In a major relief, the one-and-a-half-year-old boy who was abducted from the Ram Temple in Bhubaneswar has been rescued safely.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida assured that the child would receive support under the Mission Vatsalya scheme, a government initiative to assist vulnerable children.
The toddler was kidnapped while his visually challenged mother, Laxmi, slept outside the temple during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. The accused, Kedarsan, befriended the family before abducting the child and fleeing to Balasore with the help of an acquaintance, Jhelam Rani Panda. Fortunately, police successfully traced the child and arrested the culprits, uncovering a premeditated abduction plan.
Mission Vatsalya, implemented with a 60:40 fund-sharing model between the central and state governments, provides financial aid of Rs 4,000 per month to eligible children, including orphans and those whose mothers are widowed, divorced, or abandoned. Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to child welfare and safety following this distressing case.
