Sulabh International comes to the aid of Dana Majhi

Dana Majhi, who walked 10-km carrying his wife's body on his shoulder in Odisha's Kalahandi district triggering a national uproar, received a one time assistance of Rs 5 lakh from Sulabh International on Saturday. Besides, Majhi would also be receiving Rs 10,000 every month from Sulabh for education of his daughters.

The Sulabh Internationl made fixed deposit (FD) in the bank account of Dana Majhi which will mature five years from now on September 3, 2021. "Dana Majhi will get a sum of Rs 7,33,921 after five years at the interest rate of 7.5%," said an official of the bank where the FD was made. Founder of Sulabh International Dr Bindeshwar Pathak sent a representative of his organisation to meet Majhi. "Dr Pathak was moved over the plight of Dana Majhi and made this donation to help the tribal man," said Vinod Sharma of Sulabh International.

Sharma handed over the Fixed Deposit paper worth Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10,000 cash to Dana Majhi at his Melghar village home. Majhi had carried body of his wife on shoulder on August 24 after having been denied a hearse by the hospital authorities at Bhawanipatna. Though he requested the hospital staff that he could not afford to hire a vehicle to transport the body of his wife, all turned deaf ears to his plea forcing him to carry the body on shoulder. However, an ambulance was arranged only after he had covered 10-km distance to take the body to his home at Melghara village, about 60 km from Bhawanipatna.

So far, sources said, Majhi has got Rs 30,000 and a sack of rice from the district administration of Kalahandi and promises of admission in a residential tribal school for his three daughters (Chandini-12, Chauli-10 and seven-year-old Sonai). Majhi has also another daughter from his late first wife who is married.

This apart, Majhi has also been assured a pucca house under the 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana' and inclusion under the National Family Benefit Scheme. According to reports, the Prime Minister of Bahrain has offered to make financial donation for Dana Majhi.