Bissamcuttack: It has been 17 years since K Sumitra has been tied with a piece of rope to a door frame and locked inside a room.
Sumitra, youngest daughter of K Biswanath of Durgee village under Bissamcuttack block in Rayagada district has been living a wretched life for the past 17 years now.
Unfortunately, no aid has come her way from the administration. Hailing from a below poverty line (BPL) background, the girl’s father, K Biswanath, a village priest has pawned all his properties to provide treatment for the girl, but in vain.
Unable to afford for further treatment, the family has kept her tied so that she does not run away anywhere.
“No one can even imagine how my heart aches when I have to lock my daughter inside a room by tying her with chains. But, I have no other option,” said the girl’s father.
According to Biswanath, it was during her childhood days that Sumitra was affected of some fever. Despite several treatments, her prolonged illness turned complicated and she suffered from mental illness.
“We don’t like tying her with a piece of rope but she is safe this way and we are able to provide her food. Otherwise, she will run away from home, tear her clothes and attack people,” her mother stated.
Biswanath being a poor man has spent a lot of money for her treatment but still there has been no improvement in her health. He sold his land and properties and now have nothing left for her treatment.
Being a village priest, he is now struggling to manage two square meals for his family. He laments that the miserable condition of his daughter has still not caught the attention of the administration.
He urged the administration to provide some financial help for his daughter’s treatment. Locals also sympathised with Sumitra’s condition and demanded administration’s intervention in getting Sumitra rid of her wretched life.
On being informed, Gulam Maksud, Bissamcuttack block development officer (BDO) promised all possible help for the girl.
PNN
