The Anand Mission Ashram at Damana here under the Chandrashekharpur police station was functioning from 1999 with 12 orphaned children in the age group of five to six years. The children were looked after by three social activists Markand Behera, Pradipta Kumar Paramanik and Pabitra Kumar Tripathy.
Gradually, some kindhearted people after coming to know about the distressed children, were moved by their plight and gave some financial assistance. They also asked their acquaintances and others to provide help. Meanwhile, a native of Kendrapada Priyabrata Samal joined the Ashram claiming that he was a social activist. In the meantime, the number of inmates in the Ashram had swelled to 50 and the donation had also increased considerably. But Priyabrata Samal got greedy and allegedly started to siphon off the organisations’s funds. When the founder members Makand, Pradipta and Pabitra protested Samal spread false propaganda against them and maligned them.
He also took full control of the Ashram and in 2012 formed a trust and got his wife Sushama Mohanty installed as the secretary. The Anand Mission Ashram’s name was changed to Sri Sri Maa Ananda Ashram. He also roped in his brother - in -law (Sister’s husband) Pravat Behera. Now, Pravat Samal has kept 100 to 150 children either registered or unregistered at the Damana Ashram and Sri Vihar and appointed 12 to 13 agents to collect donations and started collecting lakhs of rupees. Besides, they have installed Air Conditioners and other luxury appliances in the Ashram and leading a lavish lifestyle, alleged Pradipta Parmanik.
The inmates kept in the Ashram are termed orphans but in reality they are extracting `15, 000 to 20,000 from their parents. Though the parents are shelling out large sums of money the children are not being looked after well and their studies are being neglected. But if the inmates’ parents protest they are threatened with dire consequences. Despite the government guidelines, the children are being brought from Gajapati and Kandhamal district illegally, alleged Markand Behera.
Meanwhile, the founders members of the organisation have run from pillar to post and informed the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell, Khordha Collector, DCP , Child Welfare Committee ( CWC) and other Government agencies. The CM Grievance Cell in a letter CMOFF/ D/ 2016/01692 on October 27, 2016 informed one of the members Markand Behera that their complaint petition has been sent to the Khorda Collector’s office for suitable action. Following which the Collector’s office sent a letter (memo no 151313 to Bhubaneswar Sub- Collector and District Social Welfare Officer to inquire into the activities of Ananda Mission Ashram and send a action taken report for perusal of the Collector. But unfortunately till now they have went into a deep slumber and no report has been sent.
It is alleged that some Government officials including the DCP office are hand in glove with the incumbent Ashram functionaries Pravat Samal and Sushama Mohanty allegedly as their palms are being greased routinely. The petitioners have demanded justice and a through probe of the unholy nexus between the incumbent Ashram authorities and the officials who are shielding them.