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                   PAROPAKARI RAGHAVETTAN

When in need of help, the villagers of Ramanthali Panchayat, near Ezhimala in Kannur District know whom to contact.  For they know their Paropakari Raghavettan will certainly do whatever he can to bring succour to them.

Paropakari Raghavettan or Koyakeel Raghavan from Kunneru is no elected representative.  Yet he runs from pillar to post to get things done for the villagers.  It is the affection of the people for his Good Samaritan's role, that prompts them to call him Paropakari Raghavettan.

Whatever problems they may have, the people think of rushing to him first.  And he is only too willing to help them.  Be it drafting a petition to a Government Department or an office, he takes up the matter with enthusiasm.  Those in the Government offices do not say 'no' to Raghavan for they know he cannot be fended off easily.

His brush with social work started over 20 years ago when a petition he had drafted for a family member yielded positive results in a few weeks.  Soon the news spread and people started thronging his house and workplace to get his help.

The 55 year old Raghavan never demands anything for the help rendered but accepts small amounts just to please the complainants.  " I am not doing all this for money.  I am ready to help just because I feel it is my duty.  Some of them offer me money but very often I do not accept it," says the soft-spoken Raghavan.

Whether it is the construction of bridge or road or anything else, Raghavan is ready to help his people.

Courtesy: K.A.Antony, The New Indian Express

Contributed by: Administrator