Bijepur: Sanikat Sahu (48) from Sadar village of T Gandapali panchayat under Bijepur block in Bargarh district has been living a miserable life with his legs tied in chains for four years now.
He used to live in a happy family comprising of his parents, wife and three children some 15 years ago. Even though they did not own much land, Sanikat’s work as a daily wager saw them through. His sudden illness, however, has put their finances in ruins.
To get his son cured, his father Murali Sahu begged help from friends and relatives and took him to VIMSAR in Burla. The doctors there suggested Sanikat to be suffering from a psychological disorder that needed expensive advanced treatment.
Since it was not possible on Murali’s part to manage the finances to continue with the treatment, distressed Murali had to bring Sanikat home.
Back home, Murali tried everything he could afford — starting from traditional Ayurvedic healers to sorcerers — to treat him, but all proved futile. His condition instead deteriorated further. He started behaving abnormally, roamed aimlessly and caused trouble for the family.
Finding no other way out to control Sanikat, they began chaining him. And that has been his life for last four years. He can be seen sitting on a cot in the courtyards of his house near Durga Mandap for most parts of the day.
Meanwhile, due to old age his parents are no more able to take care of the family. Their only support is the rice they get through ration card and old age pensions.
Murali has sought help from the district administration and charitable persons. “I will work for them till my last breath if they get my son cured,” said Murali in a chocked voice.
When contacted, sarpanch Prabhati Meher said, “I am not clear about the government provisions in this case. However, I will take up the matter with the block administration and facilitate whatever possible to the family.”
PNN