Boudh: The district administration Friday extended a helping hand to Chaturbhuja Banka, a man of Krushnapali under Brahmanpali panchayat in this district who was forced to carry the body of his sister-in-law on a bicycle for cremation due to social ostracisation and shifted her to VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla.
Chaturbhuja’s wife Veda Banka who was admitted to the district headquarters hospital by the administration, was shifted to VIMSAR on the intervention of the District Collector.
Meanwhile, Chaturbhuja’s aunty Upasi Banka, who was confined in a hut due to mental illness was also rescued by the administration and admitted to a hospital in Harbhanga. Block development officer Nihar Ranjan Kanhar of Boudh met Chaturbhuja Banka at the district headquarters hospital and gave him Rs 10,000 as assistance from the District Red Cross Fund.
Chaturbhuja, expelled by his community, had to carry the body of his sister-in-law Pancha Mahakur on a bicycle for cremation as none turned up to help him in the village Wednesday.
Earlier, the village panchayat had given Chaturbhuja Rs 2,000 under the Harishchandra Yojana after the issue went viral on social media.
The incident drew flak from various quarters over the inhuman treatment meted out to an ostracized man by his fellow villagers.
PNN
