Kendrapara: An HIV-affected couple has been leading a dignified life with the help from fellow villagers, but the district administration has failed to provide them a house despite several pleas.
They were identified as Dalit Rabindra Sethy (36) and his wife Sanjukta Sethy of Atharbatia village under Pattamundai block.
“I worked as a plumber in Mumbai from 1994 to 2004. Then, I shifted to Bengaluru. After working for two years or so, I once again went to Mumbai. Most of the time I fell sick as the area where I was staying was prone to malaria. I used to go to a Mumbai-based hospital for health check up, but the hospital staff used to test blood on a needle that was used for several patients. First I suffered tuberculosis and later I became sick and returned,” Rabindra recollected.
On his arrival at home, he became seriously ill and was taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Villagers collected money for his treatment but he was tested positive with HIV. Later, his wife was infected.
The couple gets Rs 300 under Madhubabu pension along with subsidised food grains under NFSA ration card. But the pension is not been provided every month. They have to spend Rs 500 for health check-ups in SCB Medical College every month.
Their thatched house has been dilapidated and they have been staying with polythene cover on the thatched roof. They have to spend nights at the neighbour’s verandah during rainy season.
“I have applied at the block office two years ago and also knocked the doors of the district collector and BDO to allot a pucca house under housing scheme, but to no avail,” Rabindra said.
The villagers urged the administration to sanction a pucca house for the couple.
When contacted district Collector Reghu G said the matter has come to his notice and he would take steps to provide the couple with a pucca house. PNN