For these three siblings, life has become a struggle at an early age. When most of the children of their age get lots of parental affection and care and spend time in playing and studying, these orphans between the age of 8 and 13 years have to fight for bread.
The ill-fated siblings had lost their mother six years back and their father died a month back after reeling under TB. Their septuagenarian grandmother is taking their care but she too is poverty-stricken.
Ramesh Patra, the trio’s father, of Khasapadia village of Kusiapala panchayat under Derabish block ran his family with a meager income from repairing utensils. Ramesh and his wife Renuka somehow managed their family. However, six years back, Renuka died of prolonged abdomen-related disease as she failed to get proper treatment due to poverty. And, Ramesh who was suffering from TB, too died due to lack of treatment a month back. Consequently, the three children, Jyoti Patra (14), Saraswati Patra(11) and Kanhu Patra (8), were rendered orphans.
Hemalata Patra, their old grandmother, is now their sole caretaker.
But Hemalata has no source of income except Rs300 which she gets as her monthly pension. Besides, she gets subsidized rice under NFSA. However, this is too meager to maintain her and the four children under her custody. “We the two sisters have been studying at Thakurpatana UP School in class 7th whereas our younger brother has been studying in class 3. Meanwhile, after the death of our father, we have to depend on the MDM to fill our bellies. Our old grandmother most of the time falls sick,” said Jyoti, the youngest among the siblings.
She added, “Most of the time, we have to sleep in empty stomach at night. It is good luck if some villager provides us food.” Meanwhile, Hemalata has urged the district administration and the State Government to take the responsibility of the three orphans. When contacted, district Collector Debaraj Senapati stated that he would probe the matter and do whatever is possible.