Phulbani: A three-ft wide thatched hut serves as the only source of shelter for Ramakrushna Panda and his family who were once a well known business family of Katingia village under G Udayagiri block in Kandhamal district.
The 61-year-old man, once a reputed businessman of the town, is now left in lurch with no house of his own. Except for thinking of his past, the plight of Ramakrushna is beyond imagination who is now left with not a single penny.
Ramakrushna’s grandfather Nilamani Panda was a famous businessman in the area. After his demise, his son Jagannath Panda took over the business. However, Jagannath suffered huge losses and died leaving behind his son Ramakrushna to take care of the business. However, Ramakrushna also suffered loss and began doing odd jobs to run the family.
In 2009, he was sanctioned a house under ‘Indira Awas Yojana’. However, he fell victim to the fraud of block officials and was not sanctioned money for the construction of a house. Meanwhile, he lost his left arm in a road accident and was left paralysed.
Slowly, he suffered from mental illness that increased with time due to lack of treatment. Now, he is left with his wife who takes care of him.
The couple has to sleep in a three-ft wide space inside the hut that is filled with sacks, rags, polythene and plastic bottles that the couple picks up and sells for a living. Worse, they do not even possess a blanket to protect themselves from the bone-chilling cold.
“They (block officials) did not provide Indira Awas money. We are now forced to survive on 10 kilos of rice for a full month. The little house that we had is ruined now. We would be grateful if we are provided with a house,” the couple said.
When contacted, G. Udayagiri BDO Rajendra Prasad Panda said he was unaware of the couple’s plight and would look into the matter. PNN
