Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Dec 25: As the children of this old lady have gone their own ways after mortgaging the family property, Girija Shettigar (70), resident of Brahmavar Salikeri, is in doldrums. She has been roaming from door to door in search of some food and living. Having been distanced by her children and the grandchildren. She has been finding it hard to carry on with her life, said Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag, president, Human Rights Protection Foundation here.

He was addressing a press conference convened here on Friday December 24.

Girija, wife of the late Parameshwar Shettigar, does not have her own house. Because of old age she is unable to properly work and her eyesight has also become very weak and her ears are not functioning. Parameshwar, who was into sari weaving, had married Girija after his first wife died. Parameshwar had five children from his first wife, three sons and two daughters. Girija raised the children of her husband as her own. Parameshwar had some fixed assets in Brahmavar area and had ceded 40 cents of land located in Varamballi village in the name of his second son, Raviraj, through a conveyance deed in 2003. Even though Raviraj had the right to occupy the family house, in the said document, Parameshwar made it clear that Girija has the right to live there till her death. As she was warned against signing any document, Girija desisted from signing any document. After Parameshwar died in 2007, Raviraj mortgaged the house and land to a bank and raised loan. He suffered loss in business but had not obtained Girija's concurrence even though she enjoyed right over the house. The bank also failed to study the document properly and get her nod for granting the loan, Shanbhag said.

Girija came to know about the loan after getting notice. The bank people drove Girija out of the house in 2008 and took over the house. Girija complained to the police but they gave an endorsement certifying that the bank had done nothing wrong. Girija is listless and directionless now.

After her husband died, Parameshwar's first son, Thimmappa, who worked as a doctor in Bengaluru, took her to Bengaluru. After Thimmappa died recently, his son brought Girija back to Brahmavar and returned, leaving her behind. The third son, Laxman, looked after her for some days but did not provide her money for medicines and other expenses.

Ravindranath Shanbhag said that the foundation has decided to sue the concerned under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. He said that those who have got landed or movable property from their parents have the responsibility to look after the senior citizens. In case they fail to provide monthly allowance, the senior citizens tribunals should order to transfer the properties back to the parents, he pointed out. He requested the district administration to take steps to provide an honourable life, food, and accommodation to Girija immediately.