Ghasipura: A couple of days after Orissa Post carried a report about the plight of four orphan kids and their bed-ridden grandmother, the Keonjhar district administration came to their rescue Saturday.
Following a directive from collector N Tirumala Nayak, a team comprising in-charge of district child protection unit Anju Ram, a member of the same unit Soumya Ranjan Das and a member of Anandapur Childline and lawyer Bhagirathi Das visited Padmapur Birbal Sahi and rescued 75-year-old Bela Ho, and her three grandchildren – Minu Ho (11), Jagat Ho (5), and Raison Ho (8).
Bela was provided treatment at Anandapur hospital before being sent to Bishnupriya old age home at Chhenapadi while her three grandchildren were rehabilitated at Bishnupriya child rehabilitation home.
The family was in deep distress and most of the time went hungry. Minu used to cook whatever possible and collect wood from forest. She also took care of her bed-ridden grandmother. Raison studies in Class-III at Birbal primary school while Jagat continues pre-primary education at the local Anganwadi centre. Their elder sibling Kalei Ho (15) has been doing a job in Visakhapatnam.
The only source of living for the poor family was a ration card issued in the name of their late mother Minati and monthly old age pension that Bela received. Locals had demanded immediate help from the administration for the family as an uncertain future stared at the kids.
The elderly woman used to take care of the four grandchildren after her son died five years ago. However, the woman received another jolt of fate when her daughter-in-law died three years ago. As Bela was bed-ridden, the four kids were left to fend for themselves. PNN
