Bangiriposi: Several social security and housing schemes as well as ration cards under NFSA have failed to come to the aid of deserving beneficiaries, who suffer untold miseries due to an indifferent administration that is least bothered in checking how the schemes are being implemented at the grassroots level.
It is alleged that people are made to run from panchayat offices to block offices to benefit from such schemes without success.
A case in point is 80-year old Kunja Bihari Behera and his 68-year old wife Hadikuni of Andola village in Nafri panchayat. Life has been a whorl of miseries for the elderly couple who are also responsible for their differently-abled son who is solely dependent upon them.
Kunjabihar used to receive monthly old age pension from the panchayat office two years ago, but that has been stopped. He has been bedridden in his shanty while Hadikuni is not keeping well and is unable to do household chores.
Their only support was the monthly pension they used to get. But for the last several months, the village-level worker (VLW) is allegedly not paying the pension to his differently-abled son.
They have been leading a miserable life with not a single earning member in the household.
Now in the twilight years of her life, Hadikuni is running from panchayat office to block office pursuing the matter of their pension unsuccessfully.
When contacted, VLW Abhiram Behera said their pension money will be paid. PNN
