A heartbreaking story of illness, poverty, and endurance has emerged from Odisha’s Bolangir district, where a nine-year-old girl has remained bedridden since birth due to a severe and unidentified health condition. 

While her parents work far away as migrant labourers in Hyderabad, the child continues her daily struggle under the care of her elderly grandparents.

The girl, identified as Neela Deep of Dhushamunda village under Turekela block in the district, has spent all nine years of her life confined to a rope cot. Born with a serious disability, she is unable to walk, speak, stand, or independently carry out even basic activities.

According to family members, Neela had been facing health complications since birth, though the exact nature of her illness remained unclear in her early years. The severity of her condition became more evident when she turned one year old. Since then, her family has taken her to several hospitals seeking treatment, but despite repeated medical consultations, no significant improvement has been observed.

Neela spends her days lying silently on a rope cot inside the family’s small thatched house. At times she stares blankly into space, occasionally showing a faint smile. Her grandmother feeds her puffed rice and snacks by hand and attends to all her daily needs.

In what appears to be an attempt to shield her granddaughter from misfortune, Neela’s grandmother has placed a black dot on her forehead and tied black threads around her legs. However, the family continues to face an unrelenting struggle.

Neela is the daughter of Ramesh Deep and Rekha Deep. Due to the lack of livelihood opportunities in their village, her parents migrated to Hyderabad to work at a brick kiln in hopes of earning enough to support the family.

Back home, Neela lives with her grandfather, grandmother, and two cousin sisters. Despite their advancing age, the grandparents shoulder the responsibility of caring for all three children while ensuring Neela receives constant attention and care.

Family members and well-wishers believe there may still be hope if Neela can receive treatment at a major medical facility. However, financial hardship remains a major obstacle in accessing advanced healthcare.

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The family is now hoping for greater support and intervention from authorities and well-wishers, believing that assistance could improve Neela’s quality of life.

Meanwhile, Turekela Block Development Officer Purnananda Patel stated that the family is already receiving rice assistance and a monthly pension of Rs 3,500 from the state government. He further assured that discussions with doctors would be held to facilitate treatment arrangements for Neela.

If you would like to help Neela Deep, please note down her address:

Name: Neela Deep
Father: Ramesh Deep
Village: Dushamunda
Post: Kantabanji
Block: Turekela
District: Bolangir
Mobile Number: 9668212516