Thiruvananthapuram, April 29(BPNS)
Dr MS Sunil is a retired Professor of Zoology from Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, Kerala and what makes her unique is her untiring compassion to provide shelter to the deprived and underprivileged.
The Zoology professor entered into this passion while working as the National Service Scheme(NSS) programme officer at her College and was saddened when she came to know that a Postgraduate girl student whom she was teaching was living in a makeshift shanty without a proper door along with her grandmother. Moved by the plight of the girl, Sunil teacher decided that she would construct a home for her student.
That day itself she commenced the construction of a home for the girl student and supported by her students and fellow staff members she completed the house at a cost of Rs 1.17 lakh. This was in 2005 and after that there was no looking back for this Zoology professor. The student, Asha is now Higher secondary teacher in a government school and is still living in that home constructed by Dr Sunil.
Her 200th house was handed over to two widows, Janaki and Rukmini at Kavalam in Alappuzha district of Kerala. While the land documents are in the name of Janaki, who is an 80 year old Widow, Rukmini is her close relative who again is a widow with her two daughters. The house which was built at a cost of Rs 5 lakh was supported by the Chicago Malayalee Association (CMA).
Union minister of state for External affairs V Muraleedharan handed over the house to Janaki and Rukmini on April 18th, 2021 at a function in which local self government officials, panchayath members and other public servants participated in the meeting.
Dr Sunil while speaking to BPNS said, “This is the 200th home handed over to a deserving family who again were living in a diapilated tent like accommodation. I feel really happy and proud that I could wipe the tears from their eyes and anxiety from their faces.”
The Zoology professor received the Nari Shakti Puraskar for the year 2018 from the President of India, Ramnath Kovind on Women’s day. Nari Shakti Puraskar is initiated by the Government of India to felicitate women achievers who had contributed immensely to the society.
Dr Sunil told BPNS that her selection of beneficiaries is based purely after due diligence on the need and no other factors ,including caste, creed or religion has never been a criteria for providing homes to those in need.
Dr Sunil has not rested with the laurels she had received from all sections of the society for the noble acts she had single handedly achieved but is now into other than providing homes to the underprivileged, supporting Adivasi causes, conducting blood donation camps and providing free food kits to 50 families every month.
The retired college professor had constructed 23 homes for those who had lost everything in the floods of 2018 and is now into construction of around eight homes with the 201st home almost being completed.
Dr Sunil while speaking to BPNS said, “While I had to use my own resources to provide homes to the needy, society has not turned a blind eye towards me and several people and organisations had come forward to help me provide homes. I feel that people come forward once they find that you are genuine and that you are implementing and executing things. I thank the God almighty as well as the good Samaritans who had supported me in the cause of construction of these homes.”
Interestingly Dr Sunil has a male name which was a decision taken by her father ,the late MM Samuel who was expecting a baby boy and had reserved this name for the child. However the new born was a girl, but Samuel decided to continue with the name he was to give to his son.
Sunil says, “It is an interesting name and people used to ask me all sorts of questions on this name being given to a woman, but I feel that my father’s decision has given me an extra mileage in the society on this.”
People like Dr Sunil are indeed becoming the voice of the voiceless who are providing support to those in need and giving a helping hand. The success of this Zoology professor in supporting the cause of the homeless is a major support to the homeless and the underprivileged and let more and more people like this Zoology professor come forward for such noble causes.
