Poverty-stricken lactating mother and newborn triplets extended immediate assistance

OUR CORRESPONDENT

BORDUMSA: "I left the affairs in the hands of the Almighty. I lost hopes of extending adequate post-natal care and related services to RobinaChakma and her newborn triplets until I received a call that local MLA of Bordumsa-Diyun wants to meet me at Miao. He wanted to assist the mother and the infants," said SushmaChakma — the ASHA worker who was taking care of Robina even before the birth of three healthy infants.

The healthy triplets were naturally delivered on early Monday morning at her own house at Dharmapur village 2 under Miao Circle in Changlang district. "In the absence of their father, I was serving the mother and the children beyond the call of duty till the financial impediments acted as a stumbling block on my way; and I had no support at all from any corners for the post-natal care," said the ASHA worker. "The Health department at Miao was also communicated to this effect," added the committed frontline worker who is the wife of the local village headman. "Braving the inclement weather coupled with incessant rains that drenched me and my husband completely, we crossed the Nao-Dehing River on boat. The MLA of Bordumsa-Diyun constituency, SomlungMossang was waiting for us at his residence. His smile indicated as if he wished to congratulate and acknowledge my victory in a battle," described the brave ASHA worker while interacting with The Sentinel on Tuesday afternoon. She added, "He gave Rs 20,000 for the immediate purchase of medicines, clothing, nutritional food supplements and other post-natal expenses for the lactating mother and the children, said Sushma.

She quoted the MLA as saying, "This is not the end, keep updating me every day with the progress and health status and if required call me for further assistance. Ensure that the lucky mother and her children are safe, healthy and happy."

The ASHA worker further said, "I was also given Rs 5,000 as expenses during the services that I had offered."

Meanwhile, following the publications of the news in The Sentinel on Tuesday, a Delhi-based Chakma leader on condition of anonymity said that "the 'United Chakma Society' — a group of like-minded Chakma people including officials and professionals serving across the nation — have already started raising funds for the poor family. The Society will hand over the fund to the family within a short period. "It is noteworthy that The Sentinel has reached out to such a remote Chakma hamlet in the easternmost edge of the State," said the leader associated with the legal profession, adding that "the timely assistance extended by the MLA is one of the finest gestures of serving humanity". S. Chakma — one of the top Chakma officials serving the finance Ministry also appreciated the gesture of MLA SomlungMossang.

Meanwhile, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Bordumsa, TaloJerang referring to one of his earlier formal notes (No BD/ICDS/PA-1/2020-21 issued on October 6, 2020) stated that the local MLA SomlungMossang during the celebration of RastriyaPoshan Mah-2020 recently had announced cash award to the best Angadwadi worker and the best ASHA worker to be selected from the Bordumsa and Diyun Circles of the constituency. According to Jerang, such motivational steps are sure to keep high the morale of the frontline workers who play important roles in serving and producing desirable outputs in their respective line of duties in the society. The much required warm clothing, food and medicines for the new borns and their mother have been availed with the active support of two Health workers — SushmaChakma and JawjanongSingpho — vaccinating team members of BordumsaGoju village.

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