CHENNAI: Mariamma (84) sells flowers in front of a temple at Ambattur. The octogenarian survives on the Rs 1,000 old-age pension and subsidised food served in Amma canteens. “I wonder if these welfare schemes will continue,” she says.
Age coupled with poor eyesight and health issues mean that Mariamma could sell flowers only for a few hours in a day. For her, the little money she earns is enough to buy food from Amma canteen. The Rs 1,000 old-age pension that she has been availing of since 2011 takes care of her medical needs.
“I also get free rice with the family card, again courtesy Amma. Like me, lakhs are benefited by her welfare schemes. Her demise is a personnel loss for people like me,” she explains, sitting in her outlet selling flowers to supporters who were putting up the late leader’s portrait.
A native of Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli, Mariamma migrated to Chennai about 40 years back with her five children after her husband expired. Mariamma battled all odds, but today she stands helpless with her children going their own ways.
“I don’t want to depend on my children,” she insists. Calling Jayalalithaa a driving force who fought her way and became what she was, Mariamma felt bad that she couldn’t pay homage to her beloved leader. “I wanted to go and pay homage, but am partially visually impaired and can’t wade through the crowd,” she says. Mariamma had lived through the rules of stalwarts like Kamaraj, Annadurai and MGR. She believes that Jayalalithaa stands apart because of her charisma and empathy for the masses.