Till 22 days ago, Pravasini Nayak, a mentally challenged woman of Kaithapalli under Belaguntha block in Ganjam district, was known as 'Khunta Manisha' (Pole Woman) as she would stand like a pole at the bund of a village pond for the last three years. Now, after her treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, she is now living a normal life.
The family members thanked OTV saying their words are falling short to express their gratitude to the leading channel of Odisha for the help it extended.
After marriage, everything was proceeding normally for Pravasini. Her family comprised three members-she, her husband and a daughter. A few years later, fate played a cruel joke on her. Her husband ditched her, leaving her to fend for herself.
With no option left, she along with her daughter went to her parents’ house and was living there.
As if being ditched by husband was not enough, she lost her mental balance three years ago. She would stand on the bund of the village pond, uttering something on her own. She would come to the house only to have dinner and lunch. After having her food, she would return to the bund. The family members did their best to get her treated with their limited resources but failed.
After OTV aired the news highlighting Pravasini’s plight, the block administration came to her rescue. She was admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur. After undergoing treatment for 22 days there, she has recently returned home.
She is presently behaving normally. She is not only taking care of her daughter but also doing all the daily chores as a normal person.
“She would stay on the bund of our village pond. She would come to the house to have food. After I left home for college, she would return to the pond. After her plight was highlighted, the administration took steps to treat her. On February 16, some people came from MKCG Medical College and Hospital and took her with them,” said Pravasini’s daughter, Barsharani Nayak.
Echoing the same, Pravasini’s sister, Bidyasini said, “I was with her at the hospital. Now she is interacting with family members as a normal person does.”
(Reported by Rajesh Panda, OTV)