Champua: Two visually challenged tribal sisters and their brother were reportedly left high and dry at Kainta in Rajia gram panchayat under Champua block in Keonjhar district.
According to reports, Raimani Munda (32) and her sister Basanti Munda (20) and a brother are leading miserable lives with none to take care of them at home.
Their two brothers have migrated outside the state in search of jobs. The younger brother Bhagwan (34) is sick and unable to work. Their only source of living is the meagre monthly disability pension of Raimani.
The family often starves while the administration has failed to take note of their miserable state. Their Indira Awas Yojana house given to their father 20 years ago is now in a dilapidated state. As the house is unsafe, they have taken shelter at their uncle’s house.
Their life turned topsy-turvy 17 years ago when their father Bijay Munda passed away.
After the death of Bijay, their mother Muni Munda left Kainta and stayed at her parental residence at Derash along with her five children. To add to their woes, their mother also passed away later, leaving the children orphaned. Since then, the five siblings have been struggling to survive.
Locals lamented that while the government has been implementing many programmes for the poor and differently abled, these siblings have been deprived of them.
Earlier, the siblings used to avail 35 kg of subsidised rice under the Annapurna scheme, but it is not available now. The younger sister of Raimani is eligible for disability pension, but she has not yet got disability certificate.
Panchayat executive officer Ganeswar Pradhan said attention will be paid to the helpless siblings. PNN
