Kujang: While two cousins, Purnima Giri (15) and Sabita Giri (14) of Nipania village, were felicitated by Minister of Women and Child Development Prafulla Samal for saving five people from drowning when a boat capsized near Nipania village, the role of another such brave girl Subhasmita Sahoo of Hasina village under Kujang block was ignored.
About 55 picnickers from Hasina and Gandkipur in Kujang block in Jagatsinghpur district were returning in a boat after visiting Hukitola. The boat capsized at Nipania and in the mishap 10 people including two women and eight children were drowned.
However, 45 boat commuters were rescued. In the rescue operation, apart from Purnima and Sabita, Subhasmita too jumped into the water to rescue people from drowning. She saved 10 people but the administration ignored her brave act, the villagers alleged.
The minister Friday presented Purnima and Sabita bouquets, shawls and Rs 10,000 provided by the district administration from the Red Cross funds. Samal had also directed Collector Dasarathi Satapathy to recommend the girls for the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW)’s National Bravery Award-2019. However, Subhasmita’s act of bravery has completely been ignored, the villagers alleged.
When asked the local tehsildar said that the local administration had no information about Subhasmita’s action. “I will take appropriate steps to honour the courage of Subhasmita if her bravery is brought to his notice,” he said.
Meanwhile, ex-minister Bijay Mohapatra praised Subhasmita for her role in rescuing people.
Notably, around 55 people, including six men, 27 women and 22 children of Hasina and Gandkipur, had come to Hukitola for a picnic to celebrate New Year on a boat.
While they were returning, one of the women went to relive herself after the boatman anchored the boat. As the woman was entering the boat, some passengers moved from one side of the boat to the other side, and the overcrowded boat capsized.
PNN