Lathor: There are many schemes of both the Central and the Odisha governments to provide affordable housing facilities for poor people living in villages. However, in spite of schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY), Bijju Pucca Ghar Yojna (BPGY) and Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), many still live in dilapidated and ramshackle houses.
Such is the case of poverty-stricken Jayram Bariha (50) who lives in Lathor panchayat of Tali Pada village under Belpara tehsil in Bolangir district. The sole bread-winner for a family of six, Bariha lives in a wattle-thatched shanty along with his aged mother Tulsa, daughters – Ulasini (21), Ritanjali (17), Gitanjali (15), Dipanjali (10) and son Akhaya (15). His wife has passed away five years back.
Bariha is a daily wager and works each day to keep the family pot boiling. Thirteen years back he had written to the local panchayat committee and the block office for a pucca house, but till date nothing has happened. Even though he gets 10 kilograms of BPL rice every month under the State Government scheme and Rs 500 a month as pension for his old mother, it is not sufficient for the family. Bariha alleged that, he has appealed at least 10 times to the government for help to avail of the PMAY facility, but to no avail.
Other co-villagers also said that they on Bariha’s behalf have also appealed to the government to provide pucca house for him.
PNN
