I met Thulasi at her house located in a village some 50 kilometers from Tiruchirappalli. She was actually in a hurry to get to the PDS a few blocks away. They were giving kerosene that day and so she anticipated a huge line for the same. I felt guilty about landing there at the wrong time but she very gracefully offered to talk to me for a few seconds. She works as a daily wage laborer and her husband has a business of setting up tents for hire for different occasions. He also lends out music systems. She has two children, both of whom attend the local Government school. She approached GUARDIAN, Milaap's partner, to avail a loan for the purpose of constructing a toilet in her house. Earlier she and her family used to go to the nearest field, about a kilometer away, to relieve themselves. They got fed up of the routine, since it was difficult to travel at odd hours and at night, and wanted to put an end to the unhygienic practice of open defecation. Thulasi has enabled her family to stay clean and healthy
Thulasi
