A few days ago, Radha, a sanitation worker in Parappanangadi of Kerala’s Malappuram district asked a few of her colleagues if they could buy a lottery ticket — a monsoon bumper by the Kerala government that would bring a cash prize of Rs 10 crore. But the women working with Radha, the Haritha Karma Sena workers under the Corporation, did not have Rs 250, the price of one ticket, to spare. They decided to share the amount among the 11 of them. Nine of them chipped in Rs 25 each, and two of them Rs 12.50 each. Finally, pooling in what they had, they paid Rs 250 to a lottery agent and bought the ticket. The women were surprised when they got a call on July 27, Thursday, with the news that they won the first prize.
This is the fourth bumper lottery ticket purchased by the group of women. Last year, they won Rs 1000 in the Onam bumper lottery.
Two women, Kuttymalu and Baby, pitched in with Rs 12.50 each. “Both of us are relatives, so Kuttymalu gave Rs 25. I have money with me only when I get my wages, so I will pay her soon. We always share things between us. Even if it is a cake, we buy one and share, as we have only a little money,” Baby told TNM.
The women are supposed to get around Rs 63.6 lakh each, after paying the taxes. But they do not intend to end their jobs as sanitation workers and said they will still work to keep Parappanangadi clean. “We are the cleanest municipality in Malappuram, and we will continue to do the work to retain the status. Now, we want others here to win a lottery of their own,” they said. Speaking about winning the lottery, the winners said each of them had their own struggles. One person lost her daughter recently, while another’s house is being renovated, and two others are recovering from illnesses.
Parappanangadi Municipality chairman A Usman said these women are the most deserving persons to win the lottery. “Eleven civic workers of Haritha Karma Sena, who stand at the forefront in keeping Parappanangadi clean, have won the Rs 10 crore lottery now. They are one of the most hardworking and dedicated teams working here, and we are happy that they won the lottery. Despite winning the lottery, they said that they would not stop working here, which is a mark of their dedication,” he said.