Koksara: At last, there is a happy ending to the sad story of two siblings with disabilities, thanks to the media, local administration and villagers.
Sources said two disabled siblings of Nilambar Routkanra had been forced to remain confined to their beds in Kouldola panchayat of Koksara block in Kalahandi district due to acute financial problems.
Nilambar and his two children— Makarand, 19, and Bhumisuta, 17— were a happy family with a little hut and two acres of farmland on which they cultivated paddy and vegetables.
However, things went bad when Makarand and Bhumisuta became ill and got differently-abled. Nilambar mortgaged his land for their treatment, but there was no improvement. With no help from the administration, Nilambar was running from pillar to post to raise money for the treatment of his children.
But no one had come forward to help them. “I do odd jobs to maintain the family. My income is not sufficient to meet all expenses. I requested the administration to help in getting my children treated,” Nilambar said.
The family does not get any government help other than 20 kg of rice. The disability pension of Rs 500 is only available to Makarand but not to Bhumisuta due to non-availability of disability certificate. Finding no option, Nilambar had requested media persons to help his children.
After the report of the differently-abled siblings went viral on social media and appeared in various newspapers, Koksara BDO Basant Kumar Sethi and block social security officer Deepak Kumar Behera reached out to the siblings and provided them two wheel-chairs Monday. The disability pension of Makarand has been increased to Rs 700. Bhumisuta is also included in the disability pension scheme. The officials have assured the family of a pucca house under Indira Awas Yojana.
When the two officials were asked about this, they said Bhumisuta would be sent to the Disability Rehabilitation Centre for health test July 1.
PNN