Odisha government today gave Rs 1 lakh to a standard nine student who had lost his right hand while working to meet his study expenses in Malkangiri district.
The boy's hand came in contact with a live electric wire and he lost his right hand due to electocution. He was working as a labourer during the summer vacation in the month of June this year.
The affected boy was identified as B Yakub (16) of MV-31 village under Kurukunda block, Malkangiri district collector D Prasant Kumar told PTI today.
The entire medical expenses was borne by the state government and Rs 20,000 has been sanctioned in favour of the boy from chief minister's relief fund earlier.
The boy after being treated has returned back to his village a week ago and he was handed over Rs one lakh from chief minister's relief fund today by the district collector.
Not only Yakub came from a very poor family, but his father was a tuberculosis patient and it was very diffcult to continue his studies in a private school without money, Kumar said.
He was working under the contrctor, Avaya Swain on June 1 in Pradhan Mantri Grama Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) when the six-feet long aluminium rod Yakub was holding for measurement of road work came in contact with the live electric wire in which he received severe burn injuries.
Yakub was secretly admitted to a private hospital in Vishakhpatnam by the contractor to cover up his illegal work of employing minors. But the boy's family members brought the plight of the boy before the public and subsequently the district administration took up the case.
The contractor was finally arrested after a month following the intervenation of the district administration, the collector said.
But by that time the boy's right had to be severed due to severe infection. The infection also spread to other parts of his body including left hand, Kumar said.
"I will continue my studies though I have lost my right hand", Yakub replied in a chocked voice when being asked.
