‘Burn mark’ helps mentally challenged man get his family back after 14 years

LUCKNOW: After spending 14 long years in different shelter homes of Lucknow, Ram Milan, who is now 21, got reunited with his family on Monday. Ironically, the family could recognize him only from a burn mark on his right foot caused during his ‘treatment of Jamoga’ (freeing from evil spirit) by a quack. Resident of Bhawniyapur village of Barabanki, Ram Milan, was 7-year-old when he accidentally boarded a train to Lucknow. Spotted by child rights authorities, this speciallyabled boy was later lodged at a shelter home. “He could recall the name of his village but no one could find out his exact address. When he turned 18 he was shifted to the shelter homes for adults,” said Sangeeta Sharma, member, Child Welfare Committee, Lucknow.

“Recently when an employee from his neighbouring Ghatariya village got transferred to the shelter home he contacted some locals and helped traced his family,” added Sharma. Ram Milan’s father Sundar Lal said, “Shivakant (shelter home employee) contacted a mill worker of our village and told him that a mentally challenged youth is lodged in the shelter home who barely remembers the name of the village.” “He also sent his photograph on WhatsApp but the family could not recognize him nor could Ram Milan recognize anyone of the family,” said his cousin Shravan Kumar. Ram Milan’s mother Ram Dei then told that Ram Milan has a burn mark on his right foot. “His one finger got burnt with hot coal when he was 4-year-old,” she said. “It was then it was confirmed that he was the same guy.