Family can’t afford treatment, ties mentally-ill to tree

JAGATSINGHPUR:IN a shocking incident,  a 25-year-old mentally-challenged youth has been kept tied to a tree with iron chains for  the past five years as his family members couldn’t afford his treatment. The victim Sanjay Gudia of  Sarba village under Erasama block stays in a shed.

Sanjay’s father Ratan Gudia died of heart attack four years ago and since then the family has been facing financial problem. Sanjay’s mother, Anita, works as a domestic help. While his sister got married in 2015, he has two younger bothers  studying in schools.

The family claimed that Sanjay turned violent on several occasions in the past and keeping him tied to a tree was the ‘only way to avoid problems.’ His mother said Sanjay was normal till he was eight years old. “He was studying in Class III at Saraba Primary school. During this time, he suffered from fever and an unknown disease. We failed to provide him treatment. Since then, he lost his mental stability. We don’t earn enough to get him treated. At times, he turns violent and leaves home without anyone’s  knowledge,” she added.

His mother further added that Sanjay had also harmed himself in the past. “He had torn his shirts and destroyed household items. To avoid problems, we had to keep him tied to a tree,” she said.
Panchayat sources said the victim receives pension of `300 and rice and other essential communities at subsidised rates under National Food Security Scheme. Meanwhile, locals alleged that Sanjay’s mother was deprived of the benefits of government’s housing schemes.

The family stays in a hut, barely 8 km from the seashore.  “Government should provide housing facilities to the widow and her family. Voluntary organisations should come forward for his treatment and rehabilitation,” locals demanded.Contacted, BDO, Erasama, Kailash Behera said, “We have not received any complaints regarding the housing facility for the victim’s family. We will conduct an inquiry into this matter,” he added.