A Malaysian grandmother raises four grandchildren while caring for her bedridden husband

Nagamma Rajagopal spends the Deepavali festival in Klang, Malaysia, providing care for her family instead of celebrating the holiday.

Nagamma and her family face severe financial hardships following a motorcycle accident two years ago that left her husband, Parthiban Dharmalingam, bedridden. Nagamma manages the daily needs of her four grandchildren, aged eight to 13, while working as a school cleaner. Nagamma earns approximately RM1,200 a month, which she uses to provide food and school supplies for six people.

When she cannot afford transport fees, she walks the children 2km to school despite having a leg injury. The family lives in a modest home where parts of the structure have fallen into disrepair. Nagamma refuses to place the children with other families, stating that she must keep them together as a family. The Inner Wheel Club of Klang, a women's volunteer service organisation, provides supplies and conducts fundraising to ease the family's expenses.

The group seeks to provide the family with essential supplies and a caregiver to assist Nagamma with her husband's care.