Kamakhyanagar: Days after a homeless tribal family in mineral-rich Keonjhar district living inside a toilet built under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was reported, a 65-year-old woman in Dhenkanal district has met with the same fate in the absence of a pucca house.
A toilet serves as house, kitchen and living space for Kundi Rout of Mota village under Kamakhyanagar block in Dhenkanal. Deprived of a house under the housing schemes, the elderly woman has been living in a pathetic condition, but the administration has not taken note of her plight.
After the death of her husband 30 years back, Kundi did odd jobs and grew her two daughters and a son. All her children are married now and Kundi stays with her son at a thatched house that was built by her husband years back. Being made with mud and bamboos, the house has developed cracks and is on the verge of collapse.
On the other hand, lack of space at the thatched house has forced her to seek shelter in the toilet. As Kundi’s shanty is in a ramshackle condition, she ran from panchayat office to block office pleading for a housing unit, but to no avail. No one pays heed to her plight. She alleged that those who pay bribe can only get housing units.
The government provides houses to the poor and the disadvantaged sections under Indira Awas or Mo Kudia. However, irregularities have scuttled proper implementation of the housing schemes. The benefits do not reach the poor while many rich people have grabbed the benefits.
She approached the district collector and narrated her ordeal, but in vain. As usual, she was sent away after an assurance, she said. Locals sympatised with her and demanded a housing unit for her and other poor residents. PNN
