Lathore: Although both the state and central governments have been running various schemes for the poor, elderly and physically challenged persons, there are still scores of people who remain deprived owing to the negligence of government officials.
A case in point is 66-year-old Kalakanhu Bhoi’s family residing at Pipalbahal village under Khaprakhol block in Bolangir district.
The sole bread-winner for a family of four, Bhoi lives in a wattle-thatched shanty along with his wife Mukta (60), daughters – Hemlata (35) and Bhama (20). While Bhoi and his wife both are senior citizens, their daughters are visually challenged. Both Hemlata and Bhama suffered from an unidentified disease in their childhood that led to their blindness.
The couple resides on an eight decimal land donated by fellow villager Basu Meher. Bhoi doesn’t own any other property. He makes his living by selling forest produces which is a tough job given his age and family responsibilities.
Apart from 35 kilograms of BPL rice every month and a house under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna in the year 2018-19, the family is yet to receive any financial benefit from the government. Neither Bhoi nor his wife get old-age pension. His daughters, both eligible for disability pension, don’t get it either. Bhoi has only received Rs 6,000 out of Rs 16,000 under MNEREGA scheme.
Despite doing multiple rounds of the block office, his complaints are yet to be heard. The administration, in the meanwhile, appears quite content in the numbers game that paints a rosy picture of pro-poor initiatives taken by the government in the area.
PNN
