Naugaon: Rajani Behera, a 70-year-old woman, has been battling for life after being deserted by her family members at Anantpura village under this block in Jagatsinghpur district.
Believe it or not, a tree has been her only source of shelter and a torn saree is her cover from sun and rain. She has been living in that pitiable condition for the last five months. Despite repeated complaints by the people, the local administration has not done anything. Till date, she has not availed old-age pension.
Be it rain, winter or summer, the tree stands witness to her plight. With no food for days, she is often seen calling out for help, but her cries fall on deaf ears.
Mostly, she survives on what locals offer her out of sympathy. Prolonged starvation has had its effect on her mental health. At an age when she needs utmost care, her family members had abandoned her, locals said.
Rajani, born in Dabar village under this block, was married at Gajarajpur village. However, she was deserted by her husband following a family dispute. She then returned to stay with her brother Shankar Behera.
Shankar tended cattle in the village for a living. Rajani helped him and bought around 20 goats and sold their milk and meat for livelihood. She also bought some land to build a house for herself. However, Shankar sold all her goats and the land on some pretext and bungled all the money.
Later, he threw her out of his house and settled elsewhere. Since then, Rajani has been seeking shelter under a tree in the village. Sympathetic locals have urged the administration to rehabilitate her in an old-age home and make arrangements for Rajani’s medical treatment. PNN