Even as the Union and the State Governments claim to have introduced many schemes for welfare of poor people, the schemes seem to have remained far from reach of beneficiaries in Gajapati district.
It is so conceived from that fact that a 10-month-old tribal girl died due to unavailability Government support for her treatment after repeated attempts made by her parents. The painful incident has occurred in the remote Rubal village under R Udayagiri block.
According to information, Saraswati Raita’s daughter Shibani had got infected with malaria virus a few days after birth. later, she developed other ailments too. Mother Saraswati had taken Shibani to R Udayagiri hospital for five times, walking four-five km of hilly road each time. At her last visit, doctors advised her to take Shibani to the MKCG Medical College Hospital in Brahmapur. Then, Saraswati borrowed money from neighbours and took the daughter to the premier Hospital.
After examination at the MKCG Hospital, doctors said Shibani’s condition was critical and advised for an immediate operation. But Saraswati could not collect the huge amount of money required for Shibani’s operation.
Finding no other option, Saraswati applied for Government help from the District Red Cross fund and then from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. She had approached Sarapanch, BDO, district Collector and so called political leaders before submitting an application to get support from the CMRF.
Saraswati was sure that she would get aide from the CMRF and got her daughter fully cured. But her long wait proved unfruitful and Shibani died on Friday.
The body was buried in the village graveyard amid a sorrowful atmosphere.