From a Leaking Shelter to a Permanent Home: The Story of Gurmail Kaur

A Family Living Under a Broken Roof

In Village Thui, District Patiala, Gurmail Kaur — a widowed domestic worker — was fighting a battle most of us cannot imagine. Every monsoon season, her old and crumbling shelter would flood. Water would pour in from every crack and corner. She and her mentally challenged son, who is unable to work or earn, would desperately try to protect their few belongings from the rain.

Gurmail Kaur earned her living by cleaning houses in the village. Her income was barely enough to feed the family, let alone rebuild the home they lived in. With no savings, no male earning member, and no access to government housing schemes, the future looked bleak.

"Our old shelter was in very poor condition. During the rainy season, water would leak inside from all sides. It was extremely difficult to protect ourselves and our belongings from the rain." — Gurmail Kaur

The Challenge: Poverty, Disability, and Unsafe Housing

Gurmail Kaur's situation is not uncommon in rural Punjab. Thousands of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families — especially those with disabled dependents — live in kutcha or semi-Pakka houses that are dangerous during rain and winter. When the primary earner is a woman doing daily-wage domestic work, constructing even a single-room Pakka house feels impossible.

She faced three compounding hardships:

•     No male earning member in the household

•     A son with a mental disability, requiring full-time care

•     A kutcha house that was structurally unsafe and exposed to rain

When Gurmail Kaur had almost given up hope, Anmol Sewa Foundation stepped in.

How Anmol Sewa Foundation Helped

Under its Housing Support Program, Anmol Sewa Foundation identified Gurmail Kaur's family as a priority beneficiary through its community outreach network in Patiala district. The foundation's field team conducted a home visit, assessed the structural condition of the shelter, and coordinated the construction of a permanent Pakka house for the family — at no cost to Gurmail Kaur.

The new house provided:

•     A structurally sound, rain-proof permanent structure

•     Protection from the elements during the harsh Punjab monsoon and winter seasons

•     A safe, dignified living space for Gurmail Kaur and her son

•     Peace of mind, allowing her to focus on her work and her son's well-being

This intervention is part of Anmol Sewa Foundation's broader mission to provide housing support to vulnerable families — especially women-headed households, senior citizens, and families with disabled members — across 8+ states in India. Learn more about the foundation's work on the About Us page.

The Outcome: Dignity, Safety, and a Better Future

Today, Gurmail Kaur and her son live in a safe, permanent home. The fear of rain seeping in, the anxiety of monsoon nights, the helplessness of having nowhere safe to sleep — all of it is gone.

"Today, we have a safe roof over our heads and can live with dignity and peace of mind. The fear of rain and unsafe living conditions is no longer a part of our lives. Because of their kindness and support, my family now has a secure home and a better future." — Gurmail Kaur, Village Thui, Patiala

This transformation is what Anmol Sewa Foundation — founded in 2002 by Dr. Nirmal Singh — has been working toward for over two decades. A safe home is not a luxury. It is the foundation on which health, education, and dignity are built.

Impact at a Glance

•     Beneficiary: Gurmail Kaur, Village Thui, District Patiala, Punjab

•     Program: Housing Support Program, Anmol Sewa Foundation

•     Intervention: Construction of a permanent Pakka house

•     Challenge addressed: Unsafe kutcha shelter, single-income woman-headed household, disabled dependent

•     Outcome: Safe permanent home, restored dignity, improved quality of life

Why Housing Support Is Central to Social Welfare in Rural India

In rural Punjab and across India, millions of families — especially those headed by women, the elderly, or households with disabled members — remain trapped in kutcha houses that are not just uncomfortable but actively dangerous. Unsafe housing leads to health problems from dampness and cold, loss of belongings in floods, and a constant state of anxiety and insecurity.

NGOs like Anmol Sewa Foundation play a critical role in bridging the gap where government schemes do not reach. By providing free house construction for poor families in Punjab and other states, the foundation directly attacks the root cause of poverty and social exclusion.

If you know a family in need of housing support, or if your organization would like to partner with us on CSR housing projects.

Help Us Build More Homes Like Gurmail Kaur's

Every contribution — big or small — brings us closer to a day when no family in India has to sleep under a leaking roof. Your donation funds materials, labour, and community coordination for families like Gurmail Kaur's.

👉 Donate to Anmol Sewa Foundation | Learn About Our Housing Support Program

About Anmol Sewa Foundation

Anmol Sewa Foundation is a registered NGO founded in 2002 by Dr. Nirmal Singh, headquartered in Mohali, Punjab. The foundation works across 8+ Indian states in the areas of healthcare, women empowerment, environmental protection, sustainable agriculture, disaster relief, housing support, and youth skill development. For more information, visit the About Us page.

Related Programs & Stories

•     Housing Support Program – Anmol Sewa Foundation

•     Healthcare Camps in Rural Punjab

•     Women Empowerment Initiatives

•     Disaster Relief Operations

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