Bhubaneswar: Concerted efforts of BSKY team, District mental health programme (DMHP) team, and Bhanjanagar sub-divisional administration came as boon for a suffering minor girl named Barsa Naika (17 years) in village-Kaithapoli Harijan Sahi under Belguntha block of Ganiam district. Her mentally retarded mother provided treatment in District Mental Health unit of MKCG Medical College and hospital. Barsa also provided support for continuing her education.
As the episode showed, BSKY team, on knowing about suffering of a girl child from media scanning started working on mission mode. As the media report showed, Basra suffered because of poverty and mentally retarded mother, Pravasini. Media report also mentioned that her father, Hadubandhu Naika went to another place deserting his wife and children.
Pravasini with her children had to take shelter in her father’s home. Pravasini could not bear the shock and turned psychoneurotic. Since last three years, She used to wear long veil (Odani) from head to leg for concealing herself from others. She never unveiled the Odani. She used to stand quiet in a lonely place by side of the village pond throughout the day.
Barsa had to everything from arranging food to serving the mad mother. All these jeopardised her studies. Poverty was another great burden for her.
With initiatives from BSKY team, Directorate of Public Health deputed district mental health team who reached the village with help of the medical officer Bellaguntha Community health centre. The concerned Sarpanch, ward member, and local women self-help group were also contacted. The family was counselled with the help of these persons.
The family members, after thorough counselling and deliberation agreed for shifting of the patient to hospital for treatment. Following due procedure as prescribed under mental health care provisions, Prabhasini was brought from village with special vehicle along with her close family members on 17 February 2023.
She was provided primary treatment in the community health centre. Finally, with all safety measures as per prescribed regulations, Prabhasini was taken to District metal health care and drug addiction unit located inside the campus of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajpati Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur. She was provided treatment and medicine free of cost.
Close observation, sympathetic dealing, and procedural treatment led to remarkable success. Within 20 days Prabhasini was almost cured, and discharged from hospital on yesterday (9 March, 2023) with necessary medicines and advices for follow up services. Now, She is living almost a near normal life in her village.
In the meanwhile, Barsa has been provided financial assistance of Rs 5,000 from Red-cross by Sub-divisional administration for meeting her immediate study expenses. She has also been provided books from book bank free of cost. Sub-Collector Bhanjanagar has ordered for weaving out of her college fees. The family has been covered under food security scheme. Steps are also being taken for including the family under rural housing scheme.
Son of Prabhasini, Deepak told “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saved our mother and family. We owe our Pranam and gratitude to him”. Bidyasini, the elder sister of Prabhasini said, “Because of Odisha Government my sister could recover from mental illness of last many years. BSKY card saved her life and family. This scheme of Odisha Government is incomparable.”
