After 20 years, Karnataka woman reunites with family
A woman from Karnataka, who was separated from her family nearly two decades ago, has been reunited with her loved ones thanks to the efforts of the Mandi district administration and the state government. Sakamma, who had been living at the Bhangrotu Old Age Home in Mandi district, has now returned to her family. The Mandi district administration handed her over to a team from Karnataka’s Social Welfare Department that arrived here today.
Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan said the district administration, along with the state government, is continuously working for the welfare of marginalised communities. As part of this initiative, the officials regularly inspect orphanages and old age homes. During a recent inspection of the Bhangrotu Old Age Home, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rohit Rathour met Sakamma who did not know Hindi, which made it difficult to trace her family.
“With the help of Ravi Nandan, an IPS probationer from Karnataka working in Mandi, the family details of the woman were uncovered. After 20 years of her disappearance, her family, including her children and grandchildren, had assumed she was no longer alive. The efforts of Palampur SDM Netra Maity also played a crucial role in this discovery,” the DC said.
“Subsequently, the Mandi district administration coordinated with the Karnataka Government to facilitate Sakamma’s return. The Karnataka Government sent a three-member team from the Vijayanagar district's Social Welfare Department to Bhangrotu, and today, they took Sakamma back to her family. Balh SDM Samritika Negi handed over Sakamma to the three-member team,” he remarked.
“Sakamma’s family, who had lost all hope of finding her, is overjoyed to learn that she is alive. They expressed their gratitude to the Himachal Pradesh Government, Mandi district administration and the staff of the old age home for their tireless efforts,” the DC said.
According to Basoraj Hemji, Senior Superintendent of the Karnataka Social Welfare Department, Sakamma hails from Danayakanakere village in Vijayanagar district and went missing nearly 20 years ago. “After extensive searches, her family assumed that she was dead. But, now, her return has brought immense happiness to her family,” he said.
