A poverty-ridden minor boy is left with little option except chaining his mentally-ill father before going for work and releasing him after returning home. This is what he does every day.
The ill-fated lad is Parmaeswar Behera(19), who resides with his brother Ramesh(12) and father Khelandanda(65) and mother Rebati(60) at Kulabira village under Lepripada block of Sundargarh district
His mother too is a mentally challenged. But they have not yet been provided with any assistance. The clay house in which they are living is in dilapidated condition.
When Parameswar was only seven years old, his father Khelananda had suffered from mental illness. He started fearing seeing outsiders. His wife Debaki, who looked after Khelananda, herself lost her mental balance within a few years. She could not provide treatment to her husband due to poverty for which Khelananda's condition went worse. Parameswar, the elder son of Khelananda and Rebati, had to look after his mentally ill parents. Parameswar works as a labourer and whatever meager amount he earns, he runs the family.
He had also taken his father to a doctor but when the doctor advised him to take him for super speciality treatment, he could not afford.
Parameswar's both mentally challenged parents were deprived of disabled pension for long despite the fact that Parameswar had gone several times to the block office to request for grant of the pension. However, recently, Social Security Officer, Sundargarh, Ashok Kumar Bisi granted disabled pension to the mentally-ill couple.
“I have also talked to the BDO, Lepripada, to provide all assistance, including providing a house at the earliest,” said Bisi.
When asked, Lepripada BDO Pallavi Rani Raj said, "Since there is negligence from panchayat officials in this matter, I have served show cause notice to the concerned PEO and Sarpanch asking them why this family was not provided necessary assistance in time," Raj however assured to release all Government sops to the family soon.