Odisha: Ostracised As 'Witch', Mom Reunites With Daughter After 10 Years

A 13-year-old girl reunited with her mother in an emotional and fairytale reunion after 10 years of separation. The mother was allegedly branded as a witch and ousted from a remote tribal village in Odisha 10 years ago. She was found in Puducherry working and living in an Ashram. Read more about this reunion now. 

The girl's plight in the absence of the mother

As per reports, the girl lives in the Mayurbhanj area of Odisha in a childcare institute. Since her mother was ousted from the house, she was living with her father and elder brother. However, the duo didn't take care of her and neglected her food and health. Some neighbours informed the local police who then rescued the girl and admitted her into the childcare institute of Mayurbhanj. She is in class IX now, receiving proper education and care. 

The girl had lost hope of seeing her mother again. But January 5, changed her life forever. She received "God's best gift" when she met her mother. Odisha's Women and Child Development Department made this almost impossible meeting happen. The girl's mother was brought back from Puducherry to Odisha last week to reunite with her daughter.

Where was the girl's mother?

As per reports, the girl's mother was staying in an ashram of Mayurbhanj initially after being ostracised from her village. But later, she moved to Puducherry. 

The Women and Child Development officials said, "Since the woman cannot speak any language other than Odia, she was not able to narrate her plight to her employer (in Puducherry). After working there for several years, she learnt a little bit of Tamil and narrated her tragedy and separation from her child. An employee of the ashram searched for the Mayurbhanj DCPO’s number on the internet and contacted the officer for help."

The Mayurbhanj district child protection officer received a call from a man in Puducherry. The man gave the phone to a woman who spoke Odia and she was the girl's mother. She was enquiring about her daughter over the phone. 

After meeting her mother, the girl couldn't contain her joy. She was deprived of her mother's love and emotional bonding for so long. Expressing her joy, She said, "With my mother, I’ve got all the happiness of my life."