In response to the summons of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to the Bhadrak district Collector for the failure of taking action and submitting report over a case of State negligence to the starving family Ajay Sahu, a poor man suffering from various ailments and son of Damodar Sahu of Jagdishpur village in Bonth block of the district, the district administration reported the Commission that it is in rescue mode of starving family.
The Collector in his report submitted before the NHRC mentioned that sum of Rs10,000 from the Red Cross fund and Rs5,000 from the Chief Minister’s Relief fund has already been paid to the family, besides ensuring an AAY card for getting ration to the family. The Agarpada medical officer, who treated the ailing sole breadwinner of the family, recommends for a job to his graduate wife.
The action of the NHRC and report of the Collector has been filed in continuation of the proceedings of a petition filed by social activist Radhakanta Tripathy, who highlighted the plight of Ajay and his family. After considering the Collector’s report, the NHRC asked the petitioner to submit his rejoinder.
Pursuant to this Radhakanta in his rejoinder stated that “The sole bread winner has been suffering and is yet to get appropriate medical care. The finance is the only constraint the reports admit. The medical officer also suggested a job of any nature to the wife of the victim, who is a graduate.”
Recently, in Delhi, the High Court chalked out a plan to help a patient who is poor enough to bear the medical expense to the tune of Rs 1 crore, Radhakanta pointed out.
In the present case the family can be saved if the ailing person, Ajay can be provided appropriate medical care free of cost at the SCB Medical College at Cuttack, at the same time if the Government can help the family by way of allowances or a job to the graduate wife of the victim. The education of the children and the health of the entire family have been at stake till now, the petitioner stated.
He urged the NHRC to direct the Government to extend appropriate medical care free of cost to the ailing person and rehabilitate and resettle the family by way of allowances or a job to the graduate wife of the victim.