Jayakodi is a migrant to Tamil Nadu, now with a new toilet at | Milaap
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Jayakodi is a migrant to Tamil Nadu, now with a new toilet at home

Written by Akshay Balan Publish date 02-Aug-2017
Jayakodi next to her home's toilet
Jayakodi next to her home's toilet

Imagine my surprise when Jayakodi began to speak in Malayalam. There we are, in Jayakodi's home in Thandalaiputhur village, Trichy, drinking the water that she offered and having small talk. She spoke of her husband, who is a tailor and her children, who now are away with their own lives and family. Stumbling upon the subject of her history in the village, I learn that she migrated into the place years ago. "Both my husband and I are from Palakkad," she said. "We moved here seven years ago." And I go, "Do you speak Malayalam?". To which she said, "Yes. I can speak it really well. I've been to many places across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. But we finally decided to settle here in this village." Knowing that I was going to ask the reason she quickly said, "It's quieter here. When we moved here, it was much more remote. Basic necessities were hard to come by. But now we have a proper home, with water connection, electricity and of course, a toilet. I grew in a home with a toilet, but I didn't always have it. I'm glad to have it here now."

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