Burla, June 8: Even though the Centre and the state government are launching various schemes for the poor, Tikemuni Guru, who is past 70, is forced to live in a bathroom.
Guru belongs to Luhura community and is a widow of Charpalli village under Dhanakauda block in Sambalpur district. She has no one to take care of her since her husband died 15 years ago.
Her husband left her with a mud house. With no children to take care of her and the house, the structure collapsed two years ago. Now, she has nothing but a bathroom to live in. While she cooks and eats in the bathroom, she retires to others’ verandahs for sleep.
Indira Awas Yojona, Pradhan Mantri Gramina Awas Yojona, Biju Pukka Ghara Yojona and Mo Kudia Yojona seem to be meaningless for her. Athough her name figures in socio economic and cast census list, the above schemes do not come to her rescue.
As monsoon is just round the corner, her worries are bound to multiply.
When this correspondent visited her, she greeted him with a smile that failed to conceal her sorrows.
The government help that I get is all of Rs 300. I have approached government officials, sarpanch and ward members and whoever visits the village for a roof over my head. But they turn a deaf year to my pleas, said Guru looking vacantly at her house that has virtually turned into a mud dune since long.
While others, who have their own houses, also avail various government schemes, I am being forgotten, she said with tears welling up.
My days are numbered. If a house order comes after my death, I would be thankful to you, she sobbed.
Post News Network
