Junagarh: The district administration adopted a destitute man and his three orphaned grandchildren besides initiating efforts to ensure education for the children.
The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) along with a team visited the village and rescued the three orphan girls with their grandfather. The district child protection officer promised to rehabilitate them and provide them with better facilities for education until they were grown up.
“The government would bear all the education and living expenses of the children until they have grown up,” he said. The officials swung into action after an article on the plight of the man and the siblings were published in Orissa POST.
The incident has been reported from Jharbandh village under Junagarh block in Kalahandi district.
The three minors – Doleswari, Lipa and their brother Tuku were rendered helpless since the death of their parents. They were left under the responsibility of their grandfather Bhakta, who himself is in need of help due to age-related ailments.
With no one in their family to earn a living, they were left to suffer under the harsh financial condition. They survived with whatever their neighbours and relatives gave them out of sympathy.
Even as Bhakta did odd jobs to make his both ends meet, he suffered a fracture on his leg and was bed-ridden for a year.
Being the eldest among her siblings, Doleswari gave up studies and started doing all household chores to support her grandfather.
After reading the article, DCPU advisor Anshuman and social activist Jayashree Pani visited the village and met Bhakta, his two granddaughters Doleswari and Lipa. They also asked the family about their condition.
During their visit, Sarpanch Tilakar Majhi, BJD leader Kalyani Nayak, Manisha Sahu and other villagers were also present.
While Lipa was produced before the Child Protection Committee (CWC) and was rehabilitated, Doleswari was produced before Child Welfare Committee Friday. She will also be rehabilitated soon, reports said. On the other hand, even as Bhakta’s grandson Tuku would stay with his maternal grandmother, the CWC will provide every possible help for his upbringing, said Anshuman.
PNN