Bhubaneswar, Jan. 31 -- Instead of being held, kissed and protected, Mukeshwari Gond has spent most of her childhood tied in the courtyard of her broken home. Born in Dhodrasimoda village under Raighar block of Odisha's Nabarangpur district, the seven-year-old has known pain far too early.

Mukeshwari, daughter of Deoji Gond, is mentally challenged. Her condition became evident when she was just two years old. Since then, her parents have taken her to hospitals in Hatabharndi, Umerkote, Nabarangpur and even Koraput, but to no avail.

Deoji Gond and his wife survive on daily wage labour. With no land, no permanent house and no government assistance, they are forced to work daily to feed their family. Unable to constantly supervise Mukeshwa...