Government goes back on its word

BERHAMPUR: Narayan Mallick, 18, an orphan tribal boy in Ganjam district, was on cloud nine when chief minister Naveen Patnaik felicitated him on June 20 and said the government will bear all expenses for his study at AIIMS, New Delhi. He had stood 13 (ST category) in AIIMS entrance this year.
But his joy was short-lived. Three months later, no help from government has reached him even though he has taken admission in the prestigious medical institute on July 22.
"When I could not get any government aid, my uncle helped me take admission," said Narayan of Bhanjanagar. "A good Samaritan from Hyderabad also helped me financially," he said. The organisations, which had shown interest to financially help him for his admission, backed out after the government announcement.
"I hope I will get help from the government as the chief minister himself assured me about that," he said. At the same time, he said he would apply for merit scholarship and other assistance. "As he is an orphan and hailed from a poor tribal family, we had provided him free coaching, guidebooks for preparation of MBBS. We had also assured him to provide all financial help to take admission in the premier medical institute," said Sudhir Rout, director, Aryabhatta Learning Forum Private Limited, here. "When the government promised help, we backed out," he said
Director in the ST and SC development department Ramesh Chandra Sai said, "We will transfer the funds to him after verifying his admission from the institute. The admission and other fees that he had already spent will be reimbursed from the government.Narayan, the only son of his parents, became orphaned when his father died in 2015 his mother in 2013. Despite of all constraints, self-determination and dedication stood him in good stead.