Case No. 565: Da Ai’s Crowdfunding of RM32,880.00 for Waste Picker N. Vasanthimalar as Living Expenses for a Year.
“In order to take care of her son, who suffers from intellectual disability, paralysis and blindness, she is forced to become a waste picker, with a pitiful daily salary of RM10”
N. Vasanthimalar A/P. Narayanan (54 years old) lost her husband three years ago, living her a widow that needs to raise two children. Her eldest son (21 years old) is paralysed and blinded since his birth. He is bedridden and cannot take of himself, requiring extensive care from his mother, including feeding him with milk.
Ravi Varhimaah A/ L Raveendran (21 years old) needs 6 milk intakes per day, that is, 9 cans of milk powder per month. Each can of milk powder costs RM78.90, that is, RM710 per month. Apart from consuming powdered milk, Ravi cannot consume other food products. Hence, his mother is forced to become a waste picker, in order to afford her son’s living expenses. This gives a heavy burden on N. Vasanthimalar’s shoulders.
N.Vasanthimalar makes use of the period where her youngest son comes home to take care of his brother to collect waste. She would collect cardboards and boxes discarded on the street in exchange for a cheap income of RM6/RM7 a day. On a good day, she can earn up to RM10 only.
Ravi Varhimaah had a high fever at the age of 6 months. The delay brought upon damaging consequences, namely intellectual disability, blindness, and aphasia, causing him to be bedridden. To date, he remains unable to take care or control himself and has sudden cramps.
N.Vasanthimalar’s husband died in his sleep in 2017 due to severe kidney disease caused by diabetes. Since his passing, N. Vasanthimalar has to worry about daily expenses every day. As she is not blessed with huge savings or income, her living conditions have gone from bad to worse. They are currently staying at Petaling Jaya.
Although N. Vasanthimalar receives a financial aid of RM350 from the Ministry of Welfare, the money can only afford cans of milk powder for a half-month. Working as a waste picker could not help her to pay off her expenses, and she has a delayed rental payment of 10 months (RM5000 in total, RM500 per month). If the condition persists, the landlord will claim his property and force the family of three to look for shelter. She also owed multiple months of utility bills (RM400 in total).
Life has been cruelled towards N. Vasanthimalar. Should the situation continue to decline, its results are unimaginable. Hence, in order to support her children, she entrusted Persatuan Kebajikan Amal Da Ai Malaysia to crowdfund RM32,880.00 as living expenses for a year.
She has authorised Da Ai Malaysia to collect charity funds all across Malaysia on behalf of her. The crowdfunding details are as follows:
A.Delayed Rental Payments RM5000
B.Delayed Utility Bills RM400
C.Monthly Expenses RM2,290 (RM27,480 a year)
RM500——Rental Payment
RM100——Utility Bill
RM710——9 Cans of Milk Powder for the Eldest Son (RM78.90 x 9)
RM500——Necessities and Diapers for the Eldest Son RM480——Food for Two (Mother and the Youngest Son) Crowdfunding for a year RM32,880 (RM27,480 + RM5,400)
Persatuan Kebajikan Amal Da Ai Malaysia call upon enthusiastic philanthropists to lend a hand to N. Vasanthimalar and her kids who are going through hardships. Your donation is highly appreciated as this will help them to overcome these hurdles.
