The Bhadrak district administration has finally ensured a monthly disability pension to intellectually challenged Kalicharan Panda who had been enchained for the last 15 years in his Itua village under Chandbali block. Besides, he has been given `10,000 from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as special assistance.
Notably, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had directed district Collector to protect human rights of the enchained man and to provide him all support while hearing a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy in this regard. Tripathy had mentioned in his petition that the poor-handicapped family had been living in lurch without any State assurance. District administration disbursed first pension and `10,000 as assistance to the family on October 12.