Ganjam (Odisha): Braving all odds in life, Prabhakar Pradhan was somehow managing his family in Sergarh block's Gothagaon village of the district by cultivating lands of others. However, he could not escape from a divine curse.
All the children born to his family die after being afflicted with a rare skin disease. This way he lost four sons and daughters.
He even borrowed money to arrange treatment of his children, but despite spending all his earnings, they all died.
While Prabhakar had already lost three sons, he has been blessed with a fourth one - Jagannath, who is also suffering from the same rare disease.
Jagannath is now ten years old and since his birth, he had been under treatment in Medical College and Hospital at Berhampur, but there is no significant change in his health. Even money has now become the greatest obstacle for the treatment of Jagannath.
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His parents have already incurred a loan of Rs. Seven lakh for his treatment and have exhausted all their resources for further treatment.
They have even urged the government for some financial assistance for Jagannath's advanced medical treatment.
As he is unable to balance his body on his own, Jagannath's parents avoid sending him to school as he falls from the table often.
All the children of the locality avoid mixing with him out of fear of getting infected by his disease, only a few kids play with hapless Jagannath.
On the other hand, health programmes and schemes of the government have failed to reach his family. Prabhakar alleged that he has fervently approached everyone in the administration but none had taken pity on his hapless boy.
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Jagannath's body shows signs of cracks and he severely scratches his body. When there is acute pain, he sits inside a water vessel. His pain becomes intolerable, particularly in summer days.
Each time his parents carry him along with them to avoid accidents.
Prabhakar's family gets some rice, but they have not been able to get a physically disabled certificate due to which Jagannath is deprived of all the government benefits.
Seeing Jagannath's pain, tears have dried up in the eyes of his parents and they are now resigned to their fate.
