Blast victim 'too young' for aid

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Rajdeep Sardesai

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• Malegaon blasts orphan gets help
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Keywords: Compensation, Medical Aid

Malegaon: A few days ago, CNN-IBN brought you the story of 10-year-old Shehnaz Bano, who was orphaned after her mother died in the Malegaon blasts. She herself was badly injured, but got a reason to smile when her 14-year-old brother - Shakeel Ahmed Mansuri - heard of her plight on television and travelled all the way from Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh to Malegaon to find her.

However, Shenaz found out, the tears are not over for her yet and that more troubles lie ahead.

Authorities say that she may have to wait for a long time to get her compensation from the Government.

The girl, who lost her mother in the Malegaon blasts last Friday, will not get the Rs 50,000 that is due to her as a blast injured and Rs 1 lakh for having lost a family member, because she is underage.

Says Sub Divisional Magistrate, Malegaon, Devidas Chaudhury, "To decide who her legal guardian will be, we have sent her file to to the District Magistrate of Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, he hometown."

Even the people from the social organisation Jamat-e-Ulema who want to adopt her are not sure about what to do with the money. They say it should be kept safe for her but fail to answer - with whom?

Says member Jamat-e-Ulema Abdul Salaam, "Many people are willing to adopt Shenaz. Now her brothers will have to take the decision. It is the question of her future."

Authourities say, it won't be easy to find a home for her because they still haven't figured out who her relatives are, who could complete the adoption procedures.