Four siblings left all alone after mother succumbs to COVID-19
Ten-year-old Kajal has been saddled with the responsibility of taking care of her three younger siblings after their mother died two weeks ago due to the deadly coronavirus. "We are now at God's mercy," she said. Their father Santosh Paswan had died of cancer about three years ago, following which their mother Poonam Devi had been looking after them.
We had some food grain but everything is finished: Kajal
Poonam died on May 10, leaving behind her children Kajal, Ruby, Renu, and Ankush, aged five to 10. Both their parents worked as laborers and had no agricultural land. "My mother has died from coronavirus. We are three sisters and one brother. We had some food grain in the house but nothing is left," Kajal told reporters at Dalanchhapra village in Ballia's Bairia tehsil.
Siblings have two elder sisters who are married: Villagers
"We are now Bhagwan Bharose (at God's mercy)," Kajal told the reporters. Villagers say they have two elder sisters, who are married and not in a position to take care of them. "We have nothing with us now," says Ruby. However, seven-year-old Ankush wants to study and join the police force when he grows up.
I want to study and join the police force: Ankush
"Didi cooks for us. I want to study and join the police force," says Ankush, who performed the last rites of his mother. In his innocence, the seven-year-old further says that he will marry with the help of donations. Meanwhile, Bairia Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Prashant Nayak said that he is aware of their mother's death.
The children might be sent to a shelter home: SDM
Nayak said that if any other member of their family takes their responsibility, monetary help will be provided for it till they assume the age of 18. "Otherwise, the children will be sent to a shelter home," he says.
