Nayagarh, May 8: In a shocking revelation from Odisha’s Nayagarh district, an entire family was found living without any official identity documents such as Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards or even birth certificates. The issue came to light after minor boy Shiba got trapped inside a rock crevice while collecting honey on Wednesday morning, drawing statewide attention to the family’s plight.

Following the incident, district administration officials along with members of the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights reached Shiba’s village, Gajendrapalli, to assess the family’s condition. Political leaders too have been visiting the village after it emerged that despite being residents of the district for years, none of the family members had ever exercised their voting rights or accessed formal education.

After an inquiry by Nayagarh Collector Madhumita Rath, the administration initiated steps to provide Aadhaar cards and voter ID cards to all members of the family. The Collector also assured that Shiba and his siblings would be enrolled in schools and that the family would receive housing assistance under government schemes along with land for settlement.

Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Babita Patra, along with members Kasturi Mishra and Manasmita Khuntia, visited the family and reviewed their living conditions. The commission directed District Education Officer Chittaranjan Pande to ensure admission of the children in government residential schools. Officials have also been instructed to issue ration cards, provide food supplies and facilitate housing benefits for the family. The Tehsildar has been directed to allot land under the SC/ST quota.