Overcoming the Odds
Parbati Sahoo is the third daughter
of Banamali Sahoo who belong Baissia
village of Kamakshyanagar in Dhenkanal
District. She has no brother and two
elder sisters are married. The family
is economically very poor. Though
she had already experienced tough
situation in the life of her two elder
sisters, she had not expected that
life would be so challenging for a
girl in a poor family.Her eldest sister
got conflict with her husband, who
does not come to his in-law’s
house and apparently abandoned his
wife
(Parbati’s Eldest sister). Her
second elder sister is married to
a Nepali boy.
|
|
|
|
However,
her second brother in law was involved in
illegal business activities- supplying girls to
roadside Dhabas. Regrettably, he was also planning
to sell Parbati at Dhaba. It was a more shocking
that other family members including her parents
were involved in this plan. |
In
the mean time, Parbati was in love with Saroj-
a Bihari guy. She did not inform the matter to
her parents because Saroj was a Bihari and the
family members would not be accept the relationship.
But when she knew about the plan of her family
members to sell her, she came to Saroj and married
him in the court at Talcher without informing
the family members. They stayed together for 3
days in a rented house in the town. Her brother-in-law
came to know about them and attacked him physically.
He forcefully separated the newly married couple
from each other. |
Life
became a prison for her. Obviously, she was in
search of an opportunity to get rid of her family
members, especially her brother-in-law. When she
got a chance to escape, she took advantage of
the opportunity successfully for a new but uncertain
life. Initially she took shelter in a stranger’s
house. She was absolutely ignorant about the NYSASDRI
Short Stay Home (SSH). |
One
of the advocates of Talcher court ringed to the
SSH and informed the matter in detail. The superintendent
of SSH visited Parbati and her Parbati to stay
at the SSH. As she belongs to Dhenkanal district,
the superintendent took her to the grievance cell
and pleaded to the district collector. The collector
permitted her to stay in the SSH. Meanwhile, Parbati’s
family members came to SSH to meet her. They wanted
to take her with them. But as she was not interested
to meet her family members including her parents,
the superintendent told them to come to grievance
cell to solve the problem. The family members
of Parbati did not show any interest in this proposal.
On the other hand, the collector advised the superintendent
of SSH to arrange the marriage between Parbati
and Saroj. |
Then
the officials of SSH, regularly made contact with
the family members of Parbati as well as with
Saroj. Parbati’s second brother-in-law, who was
responsible for the all the problems that she
confronted, demanded that Parbati was his wife
and they had intimate relationship with each other.
He also claimed that Parbati was pregnant. The
pregnancy test revealed that Parbati was perfectly
all right and without any sign of pregnancy. Constant
touch with Saroj and counselling brought about
positive impact on Saroj- who formerly interested
to marry Parbati. Counseling gave him more confidence
and he eventually agreed to marry Parbati gain.
They married with each other on 9th September
2003 in the court. Superintendent of SSH, advocate
and one villager were also present there witness
of the marriage. |
During
her stay at SSH- a period of struggle against
her own people- all type of service including
financial, legal, physical supports were provided
to her. Now, there is no doubt that the couple
will lead a cheerful life full of hope and aspiration.
As a follow up action when the superintendent
of SSH visited them, the couple thanked her for
the assistance. During the discussion with Parbati,
it was revealed that Parbati is very happy with
Saroj, whom she loves. |
| |
|
|
|
|