Mrunal Manmay Dash

Berhampur: At a time when Odisha Government is claiming to reach out to people through its ambitious 5T model of governance and ‘Mo Sarkar’ initiative, an elderly couple from CM Naveen Patnaik’s constituency Hinjili is allegedly running pillar to post seeking justice.

As per reports, the couple- Rajeswari Nadi and her husband from Badakhandi village in Ganjam district has been allegedly ostracised on July 5 following village committee's orders after their daughter Mamata refused to give up her government job.

The couple uploaded a video on social media seeking intervention of CM Naveen Patnaik, Collector and SP so that they can return to their own village and stay peacefully.

Through the video, Rajeswari narrated her ordeal on how they were subjected to harassment when they refused to bow down to an unreasonable demand. Rajeswari's daughter Mamata is working as an assistant teacher at Laxmipur Government Girl’s High School in Gajapati District.

Reports suggest the village committee put an embargo on using the village resources and directed others not to maintain any contact or help the Nadi family. Sources said the family was also prohibited from cultivating their own land and prohibited from walking on the village road, which is a public property.

Rajeswari alleged that they were even slapped a fined Rs 5,500 for allowing their daughter to continue with her government job after marriage. However, Mamata's in-laws were against her doing the job, alleged villagers.

In the video, the couple alleged that some villagers even threatened them with dire consequences if they don’t make their daughter quit her job. Without water and ration from the local kirana store, staying in the village was getting tough for them. So, they had to leave the village and are currently staying with their daughter in Gajapati.

"Everything was all right till six months of our marriage. However, after that my husband started pressuring me to leave the job. He even used to torture me for dowry and come home in a drunken state. When I defied his orders, he took the issue to the village committee which later socially boycotted my parents," said Mamata.

President of the village committee said, “We had enforced restriction on the family only after they didn’t comply with the village committee's decision. However, the boycott was subsequently lifted after two to three days after Police intervened.”

The mother-in-law of Mamata, on the other hand, clarified, “We never asked her to leave her job. We wanted her and our grandson to live with us instead with her parents.”

After a report was telecast by OTV on the plight of the elderly couple, district administration swung into action with Block Chairman of Hinjili and SDPO visiting and held discussion with villagers today.

"In a written statement, the village committee denied of ostracising the couple. Even, if any restrictions were clamped, it was lifted. They (couple) can live in the village," the block chairman said.

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