How Aadhaar United Deaf & Dumb Boy Lost In Kerala 2 Years Ago To His Family In Bihar

The 12-digit number, Aadhaar issued by Government of India, became a tool to unite the deaf-mute teen who was lost in Kerala two years ago to unite with his family in Bihar. 

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Chennai: Aadhaar became more than an identity card to a deaf and dumb teen recently in Thrissur district of Kerala. The 12-digit number, Aadhaar issued by Government of India, became a tool to unite the deaf-mute teen who was lost  in Kerala two years ago to unite with his family in Bihar. 

According to a report from Manorama, recently the officials of Government Children's Home at Ramavarmapuram in Thrissur attempted to get an Aadhaar card for Raju. However, the attempt revealed his details including his name Vishnu Kumar Mandal and united the 15-year-old with his family. 

Raju first went missing from his home in Bihar and he was found by railway childline officials in December 2019. Since Raju could not speak nor hear, the officials named the then 13-year-old as Raju and Babu and they also showed him a map and asked him to locate his home. Raju showed Bihar and Bengal so the authorities made enquiries in both the places but they could not get any leads. Hence, Raju was sent to the Children's Home and it's also said that he made friends. Raju also became a player of the football team.

In this backdrop, the authorities decided to enroll him in a special school in Kottayam and tried to register his Aadhaar card. That's when there was a turning point. When Raju kept his fingerprint in the Aadhaar registry, the website showed that his fingerprint was already registered and the pincode of registration was Rautara Village in Katihar district of Bihar. 

The officials contacted the post office near his home and the family confirmed the identity of their child. On Thursday, Raju's father Sunil Kumar Mandal reached the children's home and the father-son duo began their journey to Bihar on Friday to reunite with the family. 

However, there were emotional scenes at the home since his friends found it difficult to bid him a farewell. Along with the children, Child Welfare Chairman Dr KV Viswanathan, Children's Home Superintendent VA Nishamol and Counsellor Jitesh George were also present.