Boy returns home after 13 years

A tribal boy identified as Raju (19) who was separated from his family 13 years ago arrived here on Thursday and met his poor mother and his elder brother at Nepali Basti slum in sector-6 area of the steel city.

Recalling his separation, the boy narrated how he left home in a fit of anger at the age of 6 after his father beat him up. Raju had boarded a train from Rourkela railway station for an unknown destination and reached Kanpur. He was given shelter at Kanpur by a man and was put at an Ashram there. Later, Raju left the ashram and went to Delhi. An NGO rescued the boy while he was moving aimlessly in the national capital.

Reluctant to return he began studying under the aegis of the NGO `Dipalaya` at Delhi. NGO activists soon contacted Rourkela ADM P C Pathy and arranged Raju`s return to home.

Finally the boy returned here on Thursday and he was taken to Durgapur hill as the only landmark the boy remembers and subsequently he recollected about his house location.

Raju`s mother a daily wage earner could identify her son Raju when he was taken to Nepali basti slum. Raju`s elder brother Mukesh and his mother Saraswati Lohar both could not control their tears after getting back Raju after long 13 years. However, Raju`s father Bisra had passed away in the meantime.

After completion of his studies at the open school in Delhi, the ADM assured a seat for Raju in a state-run ITI here.