Captive Oriya polio afflicted girls rescued

Kuchinda (Orissa), June 2 : Two polio-afflicted girls have been rescued in Kushinda, Orissa after being kept in Captivity by their parents for four years.

Polio-afflicted Hastina Majhi, 21, and her sister Binata Majhi, 18, were forced to live a captive life in Gudhrapada village and were reportedly fed once in 15 days.

The incident came to light when, Binata came out of captivity on Sunday.

Bhitibhumi Seva Sangathan worker Prashant Kumar said: "For the last four years, these girls were confined in a room. When one of them came out suddenly, it created suspicion in minds of people regarding the whereabouts of the second daughter Hastina. We informed media people, police and administration."

Afflicted by extreme poverty and influenced by superstitions and faith, the parents of the two girls said that they were unable to get their daughters treated.

"We are very poor. We did not have enough funds to treat the ailment of our daughters. We had taken them to small hospitals but couldn't bear the cost of their treatment. Then, some followers of Lord Krishna told us that if we dedicate ourselves to the service of the deity, and confine our daughters in a room, they would be cured. Besides, they also restrained us from informing it to anybody. We just followed them," said Pabitra Majhi, the father of the two polio-affected girls.

The members of the NGO have now taken up the task of treating the two girls. They will also counsel their parents.

India is the focus of concern after 676 cases of polio surfaced in 2006 -- a ten-fold jump over 2005 and one third of the world's total.

Apart from India, polio prevails in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.

India, which aims to eradicate polio by the end of 2008, has seen 103 cases of polio this year against 150, but, more importantly, Type 1 cases in the first six months have fallen to 39 against 145 year-on-year.

ANI