Keonjhar: A five-year-old boy from Balanipasi village in Keonjhar district has quit his studies and is now begging for alms to feed his parents – both of whom are critically ill patients steeped in acute poverty.
Five-year-old Babula Karzi’s distressing case is a stark reminder of how – despite all the government’s showboating of its poverty alleviation measures – welfare schemes rarely reach the intended beneficiaries and how poverty-stricken people continue to lead lives of despair.
Karzi hails from Balanipasi village under Harichandanpur block in Keonjhar district. Unlike other children of his age who are taken care of by their families and spend their days acquainting themselves with the joys of childhood, Karzi gets up each morning looking forward to a long day of begging for alms. He has no other option – he is after all the sole breadwinner of his family.
Karzi’s parents – Ghasinath (32) and Kanda (25) — are both physically incapable of working for a living. While Ghasinath was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years back, his wife Kanda is mentally challenged and seldom comes out of the house.
Ghasinath was initially admitted to a hospital with a leg injury. The doctor treating him diagnosed him with cancer and sent him back home. Now confined to his bed, Ghasinath is immobile and is counting his days.
On the other hand, Karzi’s mother Kanda is mentally challenged and seldom comes out of the house. Locals say they sympathise with the tribal couple’s hardships, but feel helpless. They say neither any social activist nor has the administration come to the family’s help even as the government has provisions for free treatment of the poor. Poverty alleviation programmes have failed to come to their aid. The couple has been provided ration cards, but they have not purchased rice for the last two months due to their difficult circumstances.
Villagers say housing schemes like Indira Awas Yojna and Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana have remained out of the poor couple’s bounds while many wealthy people have grabbed houses in the panchayat. “The family of three is now helplessly confined to their ramshackle shanty. Their minor son is their only help and hope. The minor boy goes out for begging and gets back whatever he is able to for his bed-ridden parents. He even cooks food and feeds them. He has quit his studies for them,” the villagers said.
Lalmohan Mohant, a resident of the village, said the family is in dire straits and in urgent need of government intervention. Due to financial constraints, the couple has not been able to get medical treatment while Karzi has forsaken his future to tend to his parents.
When contacted, ADM Sangram Keshari Swain said Harichandanpur BDO will be intimated about the matter and steps will be taken for making provision of education of the child.
PNN