Khajuripada: The local administration has come to the rescue of three siblings – two girls and a boy – who were starving for food ever since their mother died of a health ailment three months ago while their father is in jail after being framed on charges of ganja smuggling.
They were identified as Chinu Pradhan (11), Minu Pradhan (8) and their brother Ganesh Pradhan (5) of Getamunda village under Sudrukumpa panchayat in Kandhamal district.
The matter came to the light after this newspaper reported the plight of the children and questioned the local BDO Rabi Narayan Sethy of their pathetic condition. Soon, Sethy swung into action and extended a helping hand to the three children.
It may be noted here that it was close to three months since the siblings were starving inside a thatched hut swarming with flies and mosquitoes. However, the local administration was unaware of the children’s plight and was yet to rescue the minor children who were crying for their mother.
Sources revealed that the three children lived with their elderly parents who eked out a living by doing odd jobs. Coming from a BPL family, they had no farmland and depended on forest produce for food. The family barely managed to make both ends meet.
For some time, the children’s mother was affected by a disease. Being deprived of food and proper treatment, she lost her mental balance. Meanwhile, the man was jobless and frustrated over financial difficulties. Availing no option, he approached a person to help him in the treatment of his wife.
However, the person implicated him in illegal ganja trade and was arrested by the police. On the other hand, the woman failing to get any treatment died leaving behind the three minor children. Already starving for days now, the three children were spotted wandering around in the village and crying for their mother.
They fed on whatever locals provided them out of sympathy. Chinu had taken upon herself the responsibility of her siblings. She wrapped them up in torn blankets to protect them from the cold at night and did petty jobs for food during day. She bathed them and went to work after sending Ganesh and Minu to school.
“My mother was our only source of support. But she died leaving us behind,” said Chinu tears rolling down her cheeks. “My father had gone to bring money for mother’s treatment but has not returned back,” she added.
Moved by the pathetic condition of the three, locals demanded the district administration to relocate them immediately. They demanded the administration to rescue the children and put them at a shelter home for better education and livelihood.
They claimed the children’s father was innocent and was implicated falsely and demanded his release. PNN