Gumla: Gumla The district administration on Thursday decided to take care of four minor siblings, including education and food, after they lost both their parents within a year.
Bhikhnu Mahli (40), a resident of Kulbira village of Sadar block, died a week ago in the district hospital due to prolonged illness. Mahli’s wife sukharmani, had died of thyroid problem a year ago. With the death of Mahli, the couple has four daughters – Khushboo (12) image (9), Seema Kumari (6) and Saraswati (3) – were orphans. His responsibilities were taken up by his poverty-stricken elderly grandmother in the same village.
“With no male member in the family, it was finding it difficult for the old lady to feed the children. They could have become easy targets for human traffickers,” said Sahu, a local lawyer.
When his plight went viral on social media and eventually in local news outlets, the deputy commissioner took cognizance and met him in Gumla on Thursday evening. He got their Aadhar cards made and instructed the District Social Welfare Officer to get Khushboo and Pratima admitted in the school.
“The eldest girl has been admitted to Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Gumla city in class VI and the other (who cannot be admitted to KGBV as she is younger) also lives with her eldest sister. residential school but admission will be given in Government Girls Middle School located next to KGBV,” DSWO Pratima Kumari said.
“The remaining two daughters will stay with their aunts in the village. Their ration cards have been made and they will get 35 kg food grains every month. The three younger sisters will be brought under the government sponsorship scheme for three years and will get Rs 2,000 per month. The sponsors will be extended after three years,” the DC said, adding that the well-being of the girls would be monitored by the district child line.
Bhikhnu Mahli (40), a resident of Kulbira village of Sadar block, died a week ago in the district hospital due to prolonged illness. Mahli’s wife sukharmani, had died of thyroid problem a year ago. With the death of Mahli, the couple has four daughters – Khushboo (12) image (9), Seema Kumari (6) and Saraswati (3) – were orphans. His responsibilities were taken up by his poverty-stricken elderly grandmother in the same village.
“With no male member in the family, it was finding it difficult for the old lady to feed the children. They could have become easy targets for human traffickers,” said Sahu, a local lawyer.
When his plight went viral on social media and eventually in local news outlets, the deputy commissioner took cognizance and met him in Gumla on Thursday evening. He got their Aadhar cards made and instructed the District Social Welfare Officer to get Khushboo and Pratima admitted in the school.
“The eldest girl has been admitted to Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Gumla city in class VI and the other (who cannot be admitted to KGBV as she is younger) also lives with her eldest sister. residential school but admission will be given in Government Girls Middle School located next to KGBV,” DSWO Pratima Kumari said.
“The remaining two daughters will stay with their aunts in the village. Their ration cards have been made and they will get 35 kg food grains every month. The three younger sisters will be brought under the government sponsorship scheme for three years and will get Rs 2,000 per month. The sponsors will be extended after three years,” the DC said, adding that the well-being of the girls would be monitored by the district child line.