Multi-family houses rule the
roost at Mattancheri and Fort Cochin.

Families living among the four walls torture themselves to earn an extra penny by subletting space to other families. Every house has the same tragic tale to tell.

The house Amina Bai owns [above] is
home for almost 10 families.

The living conditions are of petrifying dimensions — earthen flooring with potholes, rickety doors, squeaky staircases — this relic of indescribable livelihoods looks as if it might tumble any moment — sans water, sans privacy, sans walking
space, whatsoever.

One such house once came tumbling down — when all the members including the tiny kids had gone out to fetch water.

Each housewife places a stove in a convenient corner to cook the meals; the rest of course is food for thought. There are many such corners in a room. "If we had the means, we would surely have moved out of this hell," they echo in unison.

Remote from the luxuries of civilisation, the island Thanthoni Thuruthu is literally an island, with a population of around 400 scattered in 65 houses. Fishing is the chief source of income for these lone islanders.

Access to the mainland is quite taxing, although most of them own canoes. The boat services touch the jetty at odd hours. As a result, children seldom reach the school in time.

Neither newspapers nor telephone — nor even proper water supply — has made its presence felt in this Kerala pocket.

The place seems to be wiped off the map. Thanthoni Thuruthu folks ferry all the commodities to and from — be it water, food, utility items or building materials.

In some areas, the drinking-water taps are rather stubborn. Even old women have to go through the Herculean task of ferrying the water home from neighbouring areas. Some have to carry them through slippery mazes too. "It's all right if we fall, but it's unbearable when our water-filled pails upturn."

And, the entire area gets flooded during high tide.