In braving odds to teach tribal kids, 38-year-old lives life of risk and reward

ANNALAKSHMI's life as a teacher working at the lone anganwadi in Thayannankudi, a remote tribal settlement located within the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, in Idukki, has been one full of adventure, risk and reward.

- NEJMA SULAIMAN @Idukki

It was only a week ago that she narrowly escaped a wild elephant that had strayed onto the forest path to the settlement. On February 6, a 57-year-old tribal man was trampled to death by the same animal in Chinnar.

Notwithstanding, Annalakshmi continues to trek the route—something which she has been doing for the past 17 years—that includes a jungle path with no mobile network connectivity or even a motorable road for 6 km to reach her students.

Speaking to TNIE, the 38-year-old says she had joined as an anganwadi worker in Thayannankudi in 2007, when she was just 21. Since then, the sanctuary and the tribes have been a part of her life.