As the world celebrates Women's Day, 80 year-old Punchi Menika caresses her cattle which she has been taking care since her childhood.
This Lankan iron lady from a small village in Karuwalagaswewa in Puttlam district had single handedly taken care of more than 300 cattle while raising four children.
With many decades tending cattle, feeding and milking them, collecting wood, Punchi menika became hunched. But determination still keeps her working.
"She used to take cattle to the nearby forest in the morning and come back only in the evening. She had about 300 cattle but now there are about 75, she is sad to see them die but tries her best," her son D.M.Wijeratne said.
He said his mother raised four children in their father's absence, built four separate houses and still earns for the family.
"She had the best chena cultivation in the village when she was active now she laments the inability to do work hard," another villager Bandi Ethana said.
|
E-mail
