Two poverty-stricken kids, who are brothers, rescued by the Jharsuguda police about two months ago, were sent to the District Child Protection Unit, Sundargarh on Thursday.
After rescuing them, the police had first sheltered them at two child homes in Jharsuguda. These hapless kids had been rescued along with their mother when the trio was desperately looking for work to earn subsistence.
The mother had told the police that she was a widow and had another three kids. She told that since the death of her husband, they were not getting enough food and hence, she was trying to engage her and all her children in work. leaving her two children there she had assured to come back with her rest kids.
However, as she did not return in the last two months, the Jharsuguda authorities decided to send the two children to their home district. The woman had identified her as Sumitra and her deceased husband as Bijay lohar. She had told that she was a resident of Barsuan village of Koira block under K Balang police station limits. Sumitra said she had four sons and one daughter.
After the death of Bijay lohar four months ago, Sumitra had to strive hard to earn bread for the entire family. looking into the pain of the mother, Sumitra’s elder son Sanjay (14) decided to work as a helper in a dumper and had left his home to work. Thereafter, Sumitra along with her rest four children had gone to her father’s home. Thereafter, she took her daughter Puja (7) to her aunt’s house at Simdega and had left her there. Sumitra then along with her three sons Ajay (12), Bishal (10)) and Dhananjaya (7) had gone to Jharsuguda in search of work. Sumitra had engaged Bishal in a hotel for a paltry amount of Rs500 per month. But while searching for work on September 12, police had rescued Sumitra, Ajay and Dhananjay.
Now, the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Sundargarh, is planning to go to the village of both the children and meet their mother. If she would prefer to take care of both her sons, they would be left at her disposal with sponsorship amount of Rs1, 000 for each or else the DCPU would look after the kids.
“We have provided them shelter in Reach Trust, Sundargarh. We are planning to meet their mother at her village very soon. After discussing with her, we will think for next course of action. We will provide necessary support to them if they wish to live independently,” said District Child Protection Officer S Jena.