Sambalpur: For a 67-year-old childless widow, leaving her home for an old-age home should not come easy.
For Gura Mahanand of Dumerpali village under Jujumura block in Sambalpur district though, the relocation came as a respite. After all, her `home’ for nearly two years was a toilet allotted under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
The district administration Wednesday brought her out of the toilet and shifted her to an old-age home at Phuljharan.
Gura Mahanand lost her husband around 10 years ago. About two years back, her house, allotted under Indira Awas Yojana, was damaged forcing her to take shelter in the toilet, which eventually became her `home.’
Villagers said Gura was earning a living by doing odd jobs, but with advancing age her health deteriorated and the helpless woman was left starving inside the toilet.
The widow was rescued after a video depicting her plight went viral on social media recently and came to the notice of Sambalpur district Collector Samarth Verma.
It is alleged that her relatives had cheated her of the money she had received to build a house under Indira Awas Yojana.
Verma assured that the matter would be investigated and action would be taken against those found guilty.
