Suryakant Jena

Jajpur: Abused, abandoned and neglected by family members, an elderly man from Jajpur district has signed will to donate his entire property to State Government after his death. The moving story of Khetramohan Mishra, has exposed how the rising trend of elder abuse and neglect is threatening moral values in the society.

Khetramohan, a resident of Muraripur village in Dasarathpur block of the district had hoped that when his time comes he will have a happy ending under the care of his small family but little did he know that his only son and daughter-in-law would subject him to worst days of his life.

Now in the dusk of his life, Khetramohan is moving from pillar to post searching for some shelter and security so that he can spend the rest of his life, at least in peace.

For that he has already handed over his will to the district administration mentioning that upon his death, his entire assets should go to the State government. Claiming that his son and daughter-in-law have been giving mental and physical torture to him, Khetramohan said that he has decided not to bequeath his property on their name.

Not only that Khetramohan said that he is so much frustrated with his family members that he even does not want his son to perform his last rites but has instead expressed his desire to donate his body for someone else’ welfare.

"I fear that I may die living with them, so I have decided to seek government’s help so that I can stay at an old age home till my death. I have also decided to donate my property so that it can be used for the welfare of the society," said Khetramohan.

However, his daughter-in-law Arati has refuted all allegations of neglect and abuse.

"Be it requirement of blood, medicines, food or clothes, I have left no stone unturned to take his care. My husband is his only son and if he does injustice to us by ending relationship with us what can we do?" said Arati.

Meanwhile, taking cognizance of his request, the district administration has lent a helping hand for sheltering and care of the elderly man.

"Initially, we have planned to shelter him in an old age home run by a NGO so that he can be taken care of. This apart he has also expressed his interest to donate his assets to the government and has already submitted his will papers, so we will look into that," said Jajpur Collector Ranjan Kumar Das.

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