An ailing elderly couple of Khantapara, shunned by their sons, have moved the court, seeking maintenance. They also knocked at the door of the district administration.
They were identified as Manibhadra Panda (95) and his wife Ahalya (86) of Bishnupur village under Khantapara police station limits. The couple has two sons and five daughters, all married.
Neither of sons ever cared for their maintenance.
They had to live in their old house in a solitary state when two sons moved to their new houses deserting them in the place.
The only thing they have to survive with is their old age pension.
Of Manibhadra two sons, elder one Sishir runs a cloth shop, while the younger one Sarat is the headmaster of the Bishnupur High School. The district Collector has asked the sub collector and district education officer to take immediate steps to protect the couple.
“We have a senior citizen protection wing and the sub collector is the nodal officer. I asked him to explore the provisions by which the interest of the couple can be protected and at the same time, directed the DEO, as younger one is a headmaster, to see what can be done,” said district Collector Pramod Das.
In the meantime, the district legal aid cell and several other individuals and organizations have come forward to help the hapless parents.
Social activist Sahirul Haque said, “By seeing their distress, I assured them that on each month I would be providing rations to them. Their eldest daughter, Mallimala , has volunteered to look after them till end.” Senior advocate Amar Ballav Nanda has also offered to fight their case free of cost.
Manibhadra in his early ages was serving as cook in West Bengal.