C Akshaya Varshini is eight years old. She is the elder of three sisters, the youngest of which is just a baby, called Rithika. Akshaya is studying in IV Standard at the Government Primary School in Kandigaiperi, where her sister Rohitha is in II Standard.
Akshaya’s father died of a heart attack at the end of last year, leaving her mother, Jeya, with three small daughters to bring up. Jeya endeavours to support them all by rolling beedies – a cheap Indian cigarette. This home working makes very little money and such repetitive work inevitably brings on rheumatoid arthritis. The Grail Trust allowance of Rs 800 (about £8.50) for Akshaya is a huge help to this family.
