INDIA. Odisha: Kamala Pujari, an estimable woman who is honoured with the Padma Shri award in 2019, is forced to dance in the ICU of a hospital in Cuttack, Odisha. The 71-years-old is ailing with Kidney disease so she got admitted to the hospital.
In a recent, viral video a female social worker was allegedly seen dancing with Pujari before she got discharged from the hospital. The social worker is identified as Mamata Behera. Pujari was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wished her a speedy recovery.
Pujari received the honorary award for promoting organic farming and preserving over 100 varieties of indigenous seeds. She accused Behera of forcibly dancing with her without her will.
The Padma Shri awardee said, “I do not know the social activist personally. I was forced to dance by her while coming out of the hospital after treatment. Despite saying no, she forced me to dance with her and recorded the video.”
She said in a media interaction said, “I repeatedly denied it, but she (Behera) did not listen. I was sick and tired. This has further deteriorated my health.”
Meanwhile, The tribal community association chief Harish Muduli threatened to hold protests on the streets if the state government did not take any necessary action against the social worker. The hospital registrar holder, Dr Abinash Rout said, Pujari was admitted to a special cabin apart from the ICU. “The woman who reportedly made Pujari dance used to visit her at the private cabin.”
The accused, when asked about the incident, said that she had no bad intention and just wanted to remove “Pujari’s laziness”.
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