Chhatrapur: A girl, who had gone missing 10 years ago, had a happy reunion with her family as she tied Rakhi to her brother on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan here Thursday.
Rajani Hansda’s reunion with her family could not have come at a better time as she had the opportunity to meet her brother and mother after a long gap of 10 years. They met at a computer training centre where she is undergoing DTP training.
A special programme was organised at the centre attended by MLA Priyanshu Pradhan and ADM Saroj Mishra.
Tears rolled down the cheeks of Rajani’s mother as she tied Rakhi to her brother Rabi. Accepting the Rakhi from his sister, an emotionally overwhelmed Rabi said he never thought of meeting his missing sister again and had named his daughter after her. Rajani also tied Rakhi to Pradhan and Mishra.
Rajani, a native of Bhadrak district, had gone missing while witnessing Kali Puja celebrations with her parents 10 years ago. She got alienated from the family and inadvertently boarded a train and found herself in Chennai.
She could only recall that she was later sent back to Berhampur and accommodated at Utkal Balashram. Ten years later, she wanted to see her family. On seeing her pictures in newspapers, her family members recognised her.
The family members urged the district child welfare committee to get back Rajani from Berhampur. Chairperson of Bhadrak child welfare committee Kamalakant Swain held talks with his Ganjam counterpart in this regard. Her reunion with her family became possible after leading Oriya daily Dharitri published a report along with her photograph August 15.
Her family members after going through the report rushed to Chhatrapur and identified her in the presence of a relative, MLA Pradhan and ADM Mishra and the authorities and students of the computer centre.
Mishra said Rajani will be handed over to her family after completing the legal formalities. PNN
