KOZHIKODE: Nabeesa Beevi, who is partially paralysed and awaiting repatriation from Maldives, will arrive in Thiruvananthapuram, her homeland on Wednesday.
As per the directives of the Indian High Commissioner (IHC) in Maldives, an official from the India Club there will be accompanying her. Social Justice Department director V N Jithendran has been entrusted by Minister M K Muneer to liaise with the IHC and streamline the repatriation procedures.
The India Club members had visited her when she was brought for medical check-up at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital. Club executive member Mushtaq had offered to accompany her, as the woman had expressed her wish to lead the rest of her life in Kerala. The plight of Nabeesa Beevi, a victim of ‘Malekalyanam,’ had gained wide attention after ‘Express’ reported her story on January 29. The intervention of Azhikode MLA K M Shaji and Minister Muneer was a turning point in repatriating her from Maldives. Nabeesa was married off to Maldivian national Abubacker Ibrahim in 1992 and she gave birth to three children. But none of them survived childhood. During her last delivery, a Cesarean section, a medical fault paralysed her from the waist. But Ibrahim took care of her until his death two years ago and then she was taken care of by his sister. When Ibrahim’s sister also fell ill, she took Nabeesa to the care of the Maldivian government, from where she expressed her wish to go to her homeland.
Though the IHC had written to NORKA about the plight of Nabeesa and the Maldivian government was ready to repatriate her, NORKA could not locate her address. After reports of Nabeesa appeared with her old photographs, some of the residents in Manikkam Vilakam, Poonthura, identified her. Her four sisters also came forward to own her, though they were not from sound financial background.
Minister Muneer acted quickly and wrote to the IHC, expressing the department’s willingness to take care of the unfortunate woman and said that in the first phase the department would take care of her, including her treatment. Later, if she decides, Nabeesa may be handed over to the care of her sisters.