Tihidi: Though the government provides housing facility to the poor and the disadvantaged under various housing schemes – the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and Indira Awas Yojana, scores of poor in Tihidi block of Bhadrak were found to have been deprived of the benefits.
These poor families are forced to live in dilapidated thatched houses amid allegations that genuine beneficiaries are not being covered by the schemes.
Their miserable condition goes unnoticed even by the administration and the people’s representatives in the area. A case in point is Ratnamani, an elderly woman of Mirazpur in Bhattapada panchayat, and her daughter Rashmita, whose deplorable condition is discernible from their partly covered dilapidated polythene-thatched shanty.
These two have been left fend for themselves as Ratnamani’s two sons do not keep any touch with her. The 76-year old woman is afflicted with diabetes, while her 25-year old daughter is suffering from a heart problem. Arranging two meals daily is a herculean task for them, let alone availing medical treatment, they lamented.
About a year ago, both the mother-daughter duo had spent for their treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack by borrowing amounts. Now they are worried over their failure to pay off the loans.
Her house has not been thatched for the last three years due to financial constraints, while a part of the wall had collapsed in due to rain last year. As the roof is in bad shape, they have no option but to bear with the chilly weather.
Currently, the only help received by Ratnamani are the government pension and Antyoday rice. “That help is not enough to keep us going. Medical expenses are an additional burden,” she added.
She said that though she has taken up the issue of getting a house with local people’s representatives and the BDO, nothing has been done so far.
BDO Umesh Chandra Mallick said that her case will be looked into and they would try to get her a housing unit under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. PNN
