Due to acute poverty, Bharat Naik, a Gramrakshi of Paikerapur village under Athagarh block, was not able to conduct the last rites of his wife Buti (42), who died on Saturday after prolonged illness.
Adding to his woes, his 24-year-old son Bapi Naik, who had been admitted in the Athagarh Sub-Divisional Hospital for his kidney problem, was brought back home for funds constraint. With media activism, the local administration took the responsibility of the medical expenditure of Bharat’s son.
The local Sarpanch arranged funds from the Harishchandra Yojna with which Bharat conducted the last rites of her wife and again admitted his son at the hospital.