27 years on, Odisha martyr family’s wait for govt aid seems unending

When CISF jawan Anil Tappo fell to terrorist bullets on duty in 1996, his wife Meriprabha Tappo was proud enough of her husband’s supreme sacrifice. But little did she know that the government will ignore her and the family for 27 years.

Tappo, a resident of Chutiatola village under Sundargarh’s Kuanramunda block, had joined CISF just seven years back when his bullet-riddled body returned to his village. His son, Sandeep Tappo was just 18 months old.

Now that Sandeep has turned 28 years, he is still awaiting a compensatory job in lieu of his father’s sacrifice.

To provide some kind of relief to this grief-stricken family, the CISF has recently launched ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ programme under which they felicitated Meriprabha.

The CISF has also installed a plaque in memory of Tappo’s sacrifice in his village. However, after 27 years of the sacrifice, Meriprabha termed this felicitation too little too late.

CISF had recently contacted us after launching a scheme. But nobody asked our whereabouts before that. The government should be more considerate while dealing with martyr’s families,” said Sandeep.

Sharing her grief while speaking to OTV, Meriprabha said, “The grief of that day was too much for me to handle. It had never occurred to me that I will be a widow ever in my life. Yes, I am happy that my family has finally been recognised for its sacrifices by the CISF. But the government is yet to provide any aid to us forget about a job for me or my son.”

Even the locals condemned the alleged apathy of the government. Speaking to OTV, Zilla Parishad Member of Kuanramunda, Rajendra Kujur said, “I would request the Indian Government to provide a job to the family of Anil Tappo and encourage them to join the armed forces.”

Asked about the demand, CISF Commandant, Rourkela, Ashok Jalwania said, “There is a provision to provide the widow or the child of the martyr with a job on compensatory grounds.”