In a shocking incident, a 15-year-old boy was found begging on the streets of M Kunnathur near Tamil Nadu's Ulundurpet for money to bribe an official to sanction funds for his father’s funeral, who passed away almost a year ago.
Writing for The New Indian Express, Karal Marx reported that the teenager, identified as Ajith, watched his father Kolangi (45) get diagnosed with a major kidney ailment a year ago and slowly deteriorate as the family was unable to afford his treatment.
The report adds:
When Kolangi died, his family had petitioned the officials for assistance of Rs 12,500 earmarked for kin of deceased...Last month, the family was informed about the fund sanction by their relatives and Ajith was sent to collect it...After making him run from pillar to post for nearly a month, the Village Administrative Officer allegedly put a proposal before Ajith. The fund sanction would come only if he greased his palm with Rs 3,000.
To garner more attention on Ajith and his friends made flex banners, announcing the cause for which they were begging, and began moving around in traffic.
They reportedly managed to collect Rs 2,000 by the end of the day.