DUNGRIPAI (SONEPUR):Sad tales of migrants who travel to other States in search of greener pasture continue to remain in focus across the region even as the Government has failed to provide employment to landless farmers to prevent migration. And the latest one is from Guliapadar village in Chinajuri Gram Panchayat under Dungripali block of the district.
Reports said five years back, Gajindra Bhainsa, along with his wife Gitanjali, 13-year-old daughter Sangita and two sons Bidur and Sudur, aged 11 and 8 years respectively, had migrated to Bengaluru for livelihood. He had left behind his father Yudhistir and mother Betikhai with a promise to return after earning some money. He was lured to migrate by one Ludu of village Beheramal in the district. Labour Sardar Guddu of Belpada in Balangir district reportedly took them to Bengaluru and handed them over to a brick kiln owner.
In Bengaluru, Gajindra and his son Sudur went to a market and did not come back home. However, after a couple of days, Gitanjali could trace Sudur even as her search for her husband Gajindra proved futile. After waiting in vain for return of Gajindra, the family returned to her village Rangmatia in Bijepur block with the help of one Babaji of Munipali village in Bargarh district.
After staying for a few days in her home, Gitanjali decided to return to her in-laws’ house in Guliapadar and start life afresh with her children. Her in-laws, Yudhistir and Betikhai, welcomed her and the children.
Yudhistir mortgaged his small landholding with the village Mahajan and somehow was able to manage the family. As there was not enough income to sustain the family, Gitanjali availed a loan of `14,000 from a firm hoping to contribute to the family income, but soon the principal amount got exhausted. The burden of repayment of loan and sustaining the family finally took a toll on Gitanjali’s health and she died on November 29.
All that the elderly couple have today is a thatched roof. Gitanjali’s brother has come forward to look after the two sons. Sangita is working as a daily wager.
Sarpanch of Chinajuri Rankamani Deep said the family is not enlisted under the Indira Awaas Yojana. He also admitted that the family has not received any government help.