Father of 8-year-old Arunachal girl Tarh Peej, who has been conferred the National Bravery Award posthumously, today said former chief minister of the state Kalikho Pul had "promised" to dedicate a bridge after his daughter, but "nothing has happened" after his death.
"I am very proud of my daughter, who sacrificed her life as she saved two children while they were drowning in Pachin river last May.
"The then chief minister Kalikho Pul had visited our home and announced that my daughter would be immortalised by building a new bridge over the river and naming it after her. But, since his death, nothing has happened," Tarh Kama claimed.
Kama was interacting with reporters at the press conference held here on the National Bravery Award by the Indian Council of Child Welfare (ICCW), where the awardees were also present. The awards would be formally given by the Prime Minister on January 23.
Holding a portrait of his late daughter, he made an impassioned plea to the state government to "fulfill the promise" made by Pul.
Peeju, who died while rescuing two of her friends when they were swept away by the current in the Pachin River in Arunachal Pradesh, is among the four awardees to have been conferred the honour posthumously. She received the coveted 'Bharat Award'.
In 1987-88, ICCW instituted the 'Bharat Award' for an exceptionally outstanding, meritorious and gallant deed.
In August, Pul allegedly committed suicide, less than a month after the Supreme Court unseated him and reinstated his rival Nabam Tuki as the chief minister of the state, ending Pul's brief tenure as a chief minister.
"A few months after the death of my daughter, Pul also died," he said, while alleging, "the new government has not done anything in this regard."
Kama, who has two sons and another daughter, further claimed, "An ex gratia of Rs 7 lakh was to be given, which we haven't received. Free education up to graduation level was promised to one of my children, but no progress in that regard either.
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