A school student of Malkangiri district of Odisha, who allegedly worked at the worksite of a Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) project due to poverty, has lost his right palm in an accident.
According to sources, B.Yakub aged 14 was studying in class IX. He lived with his family at Korkunda of Malkangiri district. Although he had met with the accident on June 1, the incident came to light on Wednesday. He is now undergoing treatment in a hospital in Visakhapatnam where doctors had to amputate his right palm. According to his family members some of his other limbs may also have to be amputated.
While working at the PMGSY worksite, a metal rod held by the child had touched the overhead high voltage electricity supply cable. The electric shock had burnt most parts of his body and drastically affected his limbs. The contractor, who had employed him, had allegedly tried hard to suppress this event.
Without informing the administration and police, the injured child had been first admitted in Malkangiri district hospital and from there he had been shifted to a hospital in Visakhapatnam. Due to pressure of the contractor, who had promised to bear all cost of treatment of the child, his parents had not approached police regarding this incident. But the contractor did not keep his promise and the poor family had to take hefty loans to bear the cost of treatment in Visakhapatnam.
Poverty
Father of the child, B.Samson was a poor man but had got his son admitted in an English medium school at Malkangiri town. Due to poverty Samson was unable to afford his son’s school uniform. Therefore Yakub had decided to work and earn money on his own to buy his uniform. As summer vacation was on, he had decided to work at the worksite of PMGSY road construction work at distance of two kilometres from Korkunda, where he met with the accident. It is alleged that during admission in the hospital, age of the child was stated to be over 20 years, while his school teachers claim he was only 14 years old. According to his teachers, he was good in studies as well as in extra curricular activities.
Enquiry
After receiving reports Malkangiri district administration has started an enquiry into the matter. Speaking to The Hindu , Malkangiri district collector D.Prasanth Kumar Reddy said a team of officials was sent to Korkunda to make a detailed enquiry into the accident at the PMGSY worksite as well as to interact with the family members of the victim and locals regarding the matter. This team included the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Korkunda, district labour officer and district child protection officer.
After making on the spot enquiry, this team has left for Visakhapatnam to meet the victim. The Collector says the administration has also sent some financial assistance for the treatment of the victim.
