KOCHI: The rape and murder of Soumya nearly a year ago is on the verge of being forgotten, but a humanitarian gesture extended to her family by Soumya’s former employer has emerged as a shining patch in the allround darkness.It was on the night of February 1, 2011 that Soumya, 23, was pushed out of a moving train near Shoranur by Govindachamy and raped brutally.She died in the hospital a few days later.Soumya was her family’s sole bread winner. Sumathi, her mother, is a heart patient and was a domestic help before ill-health forced her to stop working.Since last April, ‘Homestyle,’ a shop in Ernakulam where Soumya worked for three months, has been sending Sumathi every month a cheque for Rs 6,000, the salary drawn by Soumya.An affirmative deposit fund has been created for this purpose.“That means a lot to me because every month I need a good sum for medical expenses,” said Sumathi.On Friday, Soumya’s family observed her first death anniversary, arranging a low-key gathering of relatives and neighbours and those who extended them a helping hand in tough times. Though Soumya died on February 6, as per the Hindu calendar, the anniversary fell on January 27.Present at the function were a few staff members representing ‘Homestyle’ as well, who have been doing a ‘silent charity’ for a year.“We don’t think it’s charity. It’s our responsibility to support the family that lost its lone breadwinner,” a spokesperson at ‘Homestyle’ said. “It’s something incredible that the company is still considering Soumya as its staff member.I feel happy to see such a noble gesture,” said Shoranur municipal chairman M R Murali.
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