has an altogether different attitude. Rahul Gandhi visited both of them and spoke of both in the parliament.Shashikala too got help from Sulabh International and others.
As a thanksgiving gesture, the Rengnes are now building a temple in the village by spending about Rs 15,000. This is notwithstanding the fact that Shashikala's husband Pralhad Rengne is now suffering from a chronic spinal problem and has to stay at home. Doctors say it might need a surgery. The Congress scion's visit was actually a godsent for the family. As Pralhad fell ill just a few months ago, the aid the family got owing to Rahul ensured there was money to spend on his treatment. Around a lakh of rupees have already been spent on the treatment. Shashikala continues to work as a farm labourer at Rs 40 a day.
Despite this the family appears grateful to Rahul Gandhi and the NGOs that helped them later. The Rengnes now have electricity at their home. The old mud house is spruced up and has television, direct to home service, mixer, and an iron box. There is a picture of Rahul hanging on the wall. The family has a mobile phone too that Shashikala's eldest son Yogesh carries proudly to the college.
Sulabh had assured them Rs 25 lakh so as to generate a monthly interest of Rs 15,000. Only Rs 3 lakh have been provided now with the rest to be given later. But Rengne's are not complaining. "Life has changed for us now. We do not skip a meal anymore. We can now afford to buy vegetables and pulses, more grain and some extra clothes. The monthly expenditure has gone up to Rs 5,000 from a mere Rs 1000," she says. The money goes into buying food, her three sons' education, and their travel to school by bus. "As a mark of gratitude we have also decided to build a temple in the village," Prahlad added.
The family has kept an account of donations they got from each person. Shashikla is now left with Rs 1.79 lakh in her account. She agrees that the principal amount should be kept intact with interest being used for expenses. However, with Sulabh giving in small instalments, that does not seem possible. "The rest of the amount promised by Sulabh is yet to be received. If delayed we may remind them but then it doesn't matter if they are not in a position to provide more," Pralhad says.
"When this money is finished, life will continue as usual. The kids would once again go to work during holidays. Now we allow them to stay at home to study or watch television. We would continue with their education but the honeymoon will end." he added.
Unlike at Jalka where Kalavati's rise to affluence has generated lasting jealousies, Sonkhas villagers, though envious, have also begun to forget the whole episode. So has Shashikala's relative who had lost her mental balance due to the shock over Shashikala's sudden riches. She has now improved, said a villager Pramod Khadse.