Another tribal group in Odisha’s Cuttack district has demanded action against a woman social worker for allegedly forcing tribal icon and Padma Shri awardee Kamala Pujari to dance as she was discharged from the hospital. . The Bhumia tribe also condemned the incident, a day after Pujari from the Parja tribal community was asked to take strict action against the woman social worker.
The video of the incident went viral, after which there was outrage among the people, after which SCB Medical College and Hospital called Prof. A committee was constituted under the leadership of Jayant Panda (Medical Chief). The committee also includes the registrar of the medical college Abhinash Raut and will submit its report to the superintendent.
“We have already recorded the statements of doctors, nurses on duty, attendants, hospital security and others. Two more people will be questioned and we will submit a report on Saturday,” Panda told PTI.
The accused was known as Pujari’s lady attendant and was coming from Jaipur with him. “The hospital staff allowed her (social worker) entry as she had accompanied the priest at the time of admission,” Panda said.
The leader of Bhumia Adivasi Samaj, Narendra Kandolia, said that the entire tribal population of the state condemns the incident and has submitted a memorandum to the government through sub-collector Jaipur.
“Padma Shri Kamala Pujari is the pride of the tribals and a symbol for all of us. The way he was forced to dance inside the ICU is unfortunate and we strongly condemn it. We sincerely request the state government.” Demand a probe into the incident at the highest level and take appropriate action at the earliest,” Bhumiya leader Kandoliya told PTI.
Pujari confirmed on a local television channel that he was forced to dance by the social worker despite being sick and tired. In the video, a social worker named Mamta Behera is also seen dancing with him.
Pujari told television channels in Koraput district, “I never wanted to dance, but I was forced to do so. I denied repeatedly, but he (Behera) did not listen. I was sick and tired. went.”
Pujari’s attendant Rajiv Hiyal also claimed that she did not know Behera and also clicked several selfies with the Padma awardee.
The tribal leader was admitted to the district hospital after he complained of fever and diarrhoea. On 24 August, as his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. She was discharged on Monday after recovering from the illness and reached home on Tuesday.
Pujari was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019 for promoting organic farming and preserving 100 varieties of indigenous seeds for various crops, including paddy.
The hospital authorities claimed that he was not admitted to the ICU but a special cabin.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wished him a speedy recovery and a special team of doctors was ensuring his proper treatment.
Mamta Behera said there was no ill intention on her part and she just wanted to “remove the priest’s laziness”.
Kamala Pujari belongs to the Parja community, a major scheduled tribe of Odisha, which comprises 4% of the state’s tribal population. The total tribal population of the state is 22.5%.
(with inputs from PTI)
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