Fwd: [sss-global] This elderly woman is a constant fixture at the Dattawadi police station

http://punemirror.in/article/2/201302072013020709244516b29c52dd/This-elderly-woman-is-a-constant-fixture-at-the-Dattawadi-police-station.html

This elderly woman is a constant fixture at the Dattawadi police station

87-year-old Mandakini Ghag has been left with no income after her children forcefully occupied her home and refused to let her rent out the ground floor

Gitesh Shelke

     

Posted On Thursday, February 07, 2013 at 09:24:37 AM

Nikhil Ghorpade Mandakini Ghag (top)has been making rounds of the police station, but to no avail. Her neighbours are now her caretakers At the age of 87, Mandakini Shantaram Ghag should have been living peacefully at home, with the money she receives from her husband's pension and the rent she used to get from two families living on the ground floor of her bungalow in Sahakarnagar II.  However, Ghag now finds herself at the mercy of her children who have come home to live after 30 years and now refuse to let her rent out the rooms. Not only that, they refuse even to give her money for her daily and medical expenses.   Ghag has been doing the rounds of the Dattawadi police station since January and has filed a complaint, but they are reluctant to take action as it is a 'family matter'. "My husband and I moved here in 1970 with our three children (two daughters and a son).  My daughter Mangal got married in 1984 and my sons moved out after they started working. My husband worked in the Military Engineer Services (MES) with the Central Government. He died around one-and-a-half years ago.  After his death, I had his pension of Rs 5,000 and I rented out the ground floor to two families, for which I got a rent of Rs 12,000," Ghag said. After her husband's death, her son Pralhad and daughter Mangal aka Charulata suddenly turned up at the house after 30 years. "I didn't utter a word of reproach, though they had not visited for so long. But then, in December 2012, Pralhad said he was coming home to stay. In January, Mangal also turned up. They broke open the locks on all the doors and occupied all the rooms. I told them I rent these rooms out, but they barely even acknowledged what I said," Ghag added.  To make matters worse, Ghag claims that her children do not even give her money for her medical expenses and daily needs. "How am I to survive? I am left with only my husband's pension. I was admitted to hospital for eight days in January and no one even came to meet me. I paid for the hospitalisation myself," she said.  "My other daughter has no interest in my property but she has not said anything to these two. I know they came back to make sure the property doesn't go to anyone else after I die.  My husband has already given Pralhad our house in Kasba Peth, what more does he want?" she said adding that she does not want to go to court as she can't afford it. Despite her suffering, and her written complaint to the police, it appears that law-makers are unable to help her.  The police have issued notices to Pralhad and Mangal, but have decided not to act on her complaint as blood relatives cannot be considered trespassers, as per law. Senior police inspector Vijaysinh Gaikwad of Dattawadi police station said, "We have received her complaint application, but we cannot do much."   Advocate Harjitsingh Ajmani said that a senior citizen in this case cannot file a criminal complaint but she can file a civil suit against her children and claim maintenance.  "The court can allow her maintenance which will include shelter, medical expenses, clothes and so on," he added. With her children and the law having failed her, Ghag's neighbours have rallied around her. Around 15 women and a vegetable vendor Kamal Gaikwad have come together to take care of her. Sadhana Joshi, a retired teacher who stays in a neighbouring bungalow, said, "Nobody should behave like this to their parents. We are taking care of her."  Another neighbour, Dhanashree Puranik said, "We are trying to help her, but her son has lodged a complaint against me . We are afraid even to look at the house." Pralhad had switched off his cellphone and refused to speak even to the constable who went to the house. ►►►  They broke open the locksand occupied all the rooms. I told them I rent these rooms out, but they barely acknowledged me  -   Mandakini Shantaram Ghag

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V.RAGHAVENDRA RAO,

No:-5/Flat No:3A,Kalashetra Avenue,

Second Street,Thiruvanmiyur Post,

CHENNAI-600041.

Hello- 9489826327.

LandLine - 919489826327

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