At a time when election campaigning has picked up momentum and candidates from different parties are soliciting for votes, a poor elderly woman of Sundargarh district along with her three grandsons, have no food to eat and are struggling for survival.
Upasi Karta (80) resides in Talsara village under Birbira panchayat in Sadar block. Upasi was living with her husband, two sons and two daughters. Her husband died 13 years ago and ever since Upasi had to face lot of difficulties for upbringing of her four children.
Upasi managed to organse marriage of her two sons and two daughters.
Her younger son Krishna died after falling from a train at Jharsuguda five years ago.
After the death of Krishna, his wife left Upasi's house and went to her parents’ house. Upasi’s another daughter-in-law Sushila(wife of elder son of Thabir) suddenly died due to illness two years ago.
After three months of death of Sushila, Thabir died. After losing two sons and a daughter-in-law, Upasi was completely broken.
Three minor sons of Thabir and Sushila, who became orphans, are living with grandmother. But the old woman has no income to feed her three grandsons and all four have been struggling for survival.
On Monday when Upasi heard election campaigning of political parties with party candidates, she ran out of her house to tell them about her plight but in vain.
With much difficulty, she could tell it to a candidate contesting election but her voice was suppressed with the sound of election campaigning and the politicians had no time stop there.
“I am completely shattered having no income. I do not know how my three grandsons will survive,” said Upasi in a chocked voice. “These politicians are asking for vote but they do not have time to listen to my sorrow,” she added.