Chhatrapur: Four girls who became orphans after the death of their parents in Kodala in Ganjam district are struggling to survive and continue their studies with their paternal grandfather turning his back on them, a report said Monday.
The four siblings, Sanjana Nayak, Kamla Nayak, Tulasi Nayak and Chumki Nayak, daughters of Arati and Golak Nayak, are now with their dead mother’s parents after their paternal grandfather refused to bring them up after their parents’ death.
The children’s father Golak died of liver jaundice five years back and their mother Arati died suffering from cancer nine months ago.
Driven out of the house by their grandfather they took shelter with their maternal grandparents. However, life is no better here as their maternal grandfather Biswanath Nayak is a casual labourer.
Biswanath after finding it difficult to earn his living in the village shifted to Rourkela with his wife and four granddaughters. But with his meagre earnings he finds it difficult to support the family of six and meet the education cost of his granddaughters.
However, he has not lost hope and is financing the studies of his granddaughters. Sanjana is studying in Plus II, but Kamala has discontinued her education after Class X. Tulasi is studying in Class VII and Chumki in Class III.
The matter came to light when the siblings accompanied by their maternal grandmother Urmila Nayak filed a complaint at the joint grievance cell of the Collector and SP at the DRDA conference hall Monday.
The siblings and their grandmother narrated their plight before Collector Prem Chandra Choudhury and requested him for help. The Collector assured them help after a conducting a probe. He said a case will be registered if need arises.
Urmila said how long they can support their four granddaughters as her husband is the sole bread winner and is growing old.
PNN