Kolimati: The government implements social security and food security programmes for the poor and the disadvantaged sections of society, but scores of poor tribals have been out of this coverage in Kolimati panchayat under Anandapur block in Keonjhar district.
Here is a case in point. Maina Hembram, 61, is a widow residing at Arjunbania-Majhisahi. Maina and her son Ram Hembram, 17, have been leading miserable lives after the demise of her husband Gopal Hembram about 20 years ago. Daily waging, sale of firewood and sal leaves is are the only means of livelihood for the family.
Till date, the poor family has not been provided with a ration card under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Maina is entitled to widow pension, but that facility has still been a dream for her. The mother-son duo said it is too difficult for them to arrange two square meals a day with their meagre earnings.
The dilapidated shanty they dwell in has no doors. Still, they are denied housing facility under government schemes. “We are unable to repair the house,” they said.
They have taken up their problems with the officials from the panchayat level to the block level, but to no avail, the mother-son duo lamented.
This is not the lone case of administrative apathy. There are several other poor families in the village that have been deprived of entitlements under housing, social security and food security schemes.