Nipen Chandra Pal, 42, a mentally impaired man of Bhandara village under Kaligram union in Raninagar upazila of Naogaon has been kept locked in the house for almost 30 years by his family.
Although he was able to get treatment once, now he is chained inside the house without treatment due to financial crisis. This poor family is currently living a dehumanized life due to lack of facilities. Nipen's family has sought government help to get better treatment for Nipen.
Nipen is the second child of late Naresh Chandra Pal of Bhandara village. He was very talented since childhood. Nipen's family suddenly noticed unusual behavior in him from the age of 12 when he was in school. From then on, Nipen lost his mental balance. Despite being a poor family, they arranged for Nipen's treatment many times.
However, due to lack of financial resources, medical services are no longer available to Nipen.
For the past five years, Nippen's family has kept him in an earthen dark house with iron chains on his legs as he troubles other if he is kept unchained.
From the superstitious belief that Niepen might get better if he was married, his family married Nippen. Nippen currently has a 7-year-old daughter at home. Although his elderly mother has recently started receiving old age allowance, Nipen's himself does not get any government benefits.
So Nippen's family claims that if Nippen is officially provided with better quality treatment by the government, then maybe Nippen can recover.
Nipen's wife Shikha Rani Pal said, “Nipen’s madness is increasing gradually. I can't get treatment for my husband due to lack of money.
With the help of the government, if better quality treatment is provided maybe my husband will become normal again. Besides, I am currently living an inhuman life with a daughter. I have to reach out to people for everything. So I seek overall cooperation of the government”.
Sirajul Islam, Kaligram Union Parishad Chairman said, “I have heard about Nipen but no one has submitted any written application to me for cooperation. Yet I will try to do something for them”.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Al Mamun said steps would be taken to provide medical treatment to Nipen and to help his family. The villagers have requested the government to provide medical care to Nipen and provide support to his family.
