Kendrapara: After leading daily OrissaPost exposed the plight of mentally ill Badani Samal the district administration provided treatment to her at SCB. Today she has recovered, says the poverty stricken Shiba Samal, the father of Badani, who hails from the Baraja village of Ramnagar panchayat in Mahakalapada block.
Today Badani Samal, (24), has returned to her house after treatment at the SCB Medical College and Hospital and is now with her father Shiba Samal and mother Puspa Samal.
”My daughter has become normal. After a long gap of two years Badani is laughing and mingling with others. It became possible only because of Orissa Post and the collector of Kendrapara,” said Shiba Samal.
“A poor family like us can never dream of treating our daughter. It was Orissa Post which published the report about my daughter who had shackles on her legs and collector Reghu G. directed the district social security officer to provide treatment to my daughter,” added Shiba.
When Badani reached her house on Wednesday her neighbours were waiting to see her. Badani thanked Orissa Post for publishing the report about her.
“We will not send our daughter again to act in dramas. We will work and buy her medicines. The hospital has provided medicines for a month. The doctor also asked to bring Badani to SCB for check-ups after a month,” said her mother Puspa.
Badani Samal used to act in dramas to run the family after her elder brother shifted to his in-law’s house at Athagada.
Collector Reghu G. said that he came across the report ‘Mentally ill girl’s leg shackled for two years’ on July 24 in Orissa Post. He said he immediately directed District Social Security Officer Pravas Chandra Das and Mahakalapada Block Social Security Officer Sangram Keshari Beura to rush to Baraja village and provide treatment to Badani Samal free of cost.
The officials took Badani and her parents to Kendrapara district headquarters hospital July 27. Later, Badani was referred to the SCB Medical College at Cuttack as psychiatrists were not available at the district hospital. The district administration arranged a vehicle for taking the woman and her parents to SCB Medical College and Rs 3,000 was provided to the parents for their expenses at the hospital.
Later, the administration disbursed assistance from the Orissa State Treatment Fund and the CM’s Relief Fund for the treatment of Badani. PNN