Which misfortunate family in Odisha will get Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s next Rs10 lakh as ex-gratiaIJ This is now a most-talked-about topic in different circles across the State. Patnaik has so far provided such Rs10-lakh ex-gratia each to four families.
The first family belongs to the Pipili area in Puri district, where Bebina Mallick was raped and an attempt was made to kill her. Bebina, however, ultimately succumbed to her injuries. The incident created a hue and cry across the State claiming sacking of the local MlA Pradeep Maharathy from the Cabinet. And the Government provided Rs10 lakh as ex-gratia to the deceased’s family.
Next was a minor orphan girl of Rayagada district, who was gang-raped by four persons and who committed suicide by setting herself on fire after being unable to bear the humiliation. In a serious condition she had been taken to a hospital in Visakhapatnam where she died. And the Government announced Rs10-lakh ex-gratia for her family.
A few months later, another minor girl of the Mahakalpada area of Kendrapada district was gang-raped. The miscreants set her on fire and she died at the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar on her way to Delhi for better treatment. In the midst of Statewide protests again, the Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the girl’s family.
In the latest instance, on November 1, Naveen Patnaik again announced Rs10 lakh for the family of the Tikiri (Rayagada) woman schoolteacher Itishree Pradhan, who belonged to Puri district. The death of Itishree, who was set on fire over a case of sexual harassment, sparked angry protests, prompting the Chief Minister to order declare the ex-gratia.