Nuapada: The Central government had declared to provide pucca houses to all the people of the country below poverty line. It has also implemented the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY) for the purpose.
However, the Yojana seems to have gone directionless due to the negligence and inertia of the departmental authorities and poor people are being deprived of a roof over their head. One such example came to light in the Karlakote panchayat of Boden block in Nuapada district.
The shocking condition of Dani Paharia and Champa Paharia of Mandobirli village speaks a lot about the ground reality. Although they are managing to stay in a damaged thatched house for past many days and moving from pillar to post for a government house, they are not able to draw the empathy of local administration and departmental officers.
According to sources, Mandobirli is a densely populated tribal village. More than half of its population depends upon forest products for their livelihood. For example, the Paharia families collect bamboo from the forest and make various fancy items out of it for domestic use and sell them in the market.
Unfortunately, Dani’s husband died of an unknown disease about 3-4 years back. After his death, Dani Paharia became helpless. She doesn’t have even a ration card.
The living condition of Champa Paharia of Mandobirli village is also the same. He is surviving on the mercy of others at his old age. He is spending his time in his broken thatched house during the hot summer and harsh rainy season.
A villager named Duaru Paharia has appealed on behalf of them to the local authorities to provide houses to both. Reacting to this, sarpanch Saja Gahira said, “A survey has already been conducted and very soon houses will be provided to them under different schemes of the government”.
PNN
