Uttar Pradesh: Four siblings left to fend for themselves as mother dies due to COVID-19
Ballia (UP), May 24: "We are now at God's mercy", said 10-year-old Kajal, saddled with the responsibility of taking care of her three younger siblings after their mother died due to coronavirus two weeks ago.
Their father Santosh Paswan had died of cancer about three years ago, following which their mother Poonam Devi had been looking after them.
Poonam Devi died on May 10, leaving behind her children Kajal, Ruby, Renu and Ankush, aged five to 10.
Their both parents worked as labourers and had no agricultural land.
"My mother has died from coronavirus. We are three sisters and one brother. We had some foodgrain in the house but nothing is left now. We are now 'bhagwan bharose' (at God's mercy)," Kajal told reporters at Dalanchhapra village in Ballia's Bairia tehsil.
Villagers said they have two elder sisters, who are married and not in a position to take care of them.
"We have nothing with us now," said Ruby.
However, seven-year-old Ankush wants to study and join the police force when he grows up.
"Didi cooks for us. I want to study and join the police force," said Ankush, who performed the last rites of his mother.
In his innocence, Ankush said he will marry with the help of donations.
Meanwhile, the Information Department, in a statement issued here on Monday evening, said the children are being looked after by their grandmother Phuleshwari Devi.
As per the directives of CDO Praveen Verma, a team of the women welfare department met Phuleshwari Devi. She told the team she gets a monthly pension and that she is ready to send the children to a shelter home.
Earlier in the day, Bairia SDM Prashant Nayak had said that he was aware of their mother's death and if any other member of their family takes their responsibility, monetary help would be provided for it till they assume the age of 18.
Nayak said a certificate for the BPL category is being made so that the family gets the benefit of Antyodaya Yojana of the government and sponsorship scheme of the women welfare department.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
