Puri: A day after OMMCOM NEWS highlighted the plight of Puri’s Mandi Rout and her mentally challenged son Ramchandra, who had been chained indoors for around 18 years, the district administration came to their rescue.
Mandi of Parbatipur in Paika Sahi of the Pilgrim Town sells Lord Jagannath’s ‘Nirmalya’ (dried rice Mahaprasad) to maintain a family of two – herself, and son Ramchandra, as her husband deserted them long back.
Ramchandra has been suffering from a mental illness from the past 22 years. When Mandi goes to work, he is locked with a chain in their deserted and dark house. The mental condition of son Ramchandra has forced Mandi to lock him up when she is out at the Bada Danda (Puri Jagannath Temple’s Grand Road) to sell the ‘Nirmalya’.
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After OMMCOM NEWS brought the incident to light, the district administration jumped into action and with the collaboration of some social organisations arranged for the rehabilitation of Ramchandra. He was shifted to Nilachal Seva Pratisthan at Kansas in the district where he will be treated.
Tears welled up in the eyes of Mandi as his son was finally rescued from the chain. The poor lady bid him farewell after feeding him with flattened rice. She prayed before Lord Jagannath that Ramchandra recovers and returns to take care of her.
Meanwhile, the district administration has assured of providing treatment to Ramchandra and arrangements will be made to provide a ration card and pension to Mandi.