Malkangiri: Bijaylaxmi Tripathy, an accredited social health activist (ASHA) of Kenduguda village under Mathili block in this district, Tuesday received all round appreciations for rescuing two newborns along with their unconscious mother from a nearby forest.
According to reports, Trilochan Pujari of the village fell in love with Gouri of Kamarguda, a neighbouring village about two years back and both got married eventually.
However, the residents of Kenduguda didn’t take it kindly as Gouri belonged to family of lower caste community.
Trilochan’s family also refused to accept the couple which forced the duo to set up a shed inside the forest near the village and reside there.
Meanwhile, Gouri became pregnant and suddenly experienced labour pain Monday night. However, the villagers didn’t come forward to take Gouri to a hospital due to her inter-caste marriage.
Finally, Gouri delivered a twin and became unconscious inside the forest. On the other hand, Bijaylaxmi came to know about the development and reached the spot immediately.
She rescued the mother and the newborns and rushed them to a nearby hospital in an ambulance. Though Bijaylaxmi belongs to a Brahmin family, she put her conscience and humanity above the creed. The humanitarian act of the ASHA was appreciated by several quarters.
District retired government employees’ association president Prakash Chandra Patnak, lawyer and social activist Durga Prasad Tripathy, president of Malkangiri journalists’ association Jitendra Beuria and many others demanded that the state government should felicitate Bijaylaxmi for her selfless act. PNN