Amid cheers, disabled couple walks down the aisle

​Mahbubnagar: A deaf and dumb bridegroom and a polio-affected bride were united in wedlock at a function held at Anjaneyaswamy temple in Shaikpalli village of Hanwada mandal in the district on Thursday, thanks to the combined efforts of villagers and mandal revenue employees.

The bride is Yedla Lakshmi of Shaikpalli, whose one hand and leg were affected with polio. Her father died when he accidentally fell into an agricultural well. Her mother committed suicide because of family problems. Her only brother deserted her and left her to the care of their uncle and settled down in Hyderabad. She owns one acre of land.

Her maternal uncle Ramulu and aunt Chennamma are taking care of the girl. She is supporting herself with the meager Rs 1,500 per month pension being paid to her by the State government.

The bridegroom – Gangaram Narsimhulu — also hails from the same village. He is deaf and dumb. His father was murdered by his cousins. Later, his mother died of illness. His maternal uncle Basappa and aunt Anjilamma are taking care of him at Desaipalli in Gandeed mandal for fear of the rivals attacking him.

He also receives Rs 1,500 per month towards pension paid by the State government. He owns six acres of land. Shaikpalli sarpanch Srinivas, MPTC Raghu and some other villagers thought of uniting them in wedlock. The prospective bride and groom gave their consent and so did their relatives. The village elders urged Tahsildar Jyoti to give benefit to the couple under Kalyana Lakshmi. She immediately consented.

The Mandal Revenue employees pooled money and arranged mangalsutra and took care of the lunch expenses for around 600 guests. Residents of Shaikpalli, too, collected funds to provide food to the guests attending the marriage.

Everyone participated in the wedding ceremony as though it was their family function. Overwhelmed at the love and affection showered on the couple, the bride and bridegroom turned emotional with tears rolling down their cheeks.

District Collector Ronald Rose personally visited the marriage venue and blessed the couple. Hanwada Tahsildar Jyoti said the Revenue Department employees got involved in the wedding since it was a novel programme.

She felt happy at the prospect of uniting the physically challenged in a marriage. She said that all steps would be initiated to get the couple benefited under the Kalyana Lakshmi.

Village sarpanch Srinivasulu said the whole village celebrated the marriage treating Lakshmi as their sister.